The Full-Body Slit Is the New Trend Dominating the Red Carpet

The leg slit has been a red carpet trend for years, but a dress cutout that climbs all the way up to the bust line, exposing the wearer’s entire side, is bold territory that not all have ventured to. In recent months, we’ve seen the trend surge to an all-time high as evening labels such as Mônot and Retrofête push boundaries with their designs.

Unexpected flashes of skin come by way of ab windows, hip cleavage, and splices across the chest, but no statement is as risqué as a completely sideless dress, which means that underwear is not an option. The true question becomes whether a silhouette is wearable or fodder for a wardrobe malfunction, and there are plenty of stars who like to test the limits.

While designers tend to adorn full-body slits with bows, thin strips of fabric, or sheer panels that appear to magically hold the dress together, connecting the front and back, most looks are so revealing that the gown seems to defy gravity. Watching celebrities pull off full-body slits on the red carpet may very well spark thoughts such as, “How are they keeping that in place?” and, “How did they cover their tan lines?”

Most recently, Heidi Klum, 50, sent minds racing as she sported a Lever Couture number to the 2023 LACMA Art+Film Gala. Her white frock was made from bushels of tinsel, but even the volume of the material did not distract from her see-through panels, one of which took the form of a plunging neckline. The extremely bold statement stood out from the crowd at the event, as dresses like these so often do.

Of course, Klum isn’t the only one going the extra mile for a leggy moment. Ahead, see how everyone from Poppy Delevingne to Charli D’Amelio rock the full-body-slit dress.