The Infamous ’97 Gucci G-String

From 1994 to 2004, Tom Ford reigned supreme as the fashion designer at the helm of Gucci, leaving an indelible mark on the kingdom of Fashion and far beyond, a true fashion god. Even now, more than 27 years later, amidst a wave of Y2K nostalgia on TikTok, it is impossible to overstate Ford’s enduring influence on pop culture and style. In the ’90s, he ushered in a new era of smart, sex-positive fashion that veered away from the industry’s grunge obsession. It was during this time that Vogue coined one of fashion’s most memorable lines, describing Ford’s autumn/winter 1996 collection as the “equivalent of a one-night stand at Studio 54.”

Today, we delve into Gucci’s spring/summer 1997 show, a presentation that Tom Ford himself hoped would exude sexiness. And indeed it did and we love it! The runway set ablaze with Ford’s daring designs that left little to the imagination. Fifteen minutes into the show, the infamous interlocking G-logo G-string made its appearance, paired with an open-knit sweater, a shoulder bag, and ankle boots. The model’s hair appeared damp, as if she had just emerged from a Bel-Air swimming pool, her smoky, morning-after-the-night-before makeup accentuating her bare cheeks with a music-video allure.

Notably, there was also a men’s version of the G-string, modeled by Sacha, who graciously took a moment backstage to walk reporters through his look. “There’s a little pad up front, but in the back, you’ve got nothing but a string, baby!” he cheekily revealed. The original runway thong went on to have a life of its own. In 2018, Kim Kardashian proudly donned the cult vintage piece in Miami, as befitting its status. The Tom Ford for Gucci logo G-string has even appeared for sale on platforms like 1stdibs, fetching a staggering price of £4,435.20, reportedly unworn, of course.