Teyana Taylor Revives a Contentious Aughties Trend

Forget method dressing—Teyana Taylor is all about mullet dressing. Last night, at the Hallmann Entertainment Oscar Dinner, Taylor abided by the “business in the front, party in the back” brief. The actor and singer—who earned heaps of praise for her performance in last year’s A Thousand and One—celebrated the forthcoming end of awards season in the most thrilling way possible: with a whale tail. 

Taylor revived the early aughts look for the dinner, wearing a mock neck gray and black patterned bodysuit. While the front left her totally covered, a cutout on the backside revealed a matching gray and black thong, complete with a few piercings. The metal-detailed thong created some cohesion with her pointy-toed Balenciaga boots, which were riddled with barbells and rings. Leaning into the leather, she added a black paneled moto jacket from Acne Studios. Tying the look altogether, Taylor accessorized with a chunky silver choker and black sunglasses with metallic silver arms. 

LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 07: Teyana Taylor is seen on March 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Perception/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images)Perception/Bauer-Griffin

The whale tail saw its heyday in the early 2000s, as stars including Halle Berry, Christina Aguilera, Paris Hilton, and Mariah Carey all championed the look. But the exposed thong trend has seen a comeback in recent years, with the likes of Bella Hadid, Dua Lipa, Hailey Bieber, Alexa Demie, and Kim Kardashian all giving it a whirl. Taylor is the latest to make a case for the whale tail. And honestly? We’re listening.