When Teyana Taylor stepped onto the red carpet at the 2026 Golden Globes, she didn’t just serve a look — she delivered a message. Draped in a custom black Schiaparelli creation that shimmered with drama and confidence, Taylor stunned from every angle. But it was when she turned around that the moment truly landed. Smiling as cameras flashed, she pointed out the diamond-drenched detail along the back of her dress, making it clear that this was no ordinary little black dress. It featured a sparkling, rhinestone-studded whale tail finished with a delicate bow — equal parts glamorous and provocative.
And then came the line that instantly set the tone for the fashion year ahead: At the 2026 Golden Globes, Teyana Taylor declares this the “Year of the Crack.”
From Cleavage to Cheek: A Shift in Red Carpet Sensibilities
Just a year earlier, the conversation was all about the front. After the 2025 Met Gala, where Vogue famously proclaimed that “boobs are back,” plunging necklines and sculpted corsetry dominated red carpets. Celebrities leaned into dramatic décolletage, whether natural or enhanced, and the trend echoed across award shows and high-fashion events.
But fashion is nothing if not restless. As 2026 unfolds, the spotlight appears to be sliding south. Designers and style stars alike are trading chest-forward silhouettes for daring back reveals, signaling a new era of body-focused fashion — one that celebrates a different kind of cleavage.
The Bumster Returns: A Runway Revival
This shift didn’t come out of nowhere. The roots trace back to Alexander McQueen’s infamous spring 1995 collection, where the original “bumster” pants challenged traditional notions of tailoring and modesty. Since then, the ultra-low-rise silhouette has resurfaced again and again, each time sparking fresh debate.
Most recently, Seán McGirr reignited the conversation in Alexander McQueen’s spring 2026 collection. On the runway, model Alex Consani wore ruffled red lace trousers sitting impossibly low on the hips, her backside lifted above the leather waistband in a way that echoed the push-up bras of another era — but for the bottom. It was theatrical, intentional, and impossible to ignore.
Celebrities Lead the Cheek-Chic Movement
The red carpet has been quietly warming up to this reveal for years. At the 2024 Met Gala, Kendall Jenner dipped into the archives, wearing a never-before-seen Givenchy dress by McQueen. The gown featured a barely-there mesh panel slung low across her hips, teasing just a hint of what was to come.
By 2025, subtlety was no longer the goal. Zoë Kravitz made headlines at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in a custom Saint Laurent gown with a sheer, rhinestone-speckled back panel that unapologetically showcased her backside. Soon after, Hailey Bieber followed at the GQ Man of the Year Awards, embracing a full Y2K fantasy with a beaded, see-through dress and a visible whale tail detail.
Is 2026 Truly the “Year of the Crack”?
With historic silhouettes returning to the runway and celebrities increasingly embracing bold backless designs, the question no longer feels playful — it feels predictive. Between McQueen’s revival of the bumster and moments like Teyana Taylor’s crystal-studded statement at the Golden Globes, fashion seems to be collectively flirting with a new focal point.
