If you were on Twitter or Instagram in February 2024, you probably saw it. The image that launched a thousand memes. Playboi Carti, the king of the "Opium" aesthetic, standing outside in what appeared to be a camouflage outfit paired with a sheer, mesh thong bodysuit.
The internet basically went into a collective meltdown. You had the die-hard fans—the "vamps"—defending it as high-fashion boundary-pushing. Then you had the old-school hip-hop heads, like Boosie Badazz and Crunchy Black, who were... let's just say, less than impressed.
But here’s the thing: most of the people screaming about Playboi Carti in a thong didn’t actually look at the garment. They saw a silhouette, made a snap judgment, and started typing. If you want to understand what was actually going on with that outfit, you have to look at the intersection of avant-garde fashion, gender fluidity in rap, and the specific designers Carti keeps in his inner circle.
The truth about the Playboi Carti in a thong bodysuit
Let’s get the facts straight first. Was he wearing a literal thong? Technically, no.
The piece that caused all the drama was a sheer, long-sleeved mesh top that featured a "snap" closure at the bottom, very similar to a standard bodysuit. In the viral photos, Carti was wearing it over his waistline, which created the visual illusion of a thong.
Fashion nerds quickly pointed out that the piece looked suspiciously like a design from the Rick Owens x Champion collaboration. Rick Owens is the patron saint of the Opium label's look. His designs are famous for "glunge"—a mix of glamour and grunge—that often plays with traditionally feminine silhouettes to create something dark and post-apocalyptic.
Honestly, the bodysuit wasn't even the wildest thing in that photo. He had war paint on his face and was rocking heavy camo. It was a mood. But because the bottom of the mesh top looked like lingerie, the conversation shifted entirely to his masculinity.
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Why the hip-hop community reacted so strongly
Hip-hop has always had a complicated relationship with "alternative" fashion. You've got to remember where this comes from. For decades, the genre was defined by hyper-masculinity. Big jerseys, baggy jeans, and a very specific "tough" persona.
When the photos of Playboi Carti in a thong bodysuit hit the timeline, the backlash was swift.
- Boosie Badazz went on Instagram Live and didn't hold back, claiming Carti was trying to "outdo" his ex, Iggy Azalea.
- Crunchy Black of Three 6 Mafia called it emasculating in an interview with Shawn Prez.
- Social media was a war zone of "I'm retiring as a Carti fan" posts mixed with "You guys just don't understand archive fashion."
It's kinda funny because Carti isn't the first one to do this. Young Thug wore a dress on the Jeffery cover. Lil Uzi Vert has been wearing "feminine" silhouettes for years. Even A$AP Rocky—who basically mentored Carti—has been pushing the "pretty boy" aesthetic since 2011.
But Carti takes it to a darker, more "vampiric" place. The mesh bodysuit wasn't meant to be sexy in a traditional way; it was meant to be jarring. It was meant to be Rick Owens.
The Opium aesthetic and the death of traditional masculinity
To understand why Playboi Carti would even put that on, you have to understand the Opium aesthetic.
Carti’s label, Opium (home to Ken Carson and Destroy Lonely), has basically birthed a new subculture. If you go to a Carti show in 2026, you aren't seeing people in Jordans and hoodies. You’re seeing kids in all-black Rick Owens, Balenciaga, and heavy gothic jewelry.
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This isn't just about clothes; it's a rejection of the status quo. By wearing a thong-style bodysuit, Carti is essentially saying he doesn't care about the "rules" of rap.
"He’s influencing Black men to step outside the box and feel confident doing it," said fashion commentator Morthel in a recent interview. "You don't have to be loud about it to push boundaries."
The irony is that while the "uncles" of rap are mad, the youth are obsessed. The "vamp" look is now a global phenomenon. It’s a mix of:
- Gothic culture: Think eyeliner, black leather, and silver chains.
- Punk rock: The "I don't give a damn" attitude and the DIY feel.
- High fashion: Using archival pieces from Raf Simons or Rick Owens to signal status.
When you look at it through that lens, the bodysuit wasn't a mistake or a "leak." It was a calculated move in a career built on subverting expectations.
What most people get wrong about the viral photo
There’s a huge misconception that Carti just "woke up and put on a thong."
In reality, Carti’s fashion is heavily curated. He works with a team of creative counselors and stylists who treat every public appearance like a runway show. The "leak" of the photos often happens right before a major drop—in this case, during the lead-up to his I AM MUSIC era.
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Another thing people miss? The Iggy Azalea connection.
After the photos went viral, Iggy actually joked about it on social media. A fan commented that her "baby daddy" was out here in the same outfit as her, and she played along. It turned a moment of "controversy" into a moment of pop culture humor.
But behind the jokes, there's a real shift happening. We’re seeing the "rockstar" and "rapper" archetypes merge. Rockstars have been wearing tight, sheer, and "feminine" clothes since the 70s. Think Mick Jagger or David Bowie. Carti is just the first one to do it with a trap beat behind him.
Actionable insights for the fashion-forward
If you're looking at the Playboi Carti in a thong controversy and wondering what it means for the future of style, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Gender-neutral is the new standard: High-end brands are moveing away from "Men's" and "Women's" sections. The bodysuit Carti wore is a prime example of a garment that exists outside those labels.
- Silhouette over everything: Carti's style is about the shape. Whether it's the oversized "Big Foot" boots or the skin-tight mesh tops, it’s about creating a look that doesn't look "normal."
- Don't fear the "archive": If you want to pull off this look, you have to look backward. Brands like Rick Owens and Raf Simons have decades of pieces that challenge what we think clothes should look like.
- Confidence is the "aura": The reason Carti can wear a thong-style bodysuit and still be the most influential person in the room is because he doesn't look uncomfortable. Fashion is 90% how you carry it.
The discourse around that photo eventually died down, replaced by the next viral moment. But the impact remained. It pushed the needle just a little bit further. Whether you love it or hate it, you can't deny that Playboi Carti knows how to control the narrative without saying a single word.
He didn't explain the bodysuit. He didn't apologize for it. He just kept being "King Vamp."
If you're trying to emulate the Opium look, start with the basics: all-black everything, experiments with proportions, and a total disregard for what people on the internet think of your "masculinity." That's the real lesson from the bodysuit saga.