Brownlow fashion: G-string dress that rocked the AFL red carpet

Melbourne WAG Tania Buckley was “harshly criticised for years” for wearing a cheeky outfit to the Brownlows – now the trend is back.

A Melbourne WAG was “harshly criticised for years” after wearing a G-string dress to the Brownlows in 2001 – and now the daring design is back in fashion.

Tania Buckley was married to former head coach of the Collingwood Football Club Nathan Buckley for 18 years before their split in 2020.

During one of their earliest public appearances together, Buckley’s then-girlfriend Tania Minnici caused a stir after wearing a pale pink dress with a built-in jewel encrusted G-string that flashed a cheeky amount of bottom.

Nathan Buckley’s then girlfriend Tania Minnici wore this pale pink G-string dress to the Brownlows in 2001. Picture: Supplied

However the fallout for the risque dress at such a prestigious Australian sporting event was harsh, with Tania explaining years later the scrutiny was too much.

“I wouldn’t wish it on anybody,” she told the Herald Sun in 2019.

“It was something we did and didn’t think was that full on.

“It was just a bit of fun but it dragged on for so many years [because of] all the judgmental individuals out there.”

But the AFL star’s wife of almost 20 years copped harsh scrutiny for many years for the racy design. Picture: Supplied

The G-string design is now incredibly popular, so will we see the racy style return in 2023? Picture: Supplied

While the dress was deemed too salacious for the partner of a Brownlow Medal winner back then, the G-string dress has made a firm resurgence in recent times.

Nadia Bartel turned heads in a Rebecca Vallance design with the racy feature at an event in Melbourne at the end of 2022.

The mum-of-two wore the Australian designer’s “Joan knit dress”, worth $599, to launch the brand’s latest collection – and turned heads with the racy cut-out on the side that featured the “G-string” feature.

Nadia Bartel is a fan of the G-string trend. Picture: Supplied

She wore the Rebecca Vallance dress at the end of 2022. Picture: Supplied

Liza Koshy at the 2023 Golden Globes wearing a daring dress that flashed her G-string. Picture: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

The mischievous style also made an appearance on the 2023 Golden Globes red carpet when an American social media personality arrived at the prestigious Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles wearing see-through dress that exposed her string undies.

Liza Koshy wore a one-of-a-kind Morphew Atelier Victorian lace and antique beaded gown to the glitzy bash, prompting many social media users to weigh-in on the sexy design.

“I like the outfit but the thong [G-string] kinda ruins it for me,” one wrote on Twitter, now known as X.

“The exposed underwear isn’t a good trend,” another offered.

However, news.com.au users have declared Tania’s iconic gown from the 2001 Brownlow Awards was “absolutely beautiful”, stating she looked “stunning”.

“Loved it then and love it now!” one wrote on Facebook.

“Compared to some of really tacky outfits these days, it looked great, and she looked great in it,” another said.

Originally published as Brownlow fashion: G-string dress that rocked the AFL red carpet