A
wardrobe malfunction is a
euphemism for accidental exposure of
intimate parts. It is different from
flashing, as the latter implies a deliberate exposure. There has been a long history of such incidents, though the term itself was coined in the mid 2000s and has become one of the most common
fashion faux pas.
Linguistic phenomenon
The
American Dialect Society defines it as "an unanticipated exposure of bodily parts".
Global Language Monitor, which tracks usage of words on the internet and in newspapers worldwide, identified the term as the top
Hollywood contribution to
English (HollyWordie) in 2004, surpassing words like
girlie men,
Yo! and
frass. The term was also one of the new entrants into the
Chambers Dictionary in 2008, along with words like
electrosmog,
carbon footprint,
credit crunch and
social networking. The dictionary defines it as "the temporary failure of an item of clothing to do its job in covering a part of the body that it would be advisable to keep covered". One source defines it as, accidental and indecent exposure of body parts by a fault in someone's clothing (especially that of a performer) or by an error made while changing this costume.
The term is credited as having been coined by singers Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson, on February 1, 2004, to explain the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show controversy; the controversy is in reference to Jackson's right breast having been bared. After the Super Bowl incident, the term "wardrobe malfunction" appeared in 5,028 stories in major US consumer and business publications, newspapers, and major TV and radio broadcasts. Journalist Eric Alterman described the incident as "the most famous 'wardrobe malfunction' since Lady Godiva".
The American Dialect Society had a number of related terms for Word of the year nominations in 2004, including Janet moment (unplanned bodily exposure at a public function), boobgate (scandal over Janet Jackson's exposed breast), nipplegate (Like boobgate, but used earlier in squawk over Jackson's possible nipple ring) and wardrobe malfunction (overexposure in a mammary way). The term has been translated into other languages to describe similar incidents, including garderobedefect (Dutch), incident de garde-robe or défaut de fonctionnement de garde-robe (French), Garderobenstörung (German), disfunzione del guardaroba or incidente del guardaroba (Italian), and mal funcionamiento del guardarropa (Spanish). In some US cities, low hanging pants and whale tail flashing (thong exposed over the top of pants or skirts) are considered as wardrobe malfunctions, and are considered as a school dress code issue. Bikinis also present a celebrity wardrobe malfunction opportunities to the paparazzi in the form of wedgies or bikini-top malfunctions. Celebrity upskirts and nip slips, like that of Lindsay Lohan, Britney Spears and Paris Hilton have been described as deliberate wardrobe malfunctions to draw public attention. In Wedding Planning and Management: Consultancy for Diverse Clients, Maggie Daniels warns, "With so many people involved in the wedding party, a wardrobe malfunction is guaranteed to happen." In Cheer!: Inside the Secret World of College Cheerleaders, Kate Torgovnick warns of wardrobe malfunctions while cheerleading. The first reported instance of wardrobe malfunction occurred on The Price Is Right in 1977 involving contestant Yolanda Bowersley, though such incidents were not called by that name at the time.
In the video for the D12 song "My Band", rappers Eminem and Bizarre spoof Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake from the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show, with a mock wardrobe malfunction.
Eminem again parodied Janet Jackson's Super Bowl XXXVIII incident in the music video for "Ass Like That", in which a puppet version of Jackson is seen with her breast exposed, accompanying the lyrics "Janet, is that a breast? I think I just saw a tit".
See also
Dress code
Voyeurism
References
External links
UK Olympian Suffers Major Wardrobe Malfunction on Bobsled Track, breitbart.tv
Category:Clothing controversies
Category:English phrases
Category:Euphemisms
![Bella Twin Nip Slip [HD 1080p]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110808165121im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dr302pXBr2E/0.jpg "Bella Twin Nip Slip [HD 1080p]")
