As Emily Ratajkowski embraces the trend, we look at the rise of the thigh-high split from runway to red carpet
While crop-tops and mini-skirts have long determined the flesh-flaunting territory of fashion, there's been a noticable rise in the number of thigh-high splits hitting both the runway and the red-carpet over the last few years.
No doubt spearheaded by Angelina Jolie's arrival at the Oscars in 2012 - the trend is often referred to as the 'Jolie leg' - the actress's black velveteen, strapless Atelier Versace gown was enhanced by the pose she adopted.
With these styles previously worn so often in the same way as a regular-hemmed dress, Angelina stepped outside the parameter, literally, as she kicked out her exposed leg to such an extent that it became the most talked-about moment of the evening (but, of course, congratulations to Jean Dujardin and Meryl Streep for your awards).
As the celebrity pack began to follow, the fashion world gave the trend its seal of approval. In September last year, during the spring/summer '15 runway shows, Altuzarra, Donna Karan, Jason Wu, J. Mendel and Raplh Lauren each put on a display full of thigh-high splits.
Since then the red carpet has been awash with celebrities replicating the look, including Rita Ora, Jennifer Aniston, Kendall Jenner and Miranda Kerr, with model - and actress - of the moment Emily Ratajkowski following suit at the We Are Your Friends premiere in LA this week.
The evolution of the thigh-high split from runway to red carpetEmily RatajkowskiAngelina JolieMiranda KerrKendall JennerThe trend was undoubtedly spearheaded by Angelina Jolie's 2012 Oscars appearance
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