wardrobe malfunction
An embarrassing situation where a person's clothing accidentally moves or breaks, revealing a part of the body that is usually covered. It is often used to describe incidents involving celebrities or public figures.
“She had a minor wardrobe malfunction when her button popped off during the dance.”
“The news anchor handled her wardrobe malfunction with grace, continuing the broadcast despite her microphone clip falling through her shirt.”
“While the designer emphasized the avant-garde nature of the collection, critics focused primarily on the series of wardrobe malfunctions that occurred as models struggled with the impractical fasteners on the runway.”
first recorded 21st c.
The term was famously coined by Justin Timberlake's spokesperson to describe the incident during the 2004 Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show. During the performance, Timberlake pulled a piece of Janet Jackson's costume, accidentally exposing her breast to millions of viewers. The phrase was used as a euphemism to suggest the exposure was a technical accident rather than a planned stunt. It quickly entered the popular lexicon as a standard way to describe any accidental clothing failure.
Last updated September 28, 2026