Mullet Dresses: Business In The Front, Party In The Back? (PHOTOS)

Elizabeth Olsen's dress at the Chanel-sponsored Museum of Modern Art gala this week got us thinking about a very important topic: mullet dresses.

Remember that saying, "Business in the front, party in the back"? Yep, "Joe Dirt" and "Wayne's World" have indeed inspired a peculiar fashion, believe it or not. Thankfully it's not the haircut but the dress, referring to a frock with a short hemline in the front and a long hemline in the back.

Which one is the "business" and which one is the "party," we'll let you decide.

While the unfortunate hairstyle is gone for good (we hope), the mullet dress trend rages on. Some of the most stylish stars like Elizabeth Olsen and Zoe Saldana have been rocking the topsy-turvy style on the red carpet recently -- and for the most part, look good doing it.

Flip through the photos below and see for yourself: are mullet dresses the best of both worlds or just totally weird?

Comments

[Danika Owens]

11:05 PM on 11/18/2011

I think it looks alright if it's not a drastic change. Like say, Elizabeth Olsen's dress didn't look too horrible. Selena Gomez's dress was too BAM for me! I don't personally like the look I guess. I agree though that it doesn't make much sense to say business in the front and party in the back when it comes to these dresses. Wouldn't something business-like be longer in the front then, and party translates to....a short cocktail dress etc?...Maybe I'm off!

[Jimsoutside]

12:22 PM on 11/18/2011

I'll believe it's a Mullet when I see David Spade in one.

[mairs]

12:11 PM on 11/18/2011

Some are pretty but others look like they caught up their bedspread when they tucked in their panties.

[IrieMoon]

11:08 AM on 11/18/2011

This is nothing new.

At least not for those of us who lived through the 80's and remember this style of dress being worn. Even some shirts were cut this way...short in front and long in back.

[Jimsoutside]

12:23 PM on 11/18/2011

I wish my plumber had a shirt like that.

[IrieMoon]

12:34 PM on 11/18/2011

Lol!

Perhaps you should start a new clothing line for plumbers. With low shirt tails or high pants backs!

[gbrous4663]

10:31 AM on 11/18/2011

Selena Gomez is the only one I thought even looked half-way decent. I guess I don't care too much for this look. The extension of cloth takes away from the dress above the knees.

[Theresa Cavender]

10:30 AM on 11/18/2011

They are just as bad as the damn haircut.

[me515]

09:08 AM on 11/18/2011

I like the look in general...fun!

[ladywog]

08:58 AM on 11/18/2011

There are a couple pretty ones, but mostly they range from ridiculous to downright horrible!

[Bluesky555]

08:17 AM on 11/18/2011

Now wouldn't business in the front, party in the back translate to "formal" in the front, and "mini" in the back? What makes a mini, low cut, sleeveless dress in front "business"?

The whole "mullet dress" thing is way over-reaching and makes no sense...

[kandikidskittle]

06:20 AM on 11/18/2011

They look like capes -__-

[carnivaluv]

12:20 AM on 11/18/2011

These dresses don't look as bad as dresses/shirts with a long sleeve on one side and no sleeve on the other.

[lefty81]

09:18 PM on 11/17/2011

It doesn't work because the mullet sillhouette just looks.........off.

[shinyglitterdoll]

06:24 PM on 11/17/2011

This dress style works in some photos, where the line of the dress flows gradually down to the train in the back. But when it's really abrupt it looks funky.

[Laura Kalbach]

08:57 AM on 11/18/2011

oh i agree! some of the pics are nice for the reason you said and others are just a terrible silohette!

I like tha idea that there is ample coverage for your butt in these things, esp when sitting down....

[Halsey]

05:51 PM on 11/17/2011

I am completely not a fashionista. Money HUGE issue but also trendoid has never worked for me.
I tried to see somethine nice in one or two and just could not. I think this will be gone by 4:30 PST tomorrow. A long slit if you have the right legs is very sexy. Kneebones sticking out of a pretty dress: Fail. Even women with beautiful legs when wearing a mullet :-), all I see are the knee bones.
I just clicked on style to see of a 56 year old woman can have long hair; I'm still waiting for that trend.

[littlepuffycloud]

05:03 PM on 11/17/2011

I guess there are mullet-everythings..we have a mullet maple tree in our front yard and a mullet comforter on the bed..weird.