Tyla Sparked Buzz With a Controversial Appearance in Paris

Tyla just took the naked dress trend to a level. The singer wore one of the most talked-about outfits at Paris Fashion Week, and it wasn't even from a designer's collection.

It was only a few years ago that Tyla, now 24, burst onto the global music scene from Johannesburg, South Africa. The singer has a petite frame that may surprise people who see her in person, but what she may lack in stature, she more than makes up for in presence.

Since bursting onto the scene, she has made it clear that fashion is just as much a part of her identity as music. She has become known for skin-baring silhouettes, noughties-inspired looks, and a wardrobe that mixes high-end labels with emerging designers most people have never heard of. Paris Fashion Week was no different.

Heads Turned Outside Her Hotel

Late Monday night, the 24-year-old South African pop star was photographed outside her Paris hotel on her way to Crazy Horse. She was dressed in what looked like a sharp, fashion-forward outfit, and every camera in the vicinity swung her way.

From the front, the look was immaculate. A fitted turtleneck in burnt orange, black, and dark brown snakeskin print hugged her frame, complete with the appearance of zippers, pockets, and a built-in belt. Her bedazzled belly button piercing peeked just below the hem.

She paired it with Rock Revival super low-rise moto jeans — worn unbuttoned — archival DSquared Fall 2016 Samurai heels in brown and electric blue, and a $3,600 Valentino suede and python shoulder bag draped over one shoulder. A delicate gold Chanel chain necklace and electric blue nails finished the look.

Her black hair cascaded in a waist-grazing blowout. She looked, by every measure, completely put together.

Then She Turned Around

That's when things got interesting.

The snakeskin top didn't have a back. Not a low back, not a cutout — no back at all. The print stopped abruptly under her arms, and everything below was bare skin.

Photographers caught every angle, and the images spread fast. Because closer inspection revealed that the "Water" singer wasn't wearing any fabric on her upper half at all. It was a temporary tattoo.

Designer Simon Carle had painstakingly applied multiple sheets of scaly ink designs directly onto her skin, constructing the illusion of a long-sleeved fitted jacket — zippers, pockets, belt detail, and all — from the front.

The entire look was body art. "Skin tight X @simoncarle__ Thanks for my Tat 💋," Tyla captioned her Instagram photo dump showing off every angle of the look.

One shower and it's gone.

Fans Lose Their Minds

The internet reaction was immediate, with fans flooding her comments to express their shock at the artistry. One follower simply wrote, "omg," while another noted the look was "Absolutely iconic ❤️."

Others were left speechless by the sheer technical skill required to pull off the body art. "This is insane," one fan commented, followed by another who claimed their "Jaw on the floor😍."

Fashion Forward

With her sophomore album, "A-Pop," set to drop this summer, Tyla is clearly making sure all eyes are on her. This optical illusion statement proves she is willing to push boundaries beyond traditional textiles.

While most stars worry about a wardrobe malfunction, Tyla's only concern in Paris was likely a sudden rainstorm. By the time she returned to her hotel, the "top" was ready to be scrubbed away.