Welcome to October, a once pumpkin-spiced month, that has apparently become thong-themed. This week alone, the world was graced with three very famous butts.


There was Rihanna's uncomfortable-looking denim thong ...





... Ke$ha's lingerie thong ...



... and, of course, Miley's onesie thong.


miley cyrus terry richardson


Pantslessness is nothing new. As our very own Leigh Blickley noted, "ever since Beyonce slipped her incredible figure into one of those things only ballerinas used to wear," leotards have basically become a uniform as far as stage-wear goes. Struggling for shock-value, it seems forgoing pants has become a standard of pop-star attire.


As thongs replace hot pants, we can't help but wonder what celebrities will do once thongs, too, are considered commonplace. Though its prevalence has recently spiked, the garment isn't all that novel. For your butt-baring knowledge, we bring you: a brief history of the thong.


Please indulge us by playing the "Thong Song" while you read.





The Beginning Of Time - The thong finds its origin in the loin cloth, present across Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, and the 1932 television show "Tarzan The Ape Man."


loin cloth



1874 - The jock strap is invented by sporting goods company Sharp & Smith to provide both support for bicycle jockeys and more inspiration for the thong.


1939 - In the first-ever recorded reference to the thong, New York Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia decrees that nude dancers must dress "more appropriately."


The 50s - "Thong sandals" make their debut in the states. The shoes forever scandalize footwear and add another antiquated word for your grandma to embarrass you with.


1974 - 100 years after Sharp & Smith helped bicycle jockeys stay in place, Rudi Gernreich spiced butt straps up with the alleged invention of the thong. At the very least, he is credited with creating thong bathing suits (also, "the no-bra bra").


The '90s - Though prevalent on exotic dancers and all of the people in Brazil for years before 1990, it was only in the decade of Britney and boy bands, that the garment made its true U.S. debut.


1992 - One "Thong Song" could never possibly be enough. Fortunately Kyuss releases an earlier, slightly angstier version on the album "Blues For The Red Sun."





Dec. 31, 1999 - Sisqó confirms the cultural significance of the tiny butt strap with the "Thong Song."


thong



The 00s - Britney Spears' sexual awakening cements the thong's continued existence in the new millennium. In her most iconic use of a thong, she takes a cue from Superman, and wears the garment over her pants.


thong2



May 22, 2013 - Rihanna helps civilization prepare for the approaching thong revolution, with an especially shiny preview of the "Pour It Up" video.







August 25, 2013 - Following a string (pun-intended) of publicity stunts beginning in 2009, Lady Gaga takes her thonged butt to the stage and still manages to be only the second most shocking thing about the VMAs.


lady gaga thong


Thong-tober - Rihanna, Miley Cyrus, and Ke$ha flash their bottoms inciting enough chaos to make people forget about pumpkins.


The Future - No one ever wears anything but thongs ever again.



Also on HuffPost:




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  • Kim On Butt X-Ray


    "I've said numerous times, 'I haven't had plastic surgery, I haven't had butt implants.' ... "Who the hell of a normal person gets butt implants?" ... "I'm so glad I did this x-ray. The whole world has been doubting me -- this is the best thing I could've done." -- Kim Kardashian on <a href="http://www.eonline.com/on/shows/kardashians/index.html" target="_hplink">"Keeping Up With The Kardashians"</a>




  • Khloe Kardashian-Odom


    "Hey dolls. The PROOF is in the X-ray. Kim's ass is 100% real!!!" -- Khloe Kardashian on her <a href="http://khloekardashian.celebuzz.com/kim-kardashian-butt-x-ray-06-2011" target="_hplink">Celebuzz blog</a>.




  • Rob Talks Kim's Behind


    "She hears what everyone says - even reading the smallest blogs out there - and listens. But you know what? Our family is Armenian, we all have big butts." -- Rob Kardashian to <a href="http://www.details.com/blogs/daily-details/2011/07/rob-kardashian-on-living-with-khlo-hanging-with-lamar-and-yes-kims-butt-none.html" target="_hplink">Details magazine</a>.




  • Anderson Cooper


    "For a while now I've had this unsettling feeling... Like the universe was slightly out of whack. I couldn't pin-point the source of the feeling, but then it hit me: no one has really been saying much about Kim Kardashian's butt lately ... Unbeknownst to me, the entire world will not stop with the crack about her butt- its voracity, so to speak. Will an x-ray really help us get to the bottom of this world crisis? I'm thinking that we need some kind of control group." -- Anderson Cooper on <a href="http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/2011/06/28/the-ridiculist-kim-kardashian-haters/" target="_hplink">CNN</a>




  • Kim To Cosmo UK


    "I see ridiculous stories about my butt, like how it has been insured ... I feel like saying, 'Hey, everyone has a butt. It's not that big a deal!' But I suppose it's flattering. Personally, I've always loved the curvy look. Even when I was a little girl and all my friends would be like, 'Oh, my god, your butt's so big.' And I'd say, 'I love it.'" -- Kim Kardashian to <a href="http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/" target="_hplink">Cosmopolitan UK</a>.




  • Kim To Self Magazine


    "Rumors don't bother me anymore ... I've read that I've had my lips done. I've always had big lips. Look at my baby pictures. It's ridiculous. Or they'll show one picture of me today and one tomorrow, and say I've had my nose done in between. When? Didn't you just see me yesterday? And how many times have I 'had my butt done'? People's logic is so weird. I don't know why they bother! You can't worry about all the gossip." -- Kim Kardashian to <a href="http://www.self.com/healthystars/2011/04/kim-kardashian-beauty-slideshow#slide=1" target="_hplink">SELF Magazine</a>




  • What Kris Humphries Thinks


    "I think he likes my lips ... And he likes, obviously, my butt." -- Kim Kardashian on what body part her fiance Kris Humphris likes most.




  • Kim On Butt Obsession


    "There's constant interest in my bottom! The paparazzi always want 'butt' shots, girls come up to me and grab it, and people ask to squeeze it. I sometimes think: 'Everyone's got a butt, why do you care about mine?'" -- Kim Kardashian via <a href="http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2009/10/06/kim_kardashian_talks_about_how_much_atte" target="_hplink">StarPulse</a>




  • Kim To Harper's Bazaar


    "I don't get why everyone is always going on about my butt ... I'm Armenian. It's normal. My butt is probably not as big as you might think, because I have small legs and a small waist, which makes it appear bigger." -- Kim Kardashian to <a href="http://www.harpersbazaar.com/fashion/fashion-articles/naked-celebrity-pictures-0510#fbIndex1" target="_hplink">Harper's Bazaar</a>.




  • Kim Kardashian On "The Wendy Williams Show"


    "It's real and jiggly and I wish it was firmer." -- Kim Kardashian on <a href="http://www.wendyshow.com/" target="_hplink">"The Wendy Williams Show"</a>