Little Mix have hit out at the “double standards” between men and women when it comes to revealing stage costumes.

Their comments follow a wave of criticism after they made a return to the X Factor stage last weekend to perform their new single, Shout Out To My Ex, wearing coordinated outfits of super-short shorts, tiny tops and thigh-length boots.

Little Mix donned similarly revealing combos for this year's V Festival.
Little Mix donned similarly revealing combos for this year’s V Festival (Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA)

While their wardrobe divided viewer opinions – with some saying they were too provocative and others pointing out they were still wearing more than a swimming costume – the girl group spoke on ITV’s This Morning to set the record straight.

Jade Thirlwall told presenters Phillip Schofield and Christine Lampard on Thursday: “It’s a bit double standards, you always see lads with their tops off and everyone congratulates them and woos them, and we get a bit of thigh out and it’s a bit of an issue.

“We were really comfortable in our outfits and we loved what we wore, so that’s all that matters.”

The band find time to make a special birthday party performance.
The band find time to make a special birthday party performance (Frantzesco Kangaris/PA)

Little Mix described Shout Out To My Ex as a “happy kind of heartbreak song”, and it features on their latest album, Glory Days, which will take them on a USA tour with Ariana Grande.

Jade, along with bandmates Perrie Edwards, Leigh-Anne Pinnock and Jesy Nelson, said the album “marked a new era for Little Mix”.

ITV’s Lorraine Kelly said earlier in the week that the costumes they picked for The X Factor performance showed a maturing of the group, which rose to stardom after winning the competition five years ago.

Jesy’s soon-to-be mother-in-law Coleen Nolan also pointed out that the outfits were not far from some of the classic pieces worn on-stage by Beyonce.

Costumes aside, at least their real fans know what’s important: