Model Kendall Jenner, actor Zoë Kravitz, and singer Olivia Rodrigo in their see-through outfits and highlighted panties at the MET Gala 2021 were some of them. Then at the VMAs, actress Megan Fox and model Hailey Bieber struck a pose on the red carpet in their sheer outfits with exposed innerwear, accentuating their waif-thin physique.
So why are the unusual combinations of couture and exposed underwear suddenly catching the fancy of women in showbiz?
Could lingerie indeed be the next big statement in high fashion? Undoubtedly, in a post-pandemic world, it’s a possibility we can’t deny.
According to designer Ashima Sharma, we are now in a post-Victoria’s Secret era and designers are thinking beyond stylish clothes to make a statement.
“I see it as more than a style statement, with a hidden message about femininity,” remarks Ashima. “More celebrities are opting for sheer at red carpet events or fashion week appearances to look bold and confident. And the basic rule for selecting innerwear to pull off a naked dress is to have the right comfortable fitting that works best for your body type. The corset trends are catching on along with shapewear, and the two are blended to be worn inside a sheer dress.”
Sensual silhouettes
Many celebrities have rocked see-through dressing in the past few years at formal red carpet events, making an impression by highlighting their sexuality in daring ensembles. Rihanna, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner, Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kim Kardashian, Ariana Grande and Katy Perry got popular as sex sirens by pulling off some of these unforgettable ‘naked’ looks on the red carpet.
While adding that in Hollywood, wearing nude underwear inside a sheer garment is a very popular trend designer Victor Robinson believes Bella Hadid is this style’s trendsetter. “Some years ago, Bella wore a beautiful Dior sheer gown with high waist skin-coloured panty, a bold and elegant outfit, which she carried off quite well,” Victor recalls. “These days, international brands like Givenchy, Zuhair Murad and Elie Saab make gorgeous sheer and mesh gowns, and for some celebrities they even make nude bodysuits to avoid mishaps.”
Luxe lingerie
The shock-value of see-through sexual dresses for red carpet events has gone down and it’s considered a functional yet stylish trend among global celebrities. Today, every celebrity strives to be a head-turner for the shutterbugs at glam events and to impress fans with their toned bodies and sensuality.
In fact, Abhishek Gupta, founder of intimate lingerie label KamukLife, believes the trend of exposing innerwear is here to stay. Sharing tips to choose the right kind of inner-wear while donning a transparent dress, he adds, “When wearing a transparent outfit, some of the best innerwear options are embellished thongs, suspender style lingerie, body stockings under the sheer dress and leather lingerie. The trick is to choose the correct fit, size and colour that match the final outfit.”
However, Abhishek recommends that one always try the ensemble in advance. “Ensure the attire is comfortable and fits the body perfectly to avoid any wardrobe malfunction,” he adds.
Bold and beautiful
Calling it an audacious move in fashion, Anshu Gupta, co-founder of the label Elgante, says, “I’m all in for ‘sheer without fear’ and ‘flaunt your panty’ trends in fashion. You just need to play with contrasts and choose silhouettes that suit your personality.”
Anshu also speaks of choosing the right kind of briefs, control-top bottoms, camis and shapewear for ultimate comfort in a body-hugging dress or one with thigh-high slits. “Wear high-waist briefs to cover your lower half while still showing some skin, so that they cover your bottom and stomach area and look sophisticated,” adds Anshu. “Go for seamless undergarments made without elastic and create the illusion of smooth lines and flaunt them under silhouettes with risky cuts. You can also balance a pastel-coloured outfit with printed lingerie, neon shades or contrast colour panties to show off your body with confidence.”
