Is naked dress the new LBD?

An offshoot of the minimal '90s, the eye-catching naked dress has become a red carpet mainstay with movie stars and pop icons embracing it with incredible gusto. With more and more celebrities embracing their body types, the popularity of lingerie-inspired dressing revealing corsetry and exemplifying bustier construction can be attributed to the all-pervading spirit of body positivity. Moreover, stylists have realised the visual appeal of outfits crafted in mesh, tulle, and organza fabrics. Celebrities like Doja Cat, Lori Harvey, and Lily James too ignited various red carpet events this year in diaphanous creations which came with embellishments like sequins and feathers. 

At the fashion weeks too, front rows were eclipsed by these translucent ensembles—be it Kate Moss's slip dress or Rihanna's lingerie bump or Florence Pugh's sparkly see-through Barbiecore attire. 

At the Milan Fashion Week, Blumarine showcased sheer separates with Baroque crosses embroidered on them, Prada's runway was inundated with transparent coats worn over black underpants. Gucci, Missoni, MSGM, Ferragamo, Dolce & Gabbana and Etro too nodded in favour of tasteful nakedness.

The overarching thought behind this wave of adventurous dressing is to respect every body type and all women. Designer Paras Bairoliya of label Geisha Designs observes that in a society that always reminds women of their imperfect bodies and often overlooks female sexuality, nudity empowers women. "When women of colour like Rihanna, Lizzo, Winnie Harlow and Beyonce present themselves as works of art in a naked dress on the red carpet, it empowers women by allowing them to challenge expectations about beauty, race and the female body. Which serves as a major push towards inclusivity and challenging the traditional idea of beauty," says Bairoliya. 

Designer Prreeti Jaiin Nainutia of Nirmooha notes that fashion is anything but linear, trends fade out and make a comeback sooner or later, but for the sheer dress, there is still a lot of room to play with this concept and for designers to make their own from this particular garment. "The see-through dress enhances the true form of the body but yet doesn't shy away to show its flaw, it, in fact, celebrates one's body for what it is. It's exciting to see people being confident in their own skin," says Nainutia. 

Designer Saisha Shinde notes that it's an interesting time in fashion when celebrities are accepting their physicality and who they are and what makes them happy. "Today women are not scared to flaunt their curves. With some of our iconic celebrities embracing their bodies, it paves the way for everyone to warm up to this unique style steeped in inclusivity and acceptance," says Shinde.   

While sheer dresses may have become a part of mainstream fashion, comfort remains crucial. "Cut out details are a great way to embrace sheerness. A see-through top or a shirt can be layered smartly with an opaque separate thus balancing out the look," adds Shinde. 

Bairoliya suggests a minimal approach to hair and make-up, and an elegant pair of heels. "The saying ‘less is more’ is apt when it comes to styling a naked dress, skip the jewellery and allow the dress to do the talking," he quips. 

On the other hand, Nainutia suggests keeping the face nude with a soft lip and opting for long, flowy hair with beach waves. "Add some bling with rings and ear studs to amp up the drama," she adds.

This transparency trend underscores the fact that a woman's body is her own and not to be ignored. She refuses to be the wallflower and her rebellious dressing is her sartorial response to the socio-political environment of our times.