Here's why you should give the sheer skirt trend a go this season

Naked dressing has been all over the red carpet for many years now. When Rihanna did it at the CFDA Awards in 2014, it made headlines, but it is no longer even surprising to see a celebrity turn up to an event with their underwear—or their naked bodies—completely on display. However, unlike many celebrity-driven fashion trends, it has taken some time for sheer dressing to reach the mainstream in any significant way. Although some more daring dressers have tried it out with eveningwear, it has never become a wardrobe mainstay for most of us and certainly not a wearable trend for the every day. In 2024 though, that might all be about to change with the much more grown-up sheer skirt, which seems to be everywhere.

On the catwalks the past few seasons, we have seen the likes of Prada, Dior, and Valentino bet big on the sheer skirt, making them wearable through layering or by styling them with feminine cardigans or oversized masculine blazers. For SS24, sheer skirts took centre stage at Givenchy, Erdem, Carolina Herrera, and 16Arlington, among others, while A-listers and street stylers have adopted them into their wardrobes and proved that sheer dressing does not have to be daring.

At 16Arlington, sheer was done with sequins and teamed with a loose-fitted crisp white shirt, revealing just a hint of white underwear. At Altuzarra, a sheer skirt was layered over a mini, while Erdem’s hot pink sheer lace skirt was toughened up with a biker jacket. At Givenchy, a sheer skirt was worn over big knickers and styled with an oversized coat and long socks, while Carolina Herrera gave the skirt an uber feminine makeover by teaming it with a matching cardigan set. On the streets, we have seen sheer skirts paired with peplum hems and ballet pumps, or oversized blazers and cotton tees.

Unlike the naked dressing trend that we’ve got used to on the red carpet, the sheer skirt really can be worn in a demure fashion, and there are so many ways to make it work. Our top tips? Choose a loose-fitting style—you don’t want anything too clingy when it comes to sheer fabrics. If you’d rather not reveal too much, style your skirt with a longer jacket, or layer over shorts or a mini skirt. Oversized blazers and bikers work great for playing with proportion, but ladylike cardigans give a nice contrast. Lastly, wear dainty heels or ballet pumps to elongate your legs, and always cover up on top—less is more here.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK.