The Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty in March showcased more than just Hollywood glamour—it was an unspoken competition among the stars to see who could be the boldest on the red carpet.
Musician Charli XCX arrived in a yellow, sheer Givenchy gown; Charlize Theron stunned in a Christian Dior halter dress with embroidered details and exposed legs; Vanessa Hudgens showed off her baby bump in a sheer tulle creation by Alberta Ferretti; and Florence Pugh made headlines with a nude-toned, transparent Simone Rocha gown for Jean Paul Gaultier, complete with a nipple-baring moment.
These daring ensembles all contributed to the year's standout red carpet trend: the "naked dress," a term for sheer gowns that proudly celebrate the female form.
Anthony Vaccarello and the evolution of the naked dress
One designer leading this trend is Anthony Vaccarello, Saint Laurent’s creative director since 2016. His collections of sheer dresses and tops have dominated red carpets this year. A standout piece was a mocha-hued halter gown worn by Bella Hadid at the Cannes Film Festival, designed to showcase the body unapologetically.
Vaccarello’s designs draw inspiration from the house’s founder, Yves Saint Laurent, who, as early as the 1960s, created groundbreaking sheer tops that symbolized the era’s sexual revolution. More recently, Saint Laurent ambassador Zoë Kravitz wore a black lace mini-dress at the brand’s Paris runway show, a nod to this enduring aesthetic.
Among the latest to embrace this style is Emma Corrin, who identifies as non-binary. In 2021, they made headlines for redefining red-carpet fashion. This month, Corrin attended the Berlin premiere of Nosferatu in a sheer Saint Laurent gown by Vaccarello, followed by a London appearance in a Victorian-inspired butter-yellow Alexander McQueen dress that once again revealed their nipples.
For Corrin, showcasing the female form through their fashion adds another layer to their exploration of gender identity, making their choices both bold and surprising.
A legacy of transparency
Sheer dresses aren’t new to Hollywood. In 1974, Cher wore a Bob Mackie creation to the Met Gala that left little to the imagination. Decades later, Rihanna turned heads at the 2014 CFDA Awards in a transparent Adam Selman gown paired only with a white fur stole.
However, this year's take comes with a deeper message. For many stars, sheer clothing is more than just provocative; it’s a statement of body confidence, freedom, and empowerment. It declares that a woman can wear whatever she wants, whenever she wants, however she wants.
There’s also a practical aspect: social media. Transparent gowns generate significant buzz online, leading to increased visibility for both celebrities and their designers. From the MTV Awards to the Venice Film Festival, these daring looks have dominated red carpets, whether the vibe was wild or refined.
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One of the most artistic pieces in the genre this year was Stella Maxwell’s Iris van Herpen gown. Known for pushing boundaries, van Herpen incorporated advanced 3D printing techniques, combining complex structures with sustainable materials like recycled bioplastic.
Another noteworthy piece came from Alaïa, with designer Pieter Mulier crafting a collection of sleek, transparent gowns worn by stars like model Amelia Gray Hamlin.
From high fashion to personal expression, the "naked dress" has proven it’s here to stay—celebrating individuality, artistry, and the power of making a statement on the world’s most-watched stages.