I wish I could be better at organizing my thoughts about all this. Being a Mid-Boomer, raised on a rather strange mix of Methodism and Playboy Magazine, my brain goes a little fuzzy when it comes to the thought of nude women.
I think I know enough to say 'Naked Dressing' isn't exactly a new thing. We've seen it now and again for as long as I'm been alive, and it goes way way back in history.
IMO, this new development is partly about women telling men to move over and make room.
‘Naked Dressing’ Is Spreading and It’s Making Things Awkward
Barely-there outfits are moving from the runway to weddings and business conferences; ‘I have no idea where to look right now.’
When Jennifer Epstein wore a sheer lace skirt that showed off her underwear to dinner with her husband, his response—after he regained his ability to speak—was “Where is the rest of your outfit?”
Epstein, a pharmacist in Fort Washington, Pa., said she wasn’t looking for his approval. “It feels empowering,” the 43-year-old said. “It’s a modern kind of feminism that embraces self assurance and femininity on your own terms.”
“Naked dressing” started as a look for publicity-seeking celebrities and fashion designers. Now it is migrating from the runways and red carpets to everyday shoppers—and it’s not exactly going smoothly.
People are showing up in barely-there outfits to business conferences and weddings, prompting shock and discomfort among other attendees.
When Christian Espinosa walked into a dinner during a cybersecurity conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., he did a double take. Seated near him was a woman in a bralette and sheer black skirt.
“I’m not someone who rattles easily,” said the 47-year-old founder of a cybersecurity company. “But I remember thinking, ‘I have no idea where to look right now.’”
The woman turned out to be the keynote speaker. She killed the speech. But Espinosa said attendees spent more time whispering about her outfit than talking about her presentation.
Naked dressers have more options than ever. Zara has a page on its website devoted to lingerie dresses. L’Agence is selling sheer lace dresses through which bra and panties are visible. Michael Kors is pairing triangle bralettes with trousers. Aerie has an entire collection called “Show Off,” including a bra embedded in a sheer lace camisole.
“We’re not pairing the bra tops with underwear—but with pants,” said Haley Palese, who runs merchandising for Aerie and its sister chain Offline.
One of Victoria’s Secret’s hottest product launches this spring was a strapless bra that could be worn sans shirt. Hailey Bieber modeled it with an unzipped jacket.
“It’s innerwear as outwear,” said Hillary Super, chief executive of Victoria’s Secret, which also owns the PINK brand. “You are seeing people wear less and less.”
Some women say showing skin makes them feel liberated. Others see it as another form of female objectification.
“A lot of people aren’t comfortable looking like they are wearing a bikini as an outfit,” said Brooke Rounick, a stylist in New York.
Pulling off the look requires a certain amount of confidence and an investment in nipple covers, boy shorts and other undergarments designed to be visible while hiding the most private parts.
“It’s a hard no,” said Regina Levy, a 41-year-old attorney in Westchester, N.Y. “I have two prepubescent boys. They would go insane if they saw their mom dressed that way.”
Women have been shedding clothes for over a century, starting with the corsets and structured undergarments of the Victorian era. In the 1930s, film star Mae West wore a sheer lace dress with strategically placed floral appliqués.
Weddings are another challenge.
At a recent Hawaiian-themed wedding in Sausalito, Calif., most guests arrived in Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts. But one wore a nude colored thong bikini bottom and bandeau top, said Nikita Khandheria, whose events company hosted the affair.
Khandheria told the woman there was a dress code and if she didn’t put on more clothes, she would be asked to leave. She walked her across the street where she bought a cover-up.
Nikita Khandheria said the style is so pervasive that she now includes explicit instructions on invitations.
‘Naked Dressing’ Is Spreading and It’s Making Things Awkward
Barely-there outfits are moving from the runway to weddings and business conferences; ‘I have no idea where to look right now.’
When Jennifer Epstein wore a sheer lace skirt that showed off her underwear to dinner with her husband, his response—after he regained his ability to speak—was “Where is the rest of your outfit?”
Epstein, a pharmacist in Fort Washington, Pa., said she wasn’t looking for his approval. “It feels empowering,” the 43-year-old said. “It’s a modern kind of feminism that embraces self assurance and femininity on your own terms.”
“Naked dressing” started as a look for publicity-seeking celebrities and fashion designers. Now it is migrating from the runways and red carpets to everyday shoppers—and it’s not exactly going smoothly.
People are showing up in barely-there outfits to business conferences and weddings, prompting shock and discomfort among other attendees.
When Christian Espinosa walked into a dinner during a cybersecurity conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., he did a double take. Seated near him was a woman in a bralette and sheer black skirt.
“I’m not someone who rattles easily,” said the 47-year-old founder of a cybersecurity company. “But I remember thinking, ‘I have no idea where to look right now.’”
The woman turned out to be the keynote speaker. She killed the speech. But Espinosa said attendees spent more time whispering about her outfit than talking about her presentation.
Naked dressers have more options than ever. Zara has a page on its website devoted to lingerie dresses. L’Agence is selling sheer lace dresses through which bra and panties are visible. Michael Kors is pairing triangle bralettes with trousers. Aerie has an entire collection called “Show Off,” including a bra embedded in a sheer lace camisole.
“We’re not pairing the bra tops with underwear—but with pants,” said Haley Palese, who runs merchandising for Aerie and its sister chain Offline.
One of Victoria’s Secret’s hottest product launches this spring was a strapless bra that could be worn sans shirt. Hailey Bieber modeled it with an unzipped jacket.
“It’s innerwear as outwear,” said Hillary Super, chief executive of Victoria’s Secret, which also owns the PINK brand. “You are seeing people wear less and less.”
Some women say showing skin makes them feel liberated. Others see it as another form of female objectification.
“A lot of people aren’t comfortable looking like they are wearing a bikini as an outfit,” said Brooke Rounick, a stylist in New York.
Pulling off the look requires a certain amount of confidence and an investment in nipple covers, boy shorts and other undergarments designed to be visible while hiding the most private parts.
“It’s a hard no,” said Regina Levy, a 41-year-old attorney in Westchester, N.Y. “I have two prepubescent boys. They would go insane if they saw their mom dressed that way.”
Women have been shedding clothes for over a century, starting with the corsets and structured undergarments of the Victorian era. In the 1930s, film star Mae West wore a sheer lace dress with strategically placed floral appliqués.
- Actress and singer Jane Birkin later immortalized the see-through crochet dress.
- Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier-designed cone bra was a star attraction of her 1990 “Blond Ambition” tour
- Women still talk about the sheer, silver slip dress that Kate Moss wore in 1993 that showed just about everything.
Weddings are another challenge.
At a recent Hawaiian-themed wedding in Sausalito, Calif., most guests arrived in Hawaiian shirts and hula skirts. But one wore a nude colored thong bikini bottom and bandeau top, said Nikita Khandheria, whose events company hosted the affair.
Khandheria told the woman there was a dress code and if she didn’t put on more clothes, she would be asked to leave. She walked her across the street where she bought a cover-up.
Nikita Khandheria said the style is so pervasive that she now includes explicit instructions on invitations.
Some brides are bringing extra dresses in case of guest-related wardrobe violations. An attendee at one black-tie wedding wore a white dress that was practically see-through. She wasn’t wearing a bra.
Khandheria borrowed the photographer’s camera and showed the woman how her dress looked in the photos. She suggested the woman change into a fully-lined blue dress the bride had brought for just such an emergency.
“At a wedding, the bride should be the center of attention,” Khandheria said. “Not some friend who is basically naked.”
Epstein’s husband Brian Epstein is still getting used to his wife’s fashion choices.
“It’s shocking when she wears something see-through,” said the 55-year-old entrepreneur. He has learned not to argue with her about fashion. “She tells me I don’t know what I’m talking about and I say, ‘You’re right.’”
Khandheria borrowed the photographer’s camera and showed the woman how her dress looked in the photos. She suggested the woman change into a fully-lined blue dress the bride had brought for just such an emergency.
“At a wedding, the bride should be the center of attention,” Khandheria said. “Not some friend who is basically naked.”
Epstein’s husband Brian Epstein is still getting used to his wife’s fashion choices.
“It’s shocking when she wears something see-through,” said the 55-year-old entrepreneur. He has learned not to argue with her about fashion. “She tells me I don’t know what I’m talking about and I say, ‘You’re right.’”
