See-through outfits are the red-carpet trend of 2022

Who looks sheer class and who doesn’t? See-through outfits are one of the biggest red-carpet trends of 2022… and the hardest to pull off

Once, a flash of knickers or, God forbid, a ‘nip slip’ was every celebrity’s nightmare. Well, not any more.

The hottest red carpet looks now have something of The Emperor’s New Clothes about them . . . If the Emperor had opted to drape a wisp of ten-denier mesh over himself, that is.

From the Marchioness of Bath, Emma Weymouth, in see-through sequins to actress Lily James in translucent tulle, no party or premiere has gone without a sheer sighting, with transparent — or ‘nearly naked’ — dressing one of the biggest trends of 2022.

That said, it’s taken spectators a while to get their heads around it. When Florence Pugh wore her hot pink Valentino gown to the designer’s haute couture show in Rome in July, the internet went into a meltdown over her visible breasts.

From the Marchioness of Bath, Emma Weymouth (left), in see-through sequins to actress Lily James (right) in translucent tulle, no party or premiere has gone without a sheer sighting

The star reclaimed her boob-flashing moment with a body-positive Instagram post, declaring: ‘I’ve lived in my body for a long time. I’m fully aware of my breast size and am not scared of it.’ She has continued to ‘free her nipple’ in a gold sequin Valentino two-piece, as well as a Victoria Beckham dress with sheer white panels.

In fact, we’ve reached a transparent tipping point, with iridescent, see-through fabrics all over the red carpet — and now hitting the High Street for party season. On fashion rental platform Hurr, searches for sheer dresses are up 200 per cent since this time last year.

While the thought of turning up nearly naked to your office Christmas do sounds like the stuff of nightmares, the transparent trend can be surprisingly classy and make an instant impact. Done right, you can exude an enviable and enigmatic sexiness.

As with so many trends, the love for sheer can be traced back to the 1990s and the iconic moment a 19-year-old Kate Moss went to a party in a see-through silver slip dress with black M&S knickers underneath. She recently claimed she didn’t realise the dress was transparent, but a few paparazzi flashbulbs and fashion history was made.

When Florence Pugh (left) wore her hot pink Valentino gown to the designer’s haute couture show in Rome in July, the internet went into a meltdown over her visible breasts. As with so many trends, the love for sheer can be traced back to the 1990s and the iconic moment a 19-year-old Kate Moss (right) went to a party in a see-through silver slip dress with black M&S knickers underneath

Now 48, Kate Moss is embracing sheer perfection again. She wore a see-through, olive green hooded jersey dress to present an award in New York last month, and went bra-less in a sparkly translucent floor-length frock to a party in London just days later. Both worked because she wore them with the two key things you need to pull this look off — confidence and big pants.

Although a see-through dress containing only a smattering of sequins may sound like the kind of thing that should be attempted only by the very young, the very lithe or the very Love Island, sheer can be worn by women of any age — and is actually a clever way of covering up the parts you don’t like.

Think of transparency as adding texture — a mesh top under a deep V-neck knit, or a sheer skirt worn with a polo neck and tights. Black sheer is instantly slimming, tricking the eye into shaving off a few inches. If you don’t fancy wearing it all over, you can confine it to the areas which might benefit (as is the case for so many of us) from a touch of gauzy magic to distract from any wrinkles or dimples.

Take Olivia Colman’s strapless Stella McCartney number at the Golden Globes, which had a sparkly net panel over her bare shoulders and arms, giving a far more fun and glamorous look than if the 48-year-old had been covered in opaque material from head to toe. She looks sophisticated but also sexy and on trend — surely the holy trinity of party dressing.

Olivia Wilde (left) in a black sheer number at the People’s Choice Awards 2022 and Kendall Jenner (right) in a sheer sequinned dress at the 2021 Met Gala

If you’re brave enough to opt for a nearly naked dress at a Christmas party this year, the key to being classy not brassy is not to show too much bare skin. And beware bright colours, which are hard to pull off.

The flimsy red ‘dress’ singer Rita Ora wore at the British Fashion Awards was by hot London designer Nensi Dojaka. But teamed with a red thong, it looked more Ann Summers. Even if you have a super-toned body like Rita’s, some things are best left to the imagination. Ditto actress Sydney Sweeney’s aqua blue Armani fishnet dress, which looked like a fancy dress costume for Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

The main thing to remember with this look is that it’s all about what lies beneath. Try a sculpting nude body-suit from the likes of Spanx or Skims. Big high-waisted knickers like the ones Anya Taylor-Joy wore under her Dior netting at this year’s Oscars after-party, and a bandeau bra or strappy vest (I like Boody’s camisole, £19.95, boody.co.uk) will give you a flattering foundation.

Large expanses of underwear — aka pants so big even Bridget Jones would baulk at them — work with this trend because they offset the sexiness.

Another thing to remember is that it’s all about layering. The brilliant thing about sheer is that it already works with what’s in your wardrobe.

Rebecca Hall (left) dazzles in blue sequinned Christian Dior at the EE British Academy Film Awards 2022, while the flimsy red ‘dress’ singer Rita Ora (right) wore at the British Fashion Awards eamed with a red thong looked more Ann Summers

Olivia Colman’s (left) strapless Stella McCartney number at the Golden Globes and Anya Taylor-Joy (right) who wore high-waisted knickers under her Dior netting at this year’s Oscars after-party

A mesh dress adorned with rhinestones sounds like something Cher might have worn circa the If I Could Turn Back Time video, yet I bought exactly that from Zara (£119).

I knew that if I threw it over a black slip dress, or a vest and skinny jeans — it would make them party-ready. Mango has a long silver lurex dress with a built-in liner to protect your modesty (£49.99); while you could team & Other Stories’ sheer lace midi (£120) with opaque tights.

Trinny Woodall, 58, has been raving about another Zara sheer, rhinestone dress, which she layers with a jacket and black trousers because ‘it’s a way to be sexy without showing everything off’.

With this look, barely any actual skin is on display. It’s the merest suggestion that you could be naked underneath that adds a frisson of excitement.

When it’s done right, the transparent trend is a modern, sophisticated way to show some skin. It can be intriguing, sensual and chic, not to mention comfortable. Maybe the Emperor was onto something after all.

Picture research: CLAIRE CISOTTI

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