Throughout history, we’ve witnessed the power and influence that sheer clothing has had on fashion. From Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy birthday, Mr. President,” dress and Cher’s countless sheer looks, to this year’s red carpet full of see-through dresses, skirts, tops and more — transparent clothing has been here for decades, and isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Transparency Today
This year’s runway season, we saw countless fashion houses participating in adding a bit of sheerness into their designs (sometimes a lot of sheerness). Valentino, Saint Laurent, Gucci, Prada and Hermes are just a few houses who showcased transparent fabrics such as chiffon, tulle, sheer organza and lightweight silks.
These see-through designs have also made their way through the award show season and have been showcased a lot on red carpets. The 2025 Vanity Fair Oscar Party was witness to the trend at full blast. Kendall Jenner wore a vintage Mugler gown with a high neck, bell sleeves and was covered in a black sheer lace. Another notable look from the event was Olivia Wilde’s bohemian-inspired sheer dress. The floor-length gown showcased lots of ruffles, intricate lace patterns and even some matching underwear.
Now, finally, we are seeing these trends trickle down from runway, to red carpet, to real world. Clothing brands from Mango to Free People and even Target are participating in pieces that you can see right through.
The Power of Sheer Clothing
The appeal of transparent clothing doesn’t just come from the fact that the garments are see-through, instead sheer clothing is about expressing the human form. It transcends traditional fashion boundaries and argues for the creative and innovative — not just on the runway but in everyday fashion too! Sheer pieces showcase the human body as unapologetic and a work of art.
So how do we incorporate this powerful and pretty fashion trend into our daily lives? For many, it might be hard, or just not allowed, to wear these sheer pieces just as they are displayed on the runway. Instead, we can take inspiration and parts of these runway looks to incorporate into our outfits.
The most helpful tip for feeling comfortable and confident in sheer clothing is one word: layering. Layering will be your best friend when incorporating the movement and body that these transparent fabrics bring to an outfit, without feeling awkward.
Adding a skin-colored bodysuit can add just that extra layer of comfort that you need. If you want to showcase the sheerness even more, opt for a dark color underneath to show off each of the layered pieces. To elevate your outfit from a daytime outfit to more of a night-out look, you can pair your transparent piece with bold bras and underwear.
No matter what, the focus should be on having fun, experimenting and feeling good in your body. Sheer clothing is all about the power and art that your body holds — don’t forget that!
Show us your favorite sheer looks by tagging us @VALLEYmag on Instagram!
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