The red carpet used to be a place of rigid rules and even more rigid undergarments. You know the drill. Padded bras, double-sided tape, and layers of shapewear designed to create a silhouette that looked less like a human body and more like a plastic doll. But things have changed. Lately, it feels like every time you scroll through Instagram or check the arrivals at the Met Gala, you see it. Celebrities are baring their nipples through sheer mesh, gossamer thin silks, and strategic cutouts that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.
It is everywhere.
✨ Don't miss: Tyreek Hill Wife Nationality: The Real Story Behind Keeta Vaccaro
From Florence Pugh’s now-legendary pink Valentino dress to Doja Cat’s experimental street style, the trend isn't just a wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen. It is a deliberate, often political choice. Honestly, the shock factor has mostly worn off for the Gen Z crowd, but for the rest of the world, it still sparks a massive debate about what is "appropriate" versus what is empowering. People get really heated about this. They argue about "classiness" or "attention-seeking," but if you look at the history of fashion, we have been here before. We just haven't been here with this much social media scrutiny.
Why the "Free the Nipple" movement finally went mainstream
This didn't happen in a vacuum. You have to look back at the Free the Nipple campaign that started gaining real traction around 2012 and 2014. Back then, it was mostly about the double standards of social media censorship—specifically how Instagram would take down a photo of a woman's chest but leave a man’s up. It was a legal and social battle.
Fast forward to today, and that activist energy has bled directly into high fashion. When celebrities are baring their nipples on a global stage, they are often referencing that specific history of protest. Florence Pugh is probably the poster child for this. When she wore that sheer pink gown to the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome, the internet basically exploded. People were cruel. They commented on the size of her chest and the "indecency" of the look.
Her response was basically a masterclass in modern celebrity branding. She didn't apologize. She pointed out that it is just a body. "It is the first time in a long time that we’ve seen a woman take back the narrative of her own anatomy so publicly," says fashion historian and author Dr. Cally Blackman in various discussions on the evolution of the female silhouette. It wasn't about being sexy in the traditional, male-gaze way. It was about being comfortable.
The shift from "sexy" to "anatomical"
There is a huge difference between the way the 90s handled nudity and how it's handled now. In the 90s, if a celebrity's nipple showed, it was a "nip slip." It was a scandal. It was something to be mocked in a tabloid. Think about the way the media treated Janet Jackson after the 2004 Super Bowl. That was a career-altering moment of shame imposed by the public.
Today? It is a curated aesthetic.
Designers like Schiaparelli and Jean Paul Gaultier are literally building nipples into the clothes. We’re seeing "anatomical" jewelry—gold molded plates that mimic the female form. Bella Hadid wore a Schiaparelli gown at Cannes with a massive gold lung necklace that partially covered her chest, but the message was clear: the body isn't something to be hidden. It is part of the art.
You’ve probably noticed that the vibe is less "look at me, I'm naked" and more "this is a ribcage and these are breasts." It’s clinical, artistic, and kinda punk rock. It’s also a direct reaction to the "Instagram Face" and BBL era of the 2010s. Instead of trying to achieve a fake, filtered perfection, many stars are opting for a raw, "this is just what skin looks like" approach.
The double standard and the red carpet
We can't talk about this without talking about the different rules for different people. While white celebrities like Riley Keough or Kendall Jenner often get praised for being "brave" or "fashion-forward" when they go sheer, celebrities of color often face much harsher policing.
Think about the backlash stars like Lizzo have faced for wearing revealing outfits. There is a "respectability politics" layer here that makes the trend more complicated than just "feminism." When celebrities are baring their nipples, the reception often depends on how much they fit into the traditional beauty standards of the industry.
- Kendall Jenner: Often seen in sheer tops for brands like La Perla or on the runway. Usually framed as "high fashion" and "chic."
- Florence Pugh: Focuses on the "body positivity" and "anti-shame" aspect.
- Miley Cyrus: Uses it as a tool of rebellion and rock-and-roll defiance.
- Hunter Schafer: Uses sheer fashion to explore the nuances of trans identity and visibility.
Each of these women is doing the same thing—showing skin—but the "why" matters. Honestly, it’s about power. Who has the power to show their body without being sexualized against their will? That is the real question.
How "Sheer" became a billion-dollar business
From a business perspective, this isn't just about politics. It’s about sales. "Naked dressing" is one of the most consistent search terms in fashion retail. If you go to a site like Revolve or Zara, you will see "sheer" and "mesh" categories everywhere.
Retailers noticed that when celebrities are baring their nipples, sales for "pasties" and "nipple covers" actually drop among certain demographics, while sheer layering pieces skyrocket. It is a trickle-down effect. What starts as a "scandalous" dress on Rihanna at the CFDA awards eventually becomes a mesh top you see someone wearing at a music festival or a dive bar in Brooklyn.
👉 See also: Eddie Griffin and Wife: What Most People Get Wrong About the Comedian's Family Life
But there is a catch.
Most people in the real world can’t just walk into a Starbucks with their nipples out without getting a very different reaction than a celebrity gets at a gala. This is where the trend hits a wall. It is a "celebrity privilege" trend. We watch them do it as a form of escapism. We admire the confidence, but most of us still have to deal with HR departments and "no shirt, no service" signs.
Is it actually "empowering"?
This is where the debate gets really messy. Some feminists argue that this isn't empowering at all—it's just another way to center the male gaze. They argue that by focusing so much on the breast, we are still defining women by their bodies.
On the flip side, you have the "pro-skin" camp. Their argument is basically: "It's just a nipple. Men have them. They show them. Why is mine a political statement or a sexual invitation?"
There is no easy answer. But you can't deny the courage it takes to stand in front of 500 photographers knowing that every "imperfection" will be zoomed in on and mocked by trolls. In that sense, yes, it is a form of taking up space. It’s a refusal to be tucked away.
The technical side: How they actually pull it off
If you’ve ever wondered how these dresses stay in place without revealing too much or looking messy, it’s a feat of engineering. Stylists like Law Roach (who works with Zendaya and Hunter Schafer) use a mix of:
- Skin-tone matching: If there is mesh, it has to be a literal 100% match to the star's skin tone or it looks cheap.
- Strategic lighting: Stylists actually test the clothes under heavy flash to see exactly how much is visible. Sometimes, a dress looks opaque in the mirror but turns completely transparent under a paparazzi flash.
- Confidence: Honestly, that’s the biggest "tool." If you look uncomfortable, the outfit fails.
The future of the "Nipple Trend"
Where do we go from here? We’ve already seen the "visible thong" trend return from the early 2000s. We’ve seen the "no pants" trend (thanks, Julia Fox). The logical conclusion is that nudity in fashion will continue to become de-stigmatized until it's just another design choice, like a puff sleeve or a hemline.
But there will always be a pushback.
As long as there are conservative dress codes and social media algorithms that flag female bodies, celebrities baring their nipples will remain an act of defiance. It’s a way of saying, "This is my body, and I'm not afraid of it." It’s also just fashion. Sometimes a sheer shirt is just a sheer shirt because the fabric is pretty and it’s hot outside.
Actionable steps for the "Real World"
If you're inspired by the trend but don't want to get arrested or fired, here is how you actually handle the "sheer" look in 2026:
✨ Don't miss: Angelina Jolie Pushing Tin: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
- Layering is your friend: Wear a sheer mesh top over a structured bra or a silk camisole. You get the texture without the "full exposure."
- Focus on the "Anatomical" look: You don't have to show skin to follow this trend. Look for jewelry or clothing prints that feature the female form. Schiaparelli-inspired pieces are everywhere in fast fashion now.
- Invest in high-quality pasties: If you are going for the "no-bra" look with a thinner fabric, silicone covers provide a smooth finish without the bulk of a bra.
- Check the lighting: Before you head out, take a photo of yourself with the flash ON. You might be surprised by what the camera sees that your bathroom mirror doesn't.
- Own the choice: If you decide to go braless or sheer, do it with intention. The "scandal" only works if you look like you didn't mean for it to happen.
The conversation about bodies is never going to end. But the more we see people simply existing in their own skin, the less "shameful" it becomes. Whether you think it's high art or just a cry for attention, the "naked" trend has permanently changed the way we view the red carpet. It’s moved from a place of "perfect" concealment to a place of honest—and sometimes jarring—transparency. And honestly? That's probably a good thing for our collective body image.