The ‘naked dress' trend has suffered a PR problem

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2 days ago

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OPINION
There are certain fashion trends that, no matter how often they appear on the red carpet, always seem to teeter on the edge of cliché and trying too hard.
Naked dressing, with its catchy, oxymoronic name, is one of those trends.
The phrase encompasses everything from sheer fabrics, risqué cut-outs, and garments made entirely of strategically placed beads, or, in the case of Zoe Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala, sexy chain-mail.
Since Kate Moss rocked that see-through slip dress with little black briefs in 1993, celebrities from Rihanna and Beyoncé to Emily Ratajkowski, the entire KarJenner clan, and perhaps most infamously, Bianca Censori, have all tried their hand at the daring fashion statement.
But for me, there's always been something about this sartorial choice that seems a bit … well, obvious.
Kate Moss in 1993 wearing a sheer dress. Picture: Supplied
Let me preface this by saying that if the 'free the nipple' movement had only one fan, it would be me.
Sometimes I even wish I could pull off the look myself, but I am nothing but a mere mortal – and cosplaying as a near-naked celebrity while walking the streets of Surry Hills on my lunch break might get me arrested for public indecency.
That said, while I've wholeheartedly supported the spirit of this trend, I've wanted to speak to the manager about it a few times.
Because as much as I believe it's empowering in theory, the execution often feels off, and overly sexual just for the sake of it.
Too often, the looks focus solely on shock value, with bare boobs and bums front and centre.
Again, I don't mind showing off your boobs. Honestly – there's something deeply satisfying about women reclaiming their bodies and dressing however they please, especially when it unsettles men who still think they get a say.
But when I look to celebrities for fashion inspiration, their bare boobs are just not going to make the cut on my Pinterest board.
Zoe Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala. Picture: Taylor Hill/WireImage
The trend is stuck in a cycle of, 'Who can create the most out-there look'.
The problem is, when everyone jumps on the bandwagon and takes their clothes off, there's only so far you can go. We can't keep stripping forever.
I wish celebrities would start trying to incorporate the subtle art of a chic nipple into everyday outfits – in a way that the average Muggle can actually attempt to emulate.
Of course, celebrities don't owe us anything – except the exact details of what they asked their plastic surgeons for – but it would be nice to be able to get some fashion inspiration from them again.
Because right now, the naked trend has hit a wall.
That is, until a recent photo landed on my WFH desk this morning, and I thought, finally, there could be some hope.
Brooks Nader, the Sports Illustrated model who is currently having a moment after being papped at the Sanchez-Bezos wedding, has somehow made the naked trend fashionable, and dare I say, elegant.
Yes, she has a body that fits society's beauty standards, and her perfectly perky breasts are easy to transform into something stylish (bigger boobs haven't had that privilege historically), but I think credit should be given where it's due – and she's nailed it.
Model Brooks Nader looked effortlessly chic as she arrived at her hotel during Paris Couture Week. Picture: Backgrid
While she's built her reputation as a glamorous cover girl, it would be easy for her to take this trend in a sexualised, male-gazey direction.
Instead, through various stylistic choices, she's elevated it to what it always had the potential to be: something truly chic.
Finally, someone who has nailed the naked dressing trend. Picture: Backgrid
Part of Nader's genius is in her choice to wear a maxi dress with long sleeves and a high neck, deliberately covering everything except her chest.
The on-trend yet timeless polka dot dress is flowy but tailored in all the right places.
Unlike nude-coloured dresses, the navy softens the overall look, making it less overt and more quietly sophisticated.
Everything about this look is considered. Picture: Backgrid
Of course, her hair, makeup, and accessories all contribute too.
Her balayage hair is full, bouncy, and blow-dried in an '80s supermodel kind of way.
Her glowing skin also adds to the effect, while chunky gold earrings finish the vintage-inspired look.
And we can't forget the sunglasses at night. It's a move that could easily feel try-hard, but here, they're the perfect finishing touch, adding a hint of mystery when her outfit otherwise leaves little to the imagination.
Finally, just in case you're still not convinced this is a fashion masterpiece, her pilates princess posture is the final piece of the puzzle that ensures she pulls the look off.
While it's easy to dismiss the naked trend as attention-seeking or tacky, I urge you to give it another go.
I reckon we're just starting to see its evolution.
Continue the conversation with me on Instagram: @el_katelaris.
Originally published as The 'naked dress' trend has suffered a PR problem – until now