The world of fashion has always been famous for its unpredictability and a penchant for experimentation. The recently concluded Milan Fashion Week reaffirmed this stereotype by drawing attention to a new trend - "naked" dresses. It's interesting to delve into how and why this trend has gained popularity at this particular moment.
A Return to Invisibility
To make a dress "naked," designers use transparent or flesh-colored fabrics, accentuating the contours of the body and creating the illusion of no clothing. This method has long been known in the fashion world, but it recently gained new inspiration. The runways of Milan were filled with dresses that played with these techniques, and each collection offered its own take on this trend.
Innovations by Prada and Sportmax
Prada and Raf Simons used ethereal organza in their collection, which gives the dresses a blurred outline effect, creating a sense of nudity. Sportmax, on the other hand, took a simpler approach by presenting transparent organza without a lining, giving the models' outfits a delicate pearlescent shimmer.
Revealing and Shimmering with Diesel and No. 21
Creative director Glenn Martens of Diesel decided not to leave anything to the imagination and created semi-transparent dresses complemented by heavily highlighted faces and limbs of the models. Alessandro Dell'Acqua of No. 21 combined 90s minimalism with mermaidcore, presenting garments covered in large sequin scales, including transparent combinations.
Experiments by Blumarine and Dolce & Gabbana
Blumarine used transparent plastic, while Dolce & Gabbana drew inspiration from boudoir and lingerie themes. In both collections, models walked the runway in underwear, leaving the rest of their bodies uncovered. The clothing blended with the skin, creating ephemeral folds and the illusion of painted seams.
From Provocation to Norm
"Naked" dresses are not a new trend. From Marilyn Monroe and Rihanna to Kate Moss, celebrities have often worn such outfits, but it has always been an act of provocation or an activist statement. However, today the landscape is changing.
On red carpets around the world, outfits that were once considered "revealing" are increasingly common. Naked bodies are no longer something intimate and hidden. Now, "naked" dresses no longer shock but appear almost mundane.
Normalization of Nudity
Stars like Julia Fox and Dua Lipa look elegant and stylish in such outfits. Nudity is normalized, and now a "naked" body is no longer something intimate and hidden. The only obstacle to wearing a "naked" dress is the weather.
In conclusion, the trend of "naked" dresses has evolved from provocation to norm. The world of fashion continues to surprise us with its changes and experiments, and now "naked" dresses have become a part of this evolution, emphasizing that the naked body is no longer concealed but has become an everyday element of style.