Sheer power: How to ace the transparent fashion trend
Sheer styles are in, seen on celebs like JLo and Rihanna. Stay trendy without baring all: layer, add spangles, and match with skin-tone undergarments
Look away. Or don’t. See-through styles have hopped off the runway and into the real world. They range from open-weave crochet dresses and sheer fabrics to outright transparent materials. Jennifer Lopez, Kendall Jenner, Dua Lipa and Rihanna have worn variations of them at red-carpet events. Victoria Beckham’s Mango collab featured a few of them (They’re almost sold out in India). There are sheer dresses even at Zara.
Yes, it’s weird. No, it’s not going away. So, how to stay on-trend without going practically naked? Celebrity stylists Jainee Bheda, who has styled Rohit Saraf, Aditi Rao Hydari and Kusha Kapila; Saachi Vijaywargia, who styled Karishma Tanna and Virat Kohli, and owns her own brand Boutiquobysaachi; and Mansi Monga Trehan, who has styled Mary Kom and Mandira Bedi, make some ground rules clear.
Pick a zone. Instead of a fully transparent outfit, ease your way in with a garment that is only partly sheer, perhaps at the back or just at the neckline, recommends Bheda. Nancy Tyagi’s outfit at Cannes has huge transparent sleeves – a great look. With Indianwear, a loose-fitting kurta with transparent sleeves carrying slight embroidery works too, says Vijaywargia. Still too much? Just get a transparent handbag, jacket or heels.
Look beneath. Wear bodysuits and underslips that match your skin tone, that don’t pinch, and don’t have chunky seams. This way, the underwear won’t be obvious or visible even under white clothes that tend to be sheer. “With barely-there fabrics, the silhouette matters even more. Your sheer outfit should accentuate your curves and prevent wardrobe malfunctions,” says Bheda.
Get spangled. Kendall Jenner’s sheer Givenchy fit at the 2024 Met Gala worked because it was covered in tiny rhinestones to look more opaque and glamorous. “Keep accessories minimal, like Kendall did,” says Bheda. “She wore nothing on her ears, had minimal make-up, a sleek bun and nude pumps.” Paris Hilton has used glitter as a cover-up too. Her sequinned aquamarine outfit from Reem Acra’s Spring/Summer 2024 collection is sheer, but reveals nothing.
Drape it up. Alia Bhatt’s Sabyasachi sari at the Met Gala plays up the sheer trend with saris too. “The peek-a-boo bit brought out by the sheer sleeves, the pallu and bits of the blouse is tasteful,” says Trehan.
Layer it on. Hina Khan recently made a public appearance in a white pantsuit that worked in the sheer trend. “The lace at the neckline was the key to the look,” says Vijaywargia. To make it even more sensuous, opt for sheer sleeves, or add a lace belt. Sheer items are great to balance out prints says Vijaywargia. Pair lace and netting with velvet, as Khan did at another event. Her velvet gown had a high slit and sheer sleeves. “The balance of heavy velvet and sheer does the magic here,” she says. Should you want to show more skin, add some net around the torso to expose the midriff.
Show off your tats. Doja Cat did it at the 2024 Grammy Awards. The wispy beige Dilara Fındıkoğlu number with corset lacing all the way down the back followed the golden rule of highlighting what wearer wants to highlight, says Trehan.
From HT Brunch, June 29, 2024
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