If there’s one thing that went big in 2022, it’s head-turning fashion moments. And one trend in particular that celebrities couldn’t get enough of was baring all for the nearly naked dresses of the year.
Fresh from two years of lockdowns and quarantines, red carpet events were back – and bigger than ever. Celebs across all sorts of industries pulled out all the stops on their return to star-studded events.
This year, pulling out all the stops mainly came in the form of bearing pandemic-toned abs and lean legs for many celebs (only I’m sure these famous faces weren’t doing Joe Wicks for the past two years), in barely there, nearly naked numbers.
And designers have been more than happy to oblige.
Whether it’s a purely see-through showstopper, with stylish underwear taking centre stage, or an ice skater-style sheer number with strategically placed embellishments, big-name brands from Valentino to Mugler have been cashing in on the trend.
From Florence Pugh’s nipple-bearing Valentino gown, to Emily Ratajkowski’s drafty fishnet dress, the nearly naked fashion trend really did reign supreme on the red carpet this year. Here are the best barely there looks of 2023.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh’s nipple-bearing Valentino number caused such a stir on social media, that the actor felt compelled to speak out about the ruckus. “Listen, I knew when I wore that incredible Valentino dress that there was no way there wouldn’t be a commentary on it,” Pugh wrote on Instagram.
“What’s been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman’s body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see,” she continued. “What’s more concerning is…. Why are you so scared of breasts? Small? Large? Left? Right? Only one? Maybe none?” she added. “What. Is. So. Terrifying.”
Megan Fox
A seasoned purveyor of the nearly naked trend, Megan Fox revealed her honed figure beneath her Christian Siriano netted dress in November.
Heidi Klum
Heidi Klum slipped out of her impressive worm costume at her annual Halloween party and left little to the imagination in a nude, sheer body suit, with strategically placed gems.
Kendall Jenner
Not one to shy away from revealing a little skin, Kendall Jenner’s LACMA red carpet outfit was one of most unusual ‘naked’ dresses yet. Fans just couldn’t get their heads around the central ‘pause button’ style detail at the midriff of the Burç Akyol dress.
Emily Ratajkowski
Emily Ratajkowski took Revenge Dressing to the next level in a glittering fishnet gown after she confirmed she was single following rumours that her husband, and father of her child, had been caught cheating.
Hailey Bieber
Just because you’re showing a bit more skin, doesn’t mean you can’t still do demure. Case in point: Hailey Bieber’s subtly naked dress at a Tiffany & Co. event in October.
Kate Moss
Nearly naked dresses and styling was synonymous with Kate Moss during the Nineties. But the esteemed model swapped slip dresses for swooping necklines in this glittering sheer dress earlier this year.
Rita Ora
With such an unusual beauty look (complete with fin-style prosthetics) it would be easy to overlook Rita Ora’s sheer Nensi Dojaka look for The Fashion Awards.
Olivia Wilde
Olivia Wilde did a gothic take on the nearly naked trend at the People’s Choice Awards in December, taking a leaf out of ‘Miss Flo’s book in a nipple-bearing number.
Watch: Jessica Chastain defends Florence Pugh’s sheer Valentino gown