Will 2025 Be the Year of the Naked Dress Trend?
The most prominent fashion trend of the year has been strikingly sheer: the naked dress. This trend made headlines as A-list celebrities graced red carpets in daring outfits that often resembled nudity. Margot Robbie appeared adorned with delicate beads and rhinestones, Julia Fox showcased flowing brunette curls in a manner reminiscent of Sandro Botticelli, and Sienna Miller revealed her pregnancy beneath a delicate layer of sheer white mesh.
The naked dress trend gained significant traction in 2025, with numerous actors, musicians, and influencers donning dresses that are either extremely sheer or designed to create an illusion of nudity. These garments have spurred discussions about both their aesthetic appeal and the motivations behind their widespread adoption in the celebrity world.
Designers explain that these bold creations are reflections of a growing freedom and evolving perceptions regarding nudity. Conversely, critics argue that such dresses cater to the male gaze. Is the naked dress merely a modern parable of the emperor’s new clothes, or does it embody a significant milestone in the body positivity movement?
Julia Fox in Dilara Findikoglu’s sheer dress with hair wrapped strategically around the body, a la Sandro Botticelli’s ‘Birth of Venus.’
Halle Berry wearing a LaQuan Smith of liquid beads and mesh panels.
Liberté, egalité, nudité?
Dr. Valerie Steele, the director and chief curator of The Museum at FIT, offered insight into the underlying factors influencing this fashion trend. “Any style that comes into fashion is going to be overdetermined, to use a psychoanalytical term – it’s going to be caused by a lot of things,” she noted. Dr. Steele emphasized that shifts in fashion often reflect vast social changes, including political climates and sexual liberation. Major historical events, as well as notable individuals, also play a significant role in shaping trends.
Designers observe industry movements closely, often taking cues from each other to generate publicity. According to Dr. Steele, the virality associated with the naked dress has played a substantial role in its popularity over the past year.
