street style

Why the streets are going sheer for summer 2023

From subtle peekaboo touches to all-out sheer luxe, here’s the best of the trend’s renaissance on the streets

German fashion influencer Caroline Daur wears a gold and black tulle dress with embroidered yellow flowers over a white tank top and black shorts from Prada, outside the Prada show during Milan Fashion Week spring-summer 2023

Underwear as outerwear – or the naked dress trend – are the buzzwords we're hearing for the barely-there luxed up look dominating the streets and red carpets this season, with #nakeddress receiving 7.8 million views on TikTok.

Many are re-popularising Cher’s 1974 Met Gala look as a reference point: the sheer, feathered illusive Bob Mackie gown was an iconic take on the risqué ensemble – and 12 months later Cher appeared in the same custom gown on the cover of Time Magazine.

Cher and Bob Mackie at the 1974 Met Gala

The trend’s resurfacing cut through this year’s Met Gala too: Emily Ratajkowski wore a sheer tulle nude dress with a panel-like bodice, while Gigi Hadid’s sheer black look embraced Karl Lagerfeld’s – the fashion figure that the gala event was themed around – preference for a black colour palette, with a black corset bodysuit, a sheer skirt, and a long train draped from Hadid’s shoulders.

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Meanwhile design houses like Erdem, Acne Studios, Alaïa, Bottega Veneta, and Prada all embraced the trend in their recent seasonal collections – which have spilled onto the street style scene ever since.

And as the temperatures climb, it’s a look we will be embracing too – from subtle peekaboo touches to all-out sheer luxe, we have rounded up the best street style examples we will be taking our cues from.

Travel influencer Nataly Osmann wears a beige tulle dress with floral embroidery, a neon pink leather handbag, and blue fur wedge heels mules all from Fendi, outside the Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week autumn-winter 2023/2024 on February 22, 2023
A guest wears a pale pink satin silk scarf as a headband, black sunglasses, a black tulle transparent dress with embroidered velvet striped pattern, a black bra and black shorts, black shiny leather block heels, and a pale green Puzzle leather shoulder bag from Loewe outside the Fendi show during Milan Fashion Week autumn-winter 2023/2024 on February 22, 2023
A fashion week guest is seen wearing a transparent dress with a Loewe puzzle bag, outside Mame Kurogouchi during Paris Fashion Week on September 27, 2022
A guest wears black large squared sunglasses from Loewe, gold earrings, a white braided wool turtleneck pullover, an orange shiny leather shoulder bag from Loewe, a white embroidered sheer striped midi skirt, blue denim jeans, and black suede platform boots outside Loewe during Paris Fashion Week autumn-winter 2023/2024 on March 03, 2023
A fashion week guest is seen wearing a purple transparent tulle dress by Ester Manas, a long black leather coat, and black Loewe high heels before the Ester Manas show during Paris Fashion Week autumn-winter 2023/2024 on March 04, 2023
French fashion influencer Alexandra Guerain wears vintage sunglasses, a gold chain pendants necklace, a white ribbed wool v-neck, an orange tulle midi dress, a dark grey striped oversized blazer, high-waist beige flared suit pants, and white leather strappy sandals outside the Sportmax show during Milan Fashion Week autumn-winter 2022/2023 on February 25, 2022
Actress Katherine Langford wears a sheer black dress with black underwear, tights, platform sandals, and a white bag outside the Prada show during Milan Fashion Week spring-summer 2023 on September 22, 2022
Italian fashion influencer Gilda Ambrosio wears a white Prada tank-top, a grey oversized blazer jacket, a black and yellow-panelled embroidered midi skirt, and black shiny leather pointed heels all from Prada, outside the Prada show during the Milan Fashion Week spring-summer 2023 on September 22, 2022
Founder of the street style website All The Pretty Birds, Tamu McPherson, wears black sunglasses from Dsquared2, a white oversized shiny leather bomber coat, a black and white checkered print pattern shirt, a black and red embroidered flower pattern short tulle dress, and neon pink embroidered silver rhinestones heels outside Dsquared2 during Milan Fashion Week spring-summer 2023 on September 22, 2022
German fashion influencer Caroline Daur wears a gold and silver large necklace, a white tank-top, a gold and black tulle dress with embroidered yellow flowers, a black shiny leather varnished handbag, and black shiny leather heels all from Prada, outside the Prada show during Milan Fashion Week spring-summer 2023 on September 22, 2022