The 'naked dress' trend, which dominated red carpets in 2025, has roots stretching back to the 1920s. Long before modern stars like Margot Robbie and Demi Moore embraced the look, silent film actresses of the 1920s popularised sheer fabrics.
The term 'naked dress' was coined in a 1998 episode of Sex and the City, when Charlotte York referred to Carrie Bradshaw's nude slip dress as such. The style is defined by materials like sheer mesh, tulle, lace, or crystals that create the illusion of nudity.
Rihanna revived the trend in 2014 at the CFDA Fashion Awards, wearing a sheer Adam Selman dress with over 216,000 crystals. Since then, stars including Beyoncé, Bella Hadid, and Emily Ratajkowski have followed suit, with 2025 marking a peak in popularity.
Historical examples include Mae West's 1936 film dress with floral appliqué, Marilyn Monroe's iconic 1962 rhinestone gown, and Jane Birkin's braless 1969 mini dress. Cher wore a sheer jumpsuit to her first Met Gala in 1974, while Kate Moss accidentally made headlines in a see-through metallic dress in 1993.
Rose McGowan's beaded 1998 MTV Awards dress and Jennifer Lopez's plunging green Versace gown from the 2000 Grammys are further milestones. Lopez's dress famously inspired the creation of Google Images after it generated millions of online searches.
