"Risky Business:” The 2023 No-Pants Trend
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
For most people, the thought of wearing nothing but underwear in public is a nightmare. Lately, however, celebrities have turned this nightmare into a reality, and a viral one at that. What started out as throwing a leather jacket over tighty-whities to grab a slice of pizza quickly took to high-fashion runways, from Alaïa’s 80’s inspired bodysuit to Miu Miu’s sequined briefs. Many have already called this fashion’s “least wearable trend,” begging the question of whether it will become absorbed by the general public. The answer? Well, it depends.
Photo courtesy of Alaïa
Even those who are eager to adopt the latest fashion trends will agree that showing up to a business meeting clad in only underwear is risky business. It comes as no surprise, then, that our bosses have yet to strut down the office in a pair of briefs and stockings. But something tells us that this is not another fashion gimmick intended to grab our attention without any chances of realization. Perhaps that is because we have almost been preparing for this moment.
Photo courtesy of Imaxtree
From micro miniskirts to sheer dresses, designers have shown a renewed interest in revealing styles. Just last year, Italian designer Miuccia Prada displayed a slew of barely-there skirts as part of Prada’s and Miu Miu’s spring collections. Labels like Blumarine and Khaite were among the first to welcome the trend with open arms, giving the micro miniskirt their own signature spin. Around the same time, Vietnamese designer Duy Tran blew the internet away with the ‘Garden of Eden’ dress, an extension of the seductive styles afforded by his label Fancì. The mesh dress, with its famous cascading ruffles and decorated rosette, was so well received that it garnered a lofty waitlist and inspired many iterations thereafter. Like the no-pants movement, the rise of micro miniskirts and sheer dresses was met with an onslaught of questions about their practical applications. This was not because people objected to revealing styles. On the contrary, they became so attractive that everyone wanted in.
Photo courtesy of Miu Miu
Treating underwear as outerwear may not be as simple as throwing a nude bralette under a sheer dress, but that does not mean it is impossible. One solution is to layer black briefs with an oversized jacket or sweater. If you do not feel comfortable going completely bare-legged, throw on a pair of semi-sheer tights for an evening look. Another option is to focus on the illusion of pantslessness. This one is my personal favorite because I obtained the same results with a blazer and miniskirt combination as if I had worn no skirt at all. The difference was that I knew I was wearing something underneath even if it did not appear that way to an onlooker. That way, I tested the limits of social acceptability without the discomfort or risk of ridicule.
Personal photo of author Meyme Nakash
Admittedly, I remain unconvinced that the no-pants trend will completely penetrate the fashion zeitgeist. However, this does not mean that it will not affect our sartorial sensibilities. By blurring the lines between underwear and outerwear, we effectively shift the way we think about getting dressed in the morning and give way to new possibilities. Of course, those possibilities still require us to move outside our comfort zones. This leaves us with one question: Are we willing to take that risk?
Article by Meyme Nakash, Contributor, PhotoBook Magazine
Tearsheets by Alexa Dyer, Graphic Design Coordinator, PhotoBook Magazine
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