The Evolution of The Naked Dress

The naked dress consists of a sheer, silk or form fitting fabric that hugs the body to show off the natural contours and can trace all the way back to the 1920's.

The Naked Dress via https://pin.it/430OGqRLj

I was first exposed to this concept by the iconic (and a bit controversial) Carrie Bradshaw. She wore a cream slip dress that Charlotte dubbed as “the naked dress”. This was before Emily Ratajkowski strutted around redcarpets wearing very visible and form fitting clothing, and before Bianca Censori stunned the crowd in her (actual) naked dress at the 2025 Grammy Awards.

The naked dress is supposed to symbolise confidence, feminism and a bold, unapologetic stance to sexual authority. It is undeniably captivating, and even if you think it is too much or inappropriate, it makes people look, and it makes them feel.

More recently, I saw a picture of Anne Hathaway at the premiere for Mother Mary. She was wearing a sheer dress from Lever Couture. It was iridescent and magical the way it warped around her body. It almost looked like a glass cloud, or a mist of fairy dust.

But it got me thinking, is this the modern take on the naked dress? Hathaway was in no way nude per se, but the look and sheerness (literally) of her outfit made it seem like a modest naked dress.

So, where did the naked dress actually come from?

Before Carrie, there was Marilyn. Marilyn Monroe wore a Jean Louis nude and crystal-covered dress in 1962. She wore the dress to sing “Happy Birthday” to JFK and was again seen on the Met Gala carpet, worn by Kim Kardashian.

 

Before Carrie, and Before Marilyn

Marilyn started a historical trend in that moment. However, the naked dress has been seen before the 60’s. Before Carrie, and before Marilyn there was the original blonde, Jean Harlow. She wore many white-cream toned form fitting dress in the 1930's, every dress was worn with sophistication and class.

In 1933, Dinner at Eight came out starring Jean Harlow. The cream toned, crepe-back satin dress that she wears towards the end of the film is really the star of the show. It was designed by MGM costume designer Adrian.

I think it is safe to say that the dress was the original blueprint for the naked dresses we see today. It was stunning in its immaculate way to capture onlookers, and more than that, it sends a message to the world that the woman wearing it is screaming with confidence and ethereal beauty.

The naked dress is more than a form-fitting, white or nude dress. It is about the way it is worn and the message it says. Any white or nude dress can be a naked dress, the key is wearing it with confidence and power.

1974

In 1974, Cher wore a Bob Mackie nude feathered dress to The Met Gala. The dress was beyond its time and only paved the way for future naked dresses.

1993

In 1993, Kate Moss wore a metallic sheer dress wearing nothing but black knickers underneath.

2000

In 2000, J. Lo wore the iconic green Versace dress. The dress was designed by Donatella Versace and was made from chiffon silk.

2014

At the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards, Rihanna stunned everyone by wearing a custom Adam Selman, light blush pink dress that was made with 230,000 Swarovski crystals. The look reminded everyone why Rihanna won an award that night.

The Naked Dress

The naked dress trend has lasted decades, and it is clear, it will always be relevant. But how did Anne Hathaways dress differ from what we have seen in the past?

Anne Hathaway is known for method dressing for events and the dress depicts a futuristic and ethereal energy. Mother Mary is a film that is classified as a gothic horror which can attribute to the creative style of the dress.

The dress she wore is revealing in the kind of way that a silhouette reveals everything but nothing at all. It is sheer, airy and hugs her body in a way that screams confidence and femininity. Through the dress, you can see her body, but not in an alarming or obvious way. It covers enough to be classified as sophisticated but still holds that element of sexual authority and revelation.

Although the dress might not be formally labelled as a naked dress, it is interesting to see how celebrities and designers take old trends and put modern and unique touches.

I don’t know about you, but Anne Hathaway is ‘mother’ in this dress.