SHEER IS THE NEW BLACK
Okay - so maybe it's not exactly "new", sheer dressing has always held a controversial place in fashion history. From Marilyn Monroe’s “Happy Birthday Mr President” dress to Kim Kardashian’s recreation of said dress, the use of sheer fabric in clothing is a timeless way to push social boundaries surrounding the female body and feminity. The revival of this trend over the past two years proves its longevity and how it continues to weather the test of time. And now, the trend is transforming.
I first started seeing the sheer trend in the form of lace around two years ago. Ultra feminine with a side of sexy, it was a trend that became unsurprisingly popular, and seamlessly melded with the “indie sleaze” aesthetic that dominated in 2022 and 2023. It was a trend spearheaded by creators wearing vintage pieces (the first creator I saw was wearing an archival 1996 Gucci by Tom Ford mini dress). The trend eventually moved onto the runway for fashion houses like Christian Dior, Saint Laurent, and Versace, but I believe smaller brands like Susamusa and Bella Venice were the ones to champion the trend.
2024 has seen the move from indie sleaze into the more sophisticated “office siren” aesthetic. With it, the sheer trend has transformed from lace into a more sleek chiffon which is highly reminiscent of the sheer clothing that appeared on runways in the 90's (Miu Miu's Spring Summer 1995 collection comes to mind). Australian fashion labels are leading the charge on this new take on the trend, and, in my opinion, Beare Park is the most outstanding example of this. The label's most recent runway collection for Australian Fashion Week had ten out of thirty-one looks employing sheer chiffon-like fabric (almost a third of their collection!). Dresses, tops, skirts—all crafted from this airy, translucent chiffon, which gave a stunning visual effect that's both modern and nostalgic. Another notable Australian label jumping on this trend is SIR. the Label, who is embracing this trend in their most recent Pre-Fall '24 collection. All in all, the sheer trend’s ability to transform during the current shift in aesthetics is a true testament to the trend’s longevity.
