We said that 2025 was the year of the naked dress, then we said that 2026 was the year of the naked dress, but here's food for thought: what if every year is and, from a certain point forward, was the year of the naked dress? Every year there seems to be a new reason for women to seek empowerment through clothes, after all. Anything and everything pertaining to the female body will always be critiqued. What's funny about this, though, is that concept alone is the very reason why the naked dress trend feels so necessary and crucial. It's essentially a power move—the reclamation of autonomy and agency, a display of confidence, and a social norm challenger all at the same time. From being banned at the Cannes Film Festival to being literally all over the 2026 Grammy's red carpet, it's safe to say that there are varying opinions on the trend, as expected.
Although first emerging on the scene throughout Josephine Baker's performances in the 1920s, the naked dress trend arguably really took off when a certain movie star serenaded a certain president—and the rest is history.
Old Hollywood Origins
This wouldn't be a true naked dress tribute without giving Marilyn Monroe credit where credit is due. She wore a nude, semi-sheer, entirely embellished dress by Jean Louis to sing "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" to John F. Kennedy in 1962. At the time, this was considered one of the most revealing dresses to be worn in public—this, of course, resulted in some negative backlash. If you're asking if this is the same dress that Kim Kardashian controversially wore to the 2022 Met Gala, the answer is yes.
A 1970s Through 1990s Revival
After Jane Birkin's 1969 red carpet appearance in mini dress that was completely sheer, the trend spilled over into the 1970s in which sexual liberation and controversial dress for the sake of self expression was very much encouraged. We all know that multiple celebrity endorsements are necessary in order to deem something a trend—and, arguably, the naked dress reached trend status when Cher wore a sheer Bob Mackie dress to the Met Gala in 1974. Come the '80s, Cher had sort of certified herself as the naked dress queen of the moment—and Bob Mackie certified himself as the naked dress designer of the moment—when she won an Oscar in 1988 in a sheer dress by Mackie.
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The trend reached a new level when Rose McGowan wore a beaded dress from Marilyn Manson's brand Maja to the 1998 VMA's. The dress was completely sheer and featured a stringed back that left a lot of her butt exposed. This look challenged the idea of just how much nudity could be worn on the red carpet—and the answer is a lot.
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Twenty Teens
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Rihanna made a loud and clear statement at the 2014 CFDA Awards in a sheer, crystal Adam Selman gown: the naked dress trend was going to continue going strong throughout the 2010s (and beyond). The trend was further co-signed by the likes of Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, and Jennifer Lopez at the 2015 Met Gala. At a time where social media was growing increasingly popular both for better and for worse, and at a time where so much ultimately changed politically, a collective need for body positivity was in order. This is all to say that the naked dress trend was a necessary fixture of the 2010s.
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The 2021 Met Gala
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Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
Something about the 2021 Met Gala's theme of "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" had the girls pulling out naked dresses left and right. Model Imaan Hammam wore a star-embellished archival Versace gown with a completely sheer top. Zoë Kravitz wore a sheer chainmail dress (with a matching thong!) by Saint Laurent. Kendall Jenner wore an Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady"-inspired gown that was adorned with crystals and, of course, completely sheer. Julia Garner wore a sheer fishnet-inspired Stella McCartney gown covered in Swarovski crystals. And these aren't even all of the naked dress moments that graced that carpet.
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Stephen Lovekin/Shutterstock
A Trend That Continues To Reinvent Itself
From Bianca Censori in the most naked of naked dresses ever in 2025 to Chappell Roan in a sheer gown that was attached to and help up by her prosthetic nipple piercings on the 2026 Grammys red carpet, the limits of the naked dress are constantly being pushed. And, in turn, the way we think about naked dresses is constantly evolving. Recently, for the 2026 SAG Actor Awards, Teyana Taylor wore Thom Browne dress that essentially looked like naked female body painted on. Essentially, in 2026, the wearer doesn't actually have to be naked at all for it to be considered a naked dress. Instead, it just has insinuate nudity—that's how far the trend has come.
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With the female body constantly being policed, monitored, and critiqued, nudity is the most powerful response. While those keyboard warriors who are very much against the trend might see this trend as catering to the male gaze, I don't think it has anything to do with men at all—rather, it's a statement saying that what men think, good or bad, doesn't actually matter at all. It's an ode to the female body and all that it's had to endure, and it's exactly what we need in 2026.
It's Time To Crown Our Naked Dress Queens
Dua Lipa
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From the beaches of Ibiza to the "Barbie" premiere red carpet, Dua Lipa's relationship with the naked dress needs no introduction—we have actually already crowned her our naked dress queen.
Mia Goth
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Marechal
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Mia Goth essentially spent her entire "Frankenstein" press tour pledging her allegiance to the naked dress trend—and we wouldn't have it any other way.
Hailey Bieber
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Hailey Bieber has gifted us gothic lace sheer moments, a Gucci bumster, and an Alaïa dress with a sheer panel that people were deeming "the grown up naked dress"—she's committed to hitting the trend from all angles and for that we thank her.
