Are you ready to bare it all? Well, I don’t think I am. The problem is there is a trend for sheer skirts and trousers which has completely covered (see what I did there?) fashion magazine pages and socials for the last few weeks, and it’s all about showing off what’s underneath. Daring to bare it all – or at least some – with transparent and barely there clothing.
Modesty and subtlety are not what this trend is all about – and it’s not for the faint of heart.
Fashion over 40…
In the words of Vogue Magazine:
‘For the first time, we seem to be pushing more boundaries with sheerness. Labels have long sent models’ exposed breasts down the runway, but nowadays celebrities and regular people alike are more inclined to bare it all. Perhaps it’s an act of cultural pushback against some governments’ puritanical restrictions on women’s bodies. Maybe it’s a sign that we shouldn’t be so concerned with our own nakedness. No matter how you wear it, sheer is sexy, subversive and powerful.’
Sounds great – but for someone in their 40’s (namely, me) it also sounds a bit tiring.
What I mean is this: if you are of a certain age and you want to keep up with the trends, but you have moved on from bum-skimming skirts and nipple-grazing tops (which, let’s face it, alot of us have) is sheer a comfortable middle ground or just a lot of bloody hard work?
“I do not own a single sheer item (apart from some old tights I bought for a wedding once).“
I remember when I wrote about falling out of love with fashion. I was in my 30’s and felt that I had somehow lost my mojo and had no idea what to wear.
That was then, but I now feel that I am back in the game – with an office full of carefully chosen fashion pieces I use like armour for the many events and meetings I attend. Fashion has ‘given me wings’ after being a stay-at-home mum for years. I went from PJ Masks to TK MAXX and now I have a few select designers that I know I can rely on. I have taken great joy in following trends and favoured designers to see how I can use fashion to fit my own personal style – using and restyling items I already have in the name of sustainability but keeping an eye on what is happening from the catwalks all the way down to thrift stores.
That said, despite my commitment to keeping up with trends, I do not own a single sheer item (apart from some old tights I bought for a wedding once).
My style has changed, I’ll say that. I was all about pretty florals, fitted dresses and feminine cuts. Now, you’ll find me in the oversized blazers, chunky boots and pared-back makeup that has (thankfully) been on trend for the last few years. It all came as a bit of a relief tbh. I was tired of having to constantly smooth out my dresses, wear the ‘right underwear’ and suck in my stomach after a big meal (don’t judge me, we all did it). Tired of having to adjust my top – when in meetings, my boobs gained more attention than my presentation – and reposition my fitted skirts (for the hundredth time) so that the zip fit perfectly down the centre of my back and butt.
YAWN! It was exhausting, and I don’t really want to go back. This bare-it-all trend feels like a step in that direction and I don’t like it.
Yes, I’m sure there are ways to work this trend that may feel more ‘appropriate’ for my lifestyle. And yes, bare-it-all clothing may not be intended for a trip to Asda (or maybe it is). I suppose my point is that where it may feel empowering for some to bare what’s underneath, there are a few of us who have blossomed in our oversized blazers, huge trousers and comfy trainers…namely, me.
I suppose that’s what is so great about fashion and why my rule of ‘choosing what’s right over what is right now’ has served me so well throughout the years. Truly knowing what works for you and your lifestyle may be your first consideration when it comes to choosing your fashion pieces – it helps.
There are some ways to make this daring trend work for ‘all’. Here are a few tips that may help you to navigate this sheer madness, too:
- Wear the right undergarments. This is key to making sheer clothing work…for obvious reasons.
- Try layering up. Sheer clothing doesn’t have to mean you’re completely exposed – if you don’t want your bum out in Waitrose, layer a sheer top over that sheer skirt – add a slip for granny chic.
- Pair a sheer blouse with high-waisted jeans for a daytime look that’s both sexy and sophisticated.
I realise I sound a bit boring, a bit of a faux pas in the fashion world, but consider this: the potential for epic wardrobe malfunctions increases exponentially when wearing a pair of see-through chiffon trousers. Can you REALLY be asked?? For those who dare to bare, I salute you! Hey, no pain no gain, right?