When Georgia May Jagger sashayed down the SS14 Alexander Wang catwalk in a ‘Parental Advisory Explicit Content’ sweater, everyone was so busy oooooh-ing over the fact that in-yer-face nineties logomania was back that they slightly missed the big-time arrival of sheer. But given we've now got sheer shirts, pop socks and even Klear Klutch bags, it's pretty clear it is ‘a thing’.
Offering up a sheer-enmeshed cleavage, a whisper of barely sheathed torso through some translucent organza, a hefty flash of chiffoned arm, or an organza'd thigh, sheer has become the fresh, modern and quietly sexy byword in eveningwear. Just ask Aluna Francis of AlunaGeorge, who took to the stage at The Brits last month wearing a Richard Nicoll dress that was so sheer, she was, in reality, just wearing a lovely white bra and a nice pair of big white knickers – which was made cool, rather than OTT sexy, by the sheer dove-white overlay.
But admittedly, sheer anywhere other than the Brits stage – or at least a sweaty club – is a hard sell. Still, there is a way to do it on a more low-key scale. Here's how:
1. A sheer shirt won't scare anyone
A popular shirt style going around at the moment (we've already written about the Zara and Christopher Kane renditions) is the classic white shirt with sheer panelling, which offers a translucent midriff and a sheer panel on the upper arm. If you pair the shirt with a high pencil skirt, the filet o' flesh is minimal, but the effect is still quietly sexy and modern. It's great for a date and if you layer a ‘singlet’ (how noughties is that term?) underneath, it's work appropriate, too.
Sleeveless Shirt With Sheer Panel, £28 Lavish Aliceat ASOS, Silk Dress with Sheer Inserts, £281 T by Alexander Wang at MyTheresa
**2. A sheer skirt could work too **
Or how about you flip reverse that and interpret the sheer trend in an off-beat way, thus subverting the ‘nudity’ part in totality. Channel blogger Leandra Medine of Man Repeller and go for a part see-through lace and tulle skirt – with sawn-off jeans underneath. Layering – particularly skirts over trousers, to hide any post-dinner food babies – is always fun now, isn't it? Equally, the skirt will work well on its own come full-on heatwave. (We live in hope.)
Cream Lace Maxi Skirt, £50 Topshop, Blue Stripe Lace Skirt, £50 Warehouse.
3. Bare only your legs
Another way to buy into the trend in a subtle, ladylike way is opting for a midi skirt with a band of transparent organza, allowing for just a snapshot of bare leg. Or a sheer shift dress with panels.
Pencil Skirt In Sheer Stripe, £32 ASOS, White Sheer Panelled Shift Dress, £30 River Island.
4. It can be casual
To keep it casual, try an oversized, translucent mesh t-shirt, with either a nude bra (eliminating the whole ‘visible underwear’ thing if you're not a fan) or a clean-lined black bra. Or how about some mesh leggings, for an urban take on peekaboo? We'd normally say avoid bright colours and lace if you're going for a bra under a sheer t-shirt, but then equally Chelsea Leyland made an orange bra work under a white dress – so who are we to judge?
Aqua Mesh Raglan T-Shirt, £315 3.1 Phillip Lim at avenue 32, Stretch And Mesh Leggings, £110 McQ Alexander McQueen at Net-a-Porter.
If you're now firmly in the sheer corner though, a final word of caution – whatever else you do, wear a bra. After all, we don't all have Ri Ri's balls. Or boobs.
**Follow Pandora on Twitter **@pinsykes
Pictures: Jason Lloyd-Evans, Rex
This article originally appeared on The Debrief.