How to Actually Wear a Sheer Dress: A Shopping Guide

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(Image credit: @hoskelsa)

If you weren't already aware, we're very much here for the transparent trend. Whether cut from organza, tulle, or lace, the "naked" dress is a solidified celebrity favorite, with everyone from Ashley Graham to Emily Ratajkowski repping the see-through style with killer confidence. But we won't lie. The sheer trend is a tough one to nail down because the idea of wearing something completely see-through is pretty daunting. This is why we're building out our ultimate guide so you'll know exactly how to wear a sheer dress IRL.

They're not all made equally, though, and shopping for the right style all depends on what you plan to wear under your sheer dress. So let us break it down for you—from the casual duster dresses you'll throw on over jeans and a tee to the bold gowns worthy of a formal occasion. There are four levels we've defined on our naked-dress barometer, and if you're armed with the following options, you, too, can go forth fearlessly and wear the sheer trend.

Level 1: The Printed Mesh Dress

This is your entry point into the naked-dress trend. It's casual and easy to throw on with ankle boots or sneakers but looks anything but boring. The key is to look for mesh dresses with a built-in solid inner lining that makes them ultra-wearable.

Level 2: The Dress With Cutouts

The next level on the sheer-dress scale is the dress with cutouts. These styles feature a few choice see-through panels so you can partake in the sheer trend without needing to overthink your layering strategy.

Level 3: The Textured Sheer Dress

Here's where things really start to warm up. These styles feature a pattern like lace (or, in the case of this Insta-famous Réalisation number, zebra-printed burnout velvet), so while they're not 100% see-through, they definitely lean more risqué. Wear one of these sheer lace options with strappy heels for a night out.

Level 4: The Fully Transparent Dress (Not for the Faint of Heart)

And now, here's what we like to call the "level 10 naked dress." These are the fully transparent styles that leave it up to you to determine what you'll wear underneath. We're fans of wearing plain undergarments like high-waisted briefs and a matching bra top underneath these fully sheer dresses for more formal occasions or even wearing one as a swimsuit cover-up.

This post was published at an earlier date and has since been updated. Up next, see the 10 outdated dress trends to retire in 2023 and 10 to wear instead.

Editor

Anna is an editor on the fashion team at Who What Wear and has been at the company for over five years, having begun her career in the Los Angeles office before relocating to New York, where she's currently based. Having always been passionate about pursuing a career in fashion, she built up her experience interning at the likes of Michael Kors, A.L.C., and College Fashionista before joining the team as a post-graduate assistant editor. Anna has penned a number of interviews with Who What Wear's cover stars over the years, including A-listers Megan Fox, Issa Rae, and Emma Chamberlain. She's earned a reputation for scouting new and emerging brands from across the globe and championing them to our audience of millions. While fashion is her main wheelhouse, Anna led the launch of WWW Travels last year, a new lifestyle vertical that highlights all things travel through a fashion-person lens. She is passionate about shopping vintage, whether it be at a favorite local outpost or an on-the-road discovery, and has amassed a wardrobe full of unique finds. When she's not writing, you can find her shooting street imagery on her film camera, attempting to learn a fourth or fifth language, or planning her next trip across the globe.