Pants Are Out, and Underwear Is In—6 Risqué Runway Looks That Prove It
In addition to simple, pared-down looks on the spring 2023 runways, the latest fashion season also offered up its fair share of more risqué ensembles, one of which involves ditching pants entirely and wearing underwear—only. Even more surprising, though, was how alluring the trend turned out to be. Rather than over-the-top or showy, designers like Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta and Victoria Beckham showcased the pantsless look in the most high-brow of manners.
What leveled up the concept was the way in which it was styled on the runways, which I suggest you take note of for when you test out the trend IRL. At both of the aforementioned presentations, models ditched pants and wore just tights instead, paired with classic heels and either a simple knit (at Bottega Veneta) or a lace bra and tailored blazer (at Victoria Beckham).
In contrast, Miu Miu Creative Director Miuccia Prada used long, layered T-shirts and knee-high open-toe boots to create the illusion that going out sans trousers was no big deal. At Del Core, thigh-high stockings provided just enough coverage to make a bodysuit (and only a bodysuit) suitable for everyday, and at Coperni, a cropped blazer was made to turn high-rise black briefs into a put-together ensemble.
All that's to say if you were planning on investing heavily in trousers come spring, don't. Or at least, don't buy so many that you can't afford a few pairs of show-worthy panties and snag-proof tights. I promise they'll come in handy because the pantsless trend, no matter how impractical, is here to stay.
Though it might not feel natural at first to go without bottoms, this season's runways provided everything you need to get well acquainted with the styling method and, better yet, make it appear to be the most casual and natural way of dressing. From layered-on, longline T-shirts made to appear minidress-like at Miu Miu to a crisp, tailored blazer worn with nothing but high-rise briefs at Coperni, it's clear that there's no one right way to style this bottomless trend.
1. Panties Worth Showing Off
Whether you wear these on their own or let them peak out from above the waistband of your pants, they make for a regret-proof purchase, even with the high price tag.
For a sporty look, try these with a white tank top, tights, and a long, tailored coat à la Kylie Jenner at the Loewe show during Paris Fashion Week.
For those of you who refuse to go pantsless entirely (I see you and I feel you), designers such as Blazy at Bottega Veneta and Victoria Beckham offered up another route for navigating this trend: Just throw on some tights. Tights aren't pants—I know that. But they definitely provide an additional layer of fabric and modesty to a trend that doesn't include too much of either. Plus, if you pick a cool, patterned pair, they tend to add an interesting and unexpected touch to any top half of an ensemble.
2. Hosiery That Stands on Its Own
Knee-high sheer tights are all over Instagram right now.
I swear you could take a knife to these, and they wouldn't snag. Sheertex, I applaud you.
As with most styling trends, shoes play a big role in the culmination of the overall look. For this particular one, the runways would suggest that black heels, from open-toe sandals to point-toe pumps, are the move.
3. Classic Black Heels Are the Final Touch
The metallic toe adds an immediate luxe factor to these black pumps.
It doesn't get more classic than a pair of Manolo Blahnik Maysales.
Next: These Are the 11 Biggest Spring 2023 Trends, Period
This post was previously published and has since been updated.
Eliza Huber is a New York City–based fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and celebrity style. She joined Who What Wear in 2021 after almost four years on the fashion editorial team at Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a marketing degree from the University of Iowa. She has since launched two monthly columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled the likes of Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, and Sabrina Carpenter for WWW's monthly cover features; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top trends from fashion month, season after season. Eliza now lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, running in Central Park, and scouring eBay for '90s Prada and '80s Yves Saint Laurent.
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