The "Bad Girl" Fashion Era Is Peaking: 7 Outfits That Prove It

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1670356575542-main

When Rihanna's Good Girl Gone Bad album dropped, no black corset or edgy bob cut was safe. Rihanna's transformation from a fresh-faced girl next door to an It girl siren felt like a dramatic shift out of nowhere and the whole world took notice. Right about now, there's a similar moment happening in fashion. While LBDs and stilettos have always been a regular part of the It-girl style diet, looking at the crowd of designers who have put their full weight behind underwear-exposing pieces, and skin-tight bodysuits, it feels like a very defined shift towards the risqué side of things. There's no buzzy, collective name for it, but with the influx of see-through statement dresses and sky-high revenge heels, I've taken to calling it the "bad girl" fashion era.

Just looking at the warm reception of Saint Laurent and Alaïa's spring/summer 2023 offerings, it's pretty evident that showing skin is in. While the "bad girl" aesthetic is multifaceted, the general approach is to stick with skin-exposing cutouts or underwear-revealing garments in shades of black. For those daring enough to take on the trend, I've compiled a list of seven amazing outfits to reference to get the seductive mood right. Keep clicking for the best in show when it comes to bad-girl fashion.

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753582567-main

(Image credit: @jo.rdan)

While showing skin is a big feature of the trend, it's not all about aggressive cutouts and micro minidresses. Here's a way to pull it off with the help of sleek leather statement pieces. Throw in an over-the-top crystal necklace, and you're the main character. 

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753652185-main

(Image credit: @christietyler)

Playing on the emerging rosette choker trend, this outfit pulls double duty as a special occasion party look, or an ensemble for a night out with friends.

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753542240-main

(Image credit: @jihoonkm)

Here's a prime example of why classic outfit formulas should always stay in your guidebook: this look is only comprised of an LBD and pumps, but it's no less impactful.

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753810555-main

(Image credit: @emilisindlev)

For the brave souls willing to take on the pantsless movement currently gripping the fashion crowd, you'll want to note the impeccable platform pump and turtleneck combo here. After all, aren't tights and a turtleneck really just makeshift bodysuit?

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753590301-main

(Image credit: @champagnemani)

A shrug layered over a black minidress is the combo I didn't know that I needed, and after seeing this, I'm definitely convinced. To create more of an air of grandeur, style it with a dramatic choker. 

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672753565455-main

(Image credit: @camillecharriere)

Although this exact dress is vintage, thankfully, it's the season of see-through maxi dresses, and several equally seductive options exist on the market. Just make sure your undergarments are of the best quality.

Shop the look:

sexy-winter-outfits-304134-1672754062772-main

(Image credit: @endlesslyloveclub)

The everyday approach to interpreting bad-girl fashion includes a pair of sleek slingbacks, skintight leggings, and an infinitely cool biker jacket.

Next: I'm Always Thinking Ahead—These Are the 2023 Outfits I'm Already Planning

Fashion Market Editor

Indya Brown is a fashion editor, stylist, and writer living in Los Angeles. While going to school at Columbia University in New York City, she got her feet wet in the fashion industry interning at Elle magazine, Harper's Bazaar, and New York magazine's The Cut. After graduating in 2016, she joined The Cut as a fashion assistant, eventually working her way up to fashion editor. There, she worked on a multitude of projects, including styling inbook feature stories for New York magazine's print issue, writing and pitching market stories for The Cut, and serving as fashion lead for The Cut's branded content. While New York has been her home for over 10 years, she moved to Los Angeles in the midst of the pandemic in 2020 for a new chapter. Now she is a fashion market editor for Who What Wear, focusing on emerging designers, rising trends on and off the internet, interior design, and BIPOC creatives and brands. Aside from her duties as a fashion market editor, Brown is also a freelance stylist and writer, working on national print and video commercial campaigns for Sephora, The Independent, and Cadillac. Her bylines also include Harper's Bazaar, Vox, and The New York Times. But once the computer goes down and the emails turn off, she's likely eating her way through Koreatown, hunting down vintage furniture, scoping out new outrageous nail designs to try, or taking a hot cycling class.