I Have a Theory About Naked Dresses and Instagram

Every time I hear the words "naked trend", I'm struck with a certain curiosity that I feel the need to satisfy. Will the next buzzworthy fashion moment be a (relatively tame) pair of nude-colored shoes à la Kate Middleton or will it go all the way to a "level 10" on the scale of sheer clothing? There's just no telling these days.

It feels like celebrities from EmRata to Kim Kardashian West are attempting to break the internet on a weekly basis in clothing that doesn't even try to hint at what lies beneath it. I wonder: Does the age of Instagram and oversharing fuel the trend of total transparency in our clothing?

A photo posted by on

A few months back, I bought a sheer mesh top on a whim. Did the fact that Solange had worn the same Assembly top just days before persuade me to make the not-so-practical purchase? Maybe. But whatever the original motivation was, I brought my newly purchased top home only for it to sit on the hanger in my closet for months while I mustered up the courage to wear it out of the house.

Actually, in the months I wasn't wearing it out, I was at home taking a copious amount of selfies in the outfits I cooked up in my head to go with it. For such an impractical item, it sure did photograph well. Wait, was that the point? Does the naked trend's sheer clothing exist just to be photographed for Instagram?

A photo posted by on

Clearly, I had a lot of questions. Here's my theory: The naked trend is the first fashion trend of its kind to emerge that's made by and for the digital world we live in. Think about it—it's almost common practice now to buy into certain trends because of their "Instagrammability", in other words, how well they'll perform on your social media pages. These trends usually arrive swiftly and are either eye-catching, nostalgic, or a mix of both.

For sheer dresses and tops, it's obviously the former. A bit voyeuristic in nature, we'd rarely wear a sheer dress (see impracticality), but we'll jump at the chance to see how others are wearing one. It's in part out of fascination and in part out of respect (because you need courage, lots of courage to wear sheer clothing). Either way, the naked trend continues to dominate. You'll find us waiting patiently for the next daring celebrity moment, but until then, see the most epic naked trend Instagram posts and shop the most stylish sheer dresses below.

A photo posted by on

A photo posted by on

If you'd like to receive more useful info on the latest fashion trends, sign up for Who What Wear's daily newsletter.

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.