We called it back in February—winter '23/'24 is all about the exposed bra. While the weather wasn't yet conducive to actually wearing the trend, now that summer is finally summering, it means we can finally put our lingerie in the limelight.
This month alone, our favourite fashion girls were spotted with their itty-bitty bras on display, as part of a matching shirt-and-trousers set à la model Elsa Hosk, or even worn alone (gasp) as a top in its own right. Gigi Hadid sported her floral balconette bra paired with denim shorts and a baseball cap. If that seems too risqué for you know, riding the tube, Rita Ora took a page out of the Noughties and styled her black bra under a sheer top and low-slung skirt with a belt on her Italian holiday.
Instagram content
Instagram content
The trend-du-jour is a dressed down version of we've seen in the lead up to summer. Hollywood A-listers were seen championing it on red carpets earlier this year, and even the last Cannes Film Festival—notoriously hosting one of the strictest dress codes on the calendar—welcomed the look in droves.
The first inkling of the trend began back in 2019 when Katie Holmes broke the Internet with her matching Khaite cardigan and bra moment. Then on the autumn/winter 2022 runways, everyone from Versace to Valentino via Schiaparelli, Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini and Elie Saab made a case for the exposed bra.
Then major celebrities took note, putting their bras at the forefront on red carpets. Remember when Scarlett Johansson, wore a custom pink Prada gown with ivory embellished bra detailing to the 2023 Cannes Film Festival, and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, jazzed up her muted spring/summer 2023 Fendi haute couture look? Joining them on the French Riviera was Sydney Sweeney, who took the lingerie-inspired trend to new heights thanks to the sexy silk slip she paired with her exposed cornflower blue bra.
Now, the trend has leaped off runways and red carpets into our summer wardrobes. Rather than pairing lingerie with ballgowns or blazers, the new take on the trend features barely-there cover-ups or crisp shirts at most. Now when a heatwave strikes and wearing real clothes feels like an impossible task, we have a (somewhat) socially acceptable way to wear the bare minimum, at least for those of us who dare to bare.
For more from Glamour UK's Fashion Editor Rosana Lai follow her on Instagram @rosielai.
