Forget peekaboo cutouts and thigh-high slits — celebs are all about showing some serious skin on the red carpet. From nearly naked dresses to sheer numbers that show off their undergarments, stars don’t shy away from making a sexy statement.
With designers like Monôt, Dolce and Gabbana and Givenchy creating off-the-runway gowns that leave little to the imagination, more and more stars are arriving to awards shows and movie premieres in next to nothing.
But wearing outfits with expertly place floral appliqués, lace in just the right place or deciding to simply free the nipple has been going on for years. Take Rihanna for example. The mom-to-be made a splash at the CFDA Fashion Awards in 2014 when she arrived in an Adam Selman sheer gown — sans a bra. The stunning number featured 216,00 Swarovski crystals.
Naturally, she made headlines with her jaw-dropping look. While fans frequently hype up their favorite stars for serving up sexiness, it sometimes draws out the haters.
Such was the case for Zoë Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala. The actress wore a mesh Yves Saint Laurent gown that was completely see through. While she topped a handful of “best dressed” lists, some negative comments on social media got under her skin.
After a user questioned why she felt the need to go “practically naked,” the star clapped back: “Being uncomfortable with the human body is colonization/brainwashing. It’s just a body. We all got em.”
Kravitz later told Elle in February 2022 that the whole saga forced her to take a social media hiatus. “The fact that people don’t think what they say affects a celebrity because you’re not a person to them is crazy,” she told the outlet.
The Batman actress wasn’t the only one to opt for a risqué ensemble at the Met Gala that year. Kendall Jenner left little to the imagination in a super sexy Givenchy ensemble.
While her gown was totally sheer, she did get her inspiration from a more modest design worn by Audrey Hepburn in My Fair Lady circa 1956. The Tequila 818 founder confirmed the connection by sharing a scene from the movie via Instagram Stories.
From Megan Fox’s barely-there Mugler gown from the 2021 VMAs to Lady Gaga’s underboob-baring ensemble at the 2017 Grammy Awards, Us Weekly’s Stylish is rounding up the boldest, best and sexiest red carpet dresses of all time. Keep scrolling!
