Despite being publicly shamed by the media and general public alike for her “inappropriate” and “immodest” behavior, Rose McGowan’s 1998 VMAs naked dress moment brought a previously unseen element to red carpets and sparked a conversation on naked dressing among celebrities. Gaining more acceptance year after year thanks to the wave of feminist and body-positivity movements, stars like J.Lo, Zoë Kravitz, and Beyoncé don’t think twice about wearing revealing dresses to high-profile ceremonies like the Oscars or the Met Gala anymore.
And now that the sheer trend has fully taken over the 2024 runways—as notoriously seen on Saint Laurent’s Fall/Winter 2024 collection—there is no doubt that we will be seeing celebrities embrace the naked look more and more often. L'OFFICIEL rounds up some of the best celebrity naked dress moments.
Demi Moore
On April 6th, Demi Moore attended the 40th anniversary party for Dolce & Gabbana in Milan and arrived in a stunning sheer gown. The sparkling dress was worn with black undergarments underneath and simple open-toe heels, making for a tasteful and elegant take on the sheer dress trend. The actress wore the illustrious garment with her silky locks parted down the middle and a natural beauty look featuring a rosy lip.
Dua Lipa
Beyoncé
While celebrating the 2022 Oscars, Queen Beyoncé opted for the most luxurious naked dress. The sheer nude gown was embellished with silver crystals. She wasn't photographed in the dress by the paparazzi. Instead, she tested her loyal fans' patience by debuting her dress on Instagram the next morning. This look was well worth the wait.
Rose McGowan
Rose McGowan left the world speechless with her naked dress at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. The actress was violently shamed for her choice of attire at this point in the media. Now, the naked dress is one to covet, but McGowan paved the way for this understanding of the once-controversial piece.
Zoë Kravitz
While making an appearance at the 2021 Met Gala, Zoë Kravitz made the ultimate statement with her naked dress moment. In her first appearance since her divorce from her ex-husband, Karl Glusman, The Batman star used a naked dress as a revenge dress.
Rihanna
It's always been Rihanna's time to shine, but 2014 was a special moment in the singer's career. The "Diamonds" singer attended the Council of Fashion Designers of America Fashion Awards in a show-stopping naked dress that made history.
Kourtney Kardashian
Kourtney Kardashian took to Instagram to post an adorable photo of her and her new husband Travis Barker. The sheer patterned dress showed off the celebrity sister's figure. She has been honest about her increased body positivity since being in a relationship with Barker.
Jennifer Lopez
Who can forget this iconic J.Lo moment? The star attended the 1998 CFDA Fashion Awards in a sheer black dress embellished with tiny sparkles. Always the trendsetter, Lopez was embracing the naked dress long before today's current infatuation with the look.
Bella Hadid
At the 2018 Victoria's Secret Show After Party, Bella Hadid made her naked dress debut. The extremely successful model showed out in a Y2K-inspired sheer short dress. Showing off her toned figure, Hadid did not seem at all concerned with her "naked" appearance.
Megan Thee Stallion
Megan Thee Stallion practically found overnight success with her rap talent, but her fashion prowess has been slowly but steadily gaining steam. At a 2021 Sports Illustrated event, she wore a naked dress with a sky-high slit. The gown featured drapings of jewels across the opening of the dress to give it more structure.
Emily Ratajkowski
During the 2019 Met Gala, EmRata showed off her figure in a sheer halter Dundas dress. Her head adorned with angel wings, the model took the naked dress to the next level.
Ciara
At the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscars After Party, Ciara bared it all on the blue carpet in a glittering net gown from Dundas.
Megan Fox
Love or hate her, there's no denying that Megan Fox looked absolutely ethereal at the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. Here, Fox bared it all with a sheer, see-through, crystal-embellished dress from none other than Mugler. Her wet-look hairstyle complemented the edgy yet glamorous vibe she effortlessly exuded.
Adut Akech
But Fox wasn't the only one who showed up to the 2021 VMAs in a sexy naked dress. South Sudanese-Australian model Adut Akech turned heads on the red carpet as she donned a silver two-piece ensemble from Natalia Fedner Metal Couture, paired with matching knee-high boots.
Dakota Johnson
For the screening of her 2021 film, The Lost Daughter, at the 78th Venice Film Festival, L'OFFICIEL cover star Dakota Johnson stunned in a breathtaking sheer dress from Gucci. The floor-length gown boasted intricate silver embellishments and fringe details.
Hailey Bieber
At the 2022 launch of Tiffany & Co.'s Lock Collection in Los Angeles, Hailey Bieber, who's been an official brand ambassador since October 2021, attended the event in a black sheer long-sleeved maxi dress from Saint Laurent. Bieber accessorized with Tiffany link earrings in yellow gold, as well as five Tiffany Lock bangles in diamond-paved yellow gold.
Kendall Jenner
The boldest looks from awards season can usually be found at the Vanity Fair Oscars Afterparty, and its 2024 edition was no exception. Kendall Jenner turned heads in this naked Maison Margiela Couture gown, worn on top of a half-corset that visibly cinched her waist.
Florence Pugh
Florence Pugh attended Valentino's Fall/Winter 2022 Haute Couture show in Rome in a sheer pink gown that quickly became the talk of the town. Due to the amount of criticism she received for this naked dress, the actress called out body shamers on Instagram.
Sydney Sweeney
Sydney Sweeney donned an elegant black sheer dress for the New York City screening of her 2023 film, Reality, held at the Museum of Modern Art. The tube gown, which featured cotton tulle and silk details, was a part of Schiaparelli's Spring/Summer 2023 Haute Couture collection designed by creative director Daniel Roseberry.
Miley Cyrus
Then there's Miley Cyrus' head-turning gold naked dress for the 2024 Grammys red carpet. Though she donned five different ensembles throughout the night, our personal favorite was this custom-made dress designed by Maison Margiela's creative director, the illustrious John Galliano. According to Cyrus' stylist, Bradley Kenneth, this dress took 675 hours to make.
Zendaya
At the New York City premiere of the highly-anticipated Dune: Part Two, Zendaya proved that a sexy naked dress can be modest. Styled by iconic celebrity stylist Law Roach, the white long-sleeved dress, which was a part of Stéphane Rolland's Spring/Summer 2024 Haute Couture collection, featured subtle cut-outs that accentuated her figure without revealing too much.
Vanessa Hudgens
It already takes a lot of courage to wear a naked dress to a high-profile event, but wearing it while pregnant is a whole new level of fierceness. Vanessa Hudgens chose a sheer Alberta Ferretti gown to attend the 2024 Vanity Fair Oscars Afterparty, revealing her precious pregnant belly.
Anne Hathaway
In case you didn't know, Anne Hathaway's latest project, The Idea of You, held its New York City premiere last night, April 29. While you might expect her to spend the day preparing or, at the very least, taking a breather, Anne Hathaway had a different plan altogether. On the day of the premiere, she was booked and busy promoting her new film, donning not just one or two but three distinct outfits. Our standout favorite? The elegant blue sheer dress from Simkhai, which she gracefully wore as she made her way through the Upper West Side.