The Sheer Trend

It is safe to say designers were not hiding anything on the runways this spring, as fashion houses paid homage to the women’s silhouette through revealing her best assets. Skin was exposed through an array of strong to subtle prints, detailing from embroidery and presenting seams, as well as colours that were almost as shocking as the nakedness lying beneath.

Glorious chiffons and glamorous silks coolly glided the catwalk as long, lean, legs sneaked through fluid fabrics. Despite the look varying from Hawaiian glamour at Dior, 70s luxury at Marc Jacobs and Ballet beautiful at Chloe, there is one thing you must note; the length – the longer the better. Simplicity usually reigns through sheer graceful garments, however this summer designers seized at the opportunity to add exceptional detail to the neck. Embellished sequins and flamboyant ruching created a powerful and sensational edge to a summer grace.

However not everything was see-through on the catwalk, designers took pride in showing seams this spring. Proenza Schouler broke the traditional rules with sheer, by adding a feminine touch to a sporty silhouette. Seams created a chance for a sleek sport style through new constructed lines on top of strong black bralets. Christopher Kane did not steer away from his distinctive neons, the designer transformed structured silhouettes as the garments seemed to play with transparency.  Similarly Richard Nicoll kept the lower half more opaque whilst a metallic lycra bra showed through under the soft neutral palette.

Layering lace covered the catwalk, creating levels of lace for a more subtly seductive look when pure white enveloped roaring red at Erdem. Whilst at Dolce and Gabanna, lace appeared innocent in white, but revealed an underlying provocative edge with wedding-night lingerie underneath. A combination of lace overlaying only lingerie with a matching alluring fan in Louis Vuitton’s oriental collection, of course bearing the signature monogram. The look fully embraced lady-like desire, through the limitation of a tight-fitting skirt and the flirtatious see-through fabric.

Pheobe Philo at Celine returned to the original subtlety of sheer fabric, through a plain-cut chic to transfer minimalism by adding the freshness of summer. Contrasting nicely, Jonathan Saunders maintained a feisty bold colours within straight stripes.

H&E xx