Christian Dior show as part of Paris Haute-Couture Fashion Week A/W 2009

By: Madelyn Chung

Celebrities have a love/hate relationship with undergarments. First it was no panties. Now, underwear has become outerwear.

We’ve seen Lady Gaga prance down the streets sans pants, with her lingerie shamelessly exposed to the world. Her reasoning: “My grandmother is basically blind, but she can make out the lighter parts, like my skin and hair. She says, ‘I can see you, because you have no pants on.’ So I’ll continue to wear no pants so that my grandma can see me.”

Rihanna took a less blatant route, recently sporting Rodarte’s laser-cut thigh-highs paired with denim cutoffs while out in New York City. Moschino, Rock and Republic and Max Azria are just some of the fashion houses that have sent models down the runway in lacy slips, silk robes, and visible bras and panties.

With such gorgeous lingerie on the market, it’s a shame to hide it under layers of clothing. It’s no wonder that celebrities and designers are choosing to show off their undergarments to the world.

Lady Gaga at the 20th Annual MuchMusic Video Awards Gift Lounge in Toronto, Canada.

Underwear has evolved from being a health garment to a shape definer, to finally, a fashion must-have. But it wasn’t until 1985 when Madonna’s signature look of the bra as outerwear was popularized in “Desperately Seeking Susan,” that the trend first emerged. In the 1990s, she wore the famous cone-bra corset designed by Jean Paul Gaultier during her Blonde Ambition tour.

The trend was revisited in 2006 at D&G’s spring ready-to-wear show, where Domenico Dolce and Stefan Gabbana created a lacy all-white collection. The sheer clothing put the undergarments on display and made for pretty-yet-sexy dressing.

More recently, Christian Dior’s Fall 2009 couture show was inspired by the behind-the-scenes documentary photographs from more than half a century ago when Christian Dior dressed his cabine of mannequins for shows. The collection featured sorbet-coloured palette paired with flesh-toned undergarments.

Madonna on stage during her Sticky And Sweet Tour at The O2 on July 4, 2009 in London, England.

The brand’s designer, John Galliano, threw a beige corset over a raspberry suit dress, paired a zebra-print petticoat with a flesh-toned girdle and thigh-high stockings, and tulle skirts with boudoir-esque bras. Galliano even went as far as making the shoe straps appear like bra straps.

So if you are willing to rock this trend, take note from Galliano, and be sure to pair your underwear with enough outerwear to avoid looking like you forget to get dressed. Think heavy cardigans paired with lacy slips, corsets with jeans or tulle skirts, and, if you dare to go pantless, high-waisted underwear with a pair of tights and a long tuxedo blazer should save you from being mistaken for a hooker.

SHOP:

Rodarte leather cut-out thigh highs, $1059 CAD

La Senza Dreamlegs lace-top stockings, $16.50 CAD

Topshop Animal sequined high knickers, $46 CAD

La Senza Ultra Soft Solid Slip, $34.50 CAD