How Celebrities Pushed Fashion Boundaries With the Naked Dress Trend: From Marylin Monroe to Rihanna
When Marilyn Monroe performed a rendition of “Happy Birthday” at President John F. Kennedy’s 1962 birthday celebration, her dress wasn’t just revealing — it was trend setting. Designed by Jean Louis with over 2,500 rhinestones, Monroe’s flesh-colored gown made the term “naked dress” popular and started a new era of sheer, nude-illusion in fashion and pop culture.
Monroe’s Jean Louis gown wasn’t the first “naked dress” in history. Clara Bow was seen in a sheer dress in the 1925 silent film “My Lady of Whims,” and Mae West made headlines in 1936 with her see-through floral gown in “Go West, Young Man.” But it was after Monroe that the style gained prominence.
In 1964, Rudi Gernreich created the revealing monokini. In 1966, Yves Saint Laurent designed his first sheer look. In 1969, Barbra Streisand accepted her Oscar in a sheer, sequined Arnold Scaasi pantsuit. That same year, Jane Birkin wore a sheer little black dress for the “Slogan” premiere. Bob Mackie, known as the “naked dress originator,” dressed Cher in a beaded and feathered naked dress for the 1974 Met Gala.
Over the decades, many designers and celebrities have shown their interpretation of naked dressing, with some ensembles causing more controversy than others. In 2014, Rihanna redefined the style at the CFDA ceremony with her crystal gown created by Adam Selm.
Naked dressing has also seen a resurgence on the runways since 2023, with Dion Lee, Jason Wu, Michael Kors, Brandon Maxwell, Chanel, Balenciaga and other fashion houses betting on sheer fabrics with their recent creations. This trend reflected on Hollywood’s most celebrated red carpets, with stars including Florence Pugh, Bella Hadid, Madison Beer and Emma Corin wearing their own interpretation of the style. More recently, Australian model Bianca Censori opted for a shocking opacity at the 2025 Grammy Awards, wearing an utterly see-through mesh minidress.
Here, WWD looks closer at boundary-pushing naked dresses worn by celebrities over the years.
Marilyn Monroe, 1962
Marilyn Monroe wore the iconic naked dress for JKF’s 1962 birthday celebration at Madison Square Garden in New York. Her flesh-colored gown was inspired by costumes that Jean Luis had created for Marlene Dietrich to wear in her concert shows in the 1950s.
Babra Streisand, 1969
Barbra Streisand wore a controversial Arnold Scaasi pantsuit for the 1969 Academy Awards. She won an Oscar as Best Actress for “Funny Girl” that year.
Jane Birkin, 1969
Jane Birkin was photographed in a long-sleeved minidress made of sheer fabric at the “Slogan” premiere in Paris. She was accompanied by Serge Gainsbourg.
Cher, 1974
Cher wore a Bob Mackie creation for the 1974 Met Gala, themed “Romantic and Glamorous Hollywood Design.” She later would also wear the dress for Time Magazine, photographed by Richard Avedon in 1975.
Rose McGowan, 1998
Rose McGowan wore a see-through Hanson dress for the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards red carpet. She paired the look with a black G-string.
Rihanna, 2014
Rihanna wore a crystal gown by Adam Selm for the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards. The dress was made with 230,000 Swarovski crystals. The singer was honored at the event with the 2014 Fashion Icon of the Year prize.
Beyoncé, 2015
For the “China: Through The Looking Glass” Met Gala in 2015, Beyoncé wore a sheer gown by Givenchy. Her dress was covered in crystal embellishments.
Kim Kardashian, 2022
Kim Kardashian wore the actual Marylin Monroe dress from JFK’s 1962 birthday celebration for the 2022 Met Gala. The dress, which was created by costume designer Jean Louis and sketched by Mackie, was valued at over $10 million that year and features 6,000 hand-sewn crystals.
Ciara, 2023
Ciara wore a see-through Dundas halter dress for the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party. The dress was part of Dundas’ fall 2023 runway show.
Florence Pugh, 2023
Florence Pugh chose a lavender sheer dress for Valentino’s fall 2023 couture show in Paris. The dress included pleating details and a ruffled collar.
Bella Hadid, 2024
Bella Hadid wore a body-con midi dress, made of see-through fabric at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival. Her dress was from Saint Laurent‘s fall 2024 runway show.
Miley Cyrus, 2024
Miley Cyrus opted for a Maison Margiela dress for the 2024 Grammys. Her look, styled with gold velvet Tabi split-toe heels, was constructed entirely from safety pins.
Bianca Censori, 2025
Bianca Censori wore a daring minidress, completely see-through, for the 2025 Grammys. She paired it with clear heels and a furry coat.
