Fashion designers have long been drawn to the feminine beauty and sensual allure of the sheer fabrics and styling. The sheer trend made its way from the runway to the red carpet with iconic moments like Florence Pugh at the Cannes premiere of Don’t Worry Darling in Barbiecore pink Valentino, and was featured in many of the hottest looks at the 2023 Met Gala.
Recently, the sheer trend is making its way from the red carpet to retail. Let’s explore.
How Brands and Retailers Are Incorporating the Sheer Look
Whether taking a more daring or modest approach to sheer, common attributes that consumers are shopping for include:
- Layering ability: To shift from a revealing to a more modest outfit, a solid-colored tank or slip dress can be layered under a sheer blouse or dress. On the other hand, layering sheer fabrics can also produce daring and edgy styles, like wearing a sheer crop top over a bralette.
- Prints and patterns: For example, a sheer blouse with a floral print can add a touch of femininity to an outfit, while a sheer top with an abstract print can add a modern edge.
- Textures: Sheer fabrics come in a variety of delicate and translucent materials, such as such as lace, chiffon, georgette, voile, organza, and tulle. These different textures can add a sense of depth and interest to an outfit. A chiffon maxi dress, for example, can flow beautifully in the wind, while a lace blouse can add a touch of vintage charm.
- Opacity: Sheer fabrics come in different levels of opacity, from completely sheer to semi-sheer. Consumers may shop for a a semi-sheer blouse for a more versatile option for everyday wear, while they may prefer a completely see-through dress to make a bold statement.
Exploring FWRD’s Sheer Collection
Online retailer FWRD has leaned into the sheer trend by curating full looks, which can be found on its website as well as social media. Some of the luxury brands FWRD highlighted for this sheer collection include SAINT LAURENT, THE NEW ARRIVALS ILKYAZ OZEL, BALENCIAGA, BALMAIN, KHAITE, and CHRISTOPHER ESBER.
See How Abercrombie & Fitch is Leaning into Sheer
Abercrombie & Fitch, once known for its teenager-oriented preppy style, is trending again after transforming into a more modern and inclusive brand. Now, their assortment features a broader array of logo-less, approachable, and on-trend styles that appeal to today’s Millennial and Gen Z consumers–including this season’s sheer trend.
When simply typing “sheer” into the retailer’s search bar, a plethora of product offerings populate. Some of those include lightweight lace and textured tops, as well as crochet and gauzy fabric pants perfect for a beach party or BBQ.
Spotlight on Sheer at Urban Outfitters
Although Urban Outfitters (UO) hasn’t created a specific page for sheer items, they’ve included the trend in their product line. It can be easily found in their party collection and on their dedicated Balletcore trend page, cleverly showcasing how different trends can be combined.
How Retailers and Brands Can Capitalize on Trend Cycles Sooner
Today’s Sheer trend, like all Fashion, Home, and Beauty trends, come and go. Yet the process of quickly transforming trends into collections and campaigns is here to stay–and more important than ever.
Learn how Lily AI helps retailers and brands capitalize on trends faster in our Trends Attribution 101 post!
Trend Identification in the Age of Social with Lily AI
