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You know the look. We’ve all seen or been that person walking home the morning after with disheveled hair, last night’s dress, and our party shoes in hand. Well, this year at NYFW that touseled look was everywhere! And I’m not talking about fashion influencers roaming the streets leaving an after-party. I’m talking about the runway. Viewing the collections from Fall 2023, it was clear to me that the overarching trend was walk-of-shame chic. ✨
From Alexander Wang to Tory Burch, designers showcased a range of disheveled looks that included untucked blouses, haphazardly buckled belts, peekaboo lingerie, and loosely clutched outerwear. The collections gave off an air of undone perfection.
So how do you achieve the walk-of-shame chic look? Let’s break down the 6 micro lingerie trends that make up walk-of-shame chic.
1. Radical Opulence
The first micro trend is radical opulence. It represents the beginning of the night when you first step out in glamorous eveningwear. This year’s collections didn’t shy away from over-the-top glamour. We saw our fair share of sequins, fringe, and feathers. The perfect example of this was the Naeem Khan runway which featured his signature eveningwear donned with beaded embellishments and metal medallions. The air of richness continued at Christian Cowan where his finale look featured a black sequin gown, feathered cape coat, and showgirl headdress. It all felt like a modern take on the 1920s flapper days.
2. Provocative Cutouts
Designers walked a fine line of provocativeness this season. Toying with the audience, baring slivers of skin but being careful to not let us see too much. Talk about tastefully placed cutouts. LaQuan Smith focused on exposing midriffs with open keyhole catsuits and halter neck bodysuits that highlighted the abdomen. Priscavera took a different approach, highlighting peek-a-boos of the underbust. It felt as if as the night went on slowly inhibitions were thrown out the window and partygoers felt more freedom to explore their sexuality.
3. Slip Into Satin
Once seen as a gown only meant for the bedroom, slip dresses have since made their way into our everyday wardrobe. Jason Wu kept with the bedroom theme and styled his full-length slip dresses with hints of lingerie peeking out of the neckline. Rodarte elevated the nighttime staple with ornate lace bodices and godets. Alexander Wang juxtaposed his short sensual slip dresses with boxy oversized blazers and coats. And Anna Sui prepared her slip dresses for partying by adding matching lace gloves and tights.
4. Boost It Up Bustier
Madonna was the queen of wearing lingerie as outerwear in the 80s, but in recent years we’ve seen a resurgence in the popularity of the corset top. Shapewear and lingerie could be seen parading up and down the catwalk at almost every show. Tory Burch styled early century-inspired bustiers with midi skirts to create a modern eveningwear look. The bustiers were kept half fastened to create a feeling of half-dress. Wiederhoeft’s collection featured eveningwear and bridal looks with basque waist bustiers and lace front corsets. It’s clear that lingerie as outerwear is here to stay.
5. Barely There Bra
These bras aren’t for utility. Unlike your everyday t-shirt bra, the bras + bralettes featured on the runway this season aren’t providing much in terms of functionality. It’s more about the look. Area took the cake for designing the most impractical bra which consisted of two Chanel-esque pockets for cups connected by ornamental beading. Down the Di Petsa runway came a bra that left little to the imagination. It was entirely cupless but included crystals that dangled from the underwire. In terms of practicality, Michael Kors had the best display of bralettes. The triangle bralettes were rib knit which would make you think they were loungewear but instead they were styled for the night with tailored trousers or matching full-length skirts.
6. Naked Dress
It’s time to bare it all. Do you remember Rihanna’s iconic sheer Swarovski-crystal-encrusted gown at the CFDA awards in 2014? Well, this season a new era of naked dresses has been ushered in. Worrying about VPLs is a thing of the past. These sheer body-baring dresses are about freeing the nipple and showing off your unmentionables. At Naeem Khan, the dresses were bejeweled and body contouring while the dresses at Coach were flouncy and romantic. While the vibes may be different, there's one thing all of the dresses had in common - it was all about empowering the wearer to showcase their sexuality in a way they felt confident and free.
In the end, walk-of-shame chic is about being perfectly imperfect. Don't worry about being too put together. It’s all about being real, raw, and effortless. Whether you choose to slide into a slip dress or rock a bustier, have fun expressing yourself through this new trend! Let these 6 lingerie trends guide you and you should be rocking walk-of-shame chic like a pro in no time. Just let loose and enjoy the night (and morning).
P.S. As a lingerie + intimates design agency, we are all for lingerie having its big moment on the runway!