Sheer Clothing Continues to Take the Spotlight in Summer 2025

Transparent, lightweight fabrics remain popular both on and off designer runways and during this especially hot summer, fashion aficionados are making the see-through look their own more than ever.

“There’s a real sense of confidence in how our customers are wearing sheer this summer. It’s less about being exposed and more about being strong, seductive and controlling their own narrative,” Rat & Boa cofounders Valentina Muntoni and Stephanie Cara Bennett told WWD of the hot summer look.

Today, customers have the ability to go fully translucent for a dramatic, sensual look or incorporate sheer elements with slightly modest styles to give a whisper of lightness, sex appeal or playfulness, as seen on the streets of Copenhagen during that city’s fashion week.

“Sheer clothing has certainly made a bold entrance into our wardrobes over recent seasons. What was once seen as daring has now become a staple, adding a touch of sex appeal and intrigue to any outfit,” Gaëlle Drevet, founder and chief executive officer of The Frankie Shop, told WWD. “What’s interesting about see-through textures is that they’re very versatile and bring a subtle elegance. It’s like a whisper of fabric that follows your body’s movements without overpowering your looks. Layering becomes key to maintaining modesty while still embracing the trend.”

She noted success of The Frankie Shop’s recent drops of sheer separates, thereby releasing more see-through styles throughout the summer and into fall, where the trend is effective for layering. For instance, the brand’s red sheer Suva skirt paired with T-shirts, lofty knits or a blazer “adds a touch of lightness to your look,” she said.

“The versatility of sheer pieces lies in how creatively you style them, so hopefully, we gave them tips online on how to bring them into your everyday rotation,” she said of customers embracing the full sheer look. “A fully transparent dress can transform with the addition of a vest or be perfect for a holiday vibe when worn over a bathing suit. Similarly, a blazer paired with a sheer skirt can offer a chic way to keep things modest.”

For some brands, sheer dressing isn’t a trend but part of their DNA. For instance, Rat & Boa’s Muntoni and Bennett have been “drawn to the power and duality of sheer fabrics” since the brand’s inception in 2015, the duo told WWD. They view translucent, lightweight fabrics as a way to explore contrast, as seen in their minimalist silhouettes with maximalist prints, and the balance between softness with edge.

“It’s a beautiful play of conceal and reveal, risqué. There’s something seductive, playful and effortlessly stylish about it all,” they said. “We love referencing the decades that did sheer best. We’re drawn to the ’20s and ’30s with their delicate slips. In the ’90s and early 2000s, Kate Moss and Erin Wasson exuded that undone style that’s so synonymous with sheer. It’s that effortless sensuality we’re always drawn to — our take is often vintage-inspired, but always modern in how it’s worn today.”

Their customers are leaning into making the trend their own by mixing the brand’s sheer trousers and skirts with not only tank tops, oversize shirts and bikinis for the beach but also with denim and sculptural accessories for chillier nights or days in air-conditioned workplaces.

Sheer ready-to-wear continues to have significant momentum in the swim and resortwear spaces — perfect for end-of-summer European holidays.

“It’s layering with intent, creating a bold, confident and sexy look that can be dressed up or dressed down depending on the need,” Steve Philpott, founder and CEO of buzzy swimwear label bond-eye Australia, told WWD.

The trend proves an “après swim and beach solution, playing into our beach-to-bar philosophy,” he said, but also has longevity due to the brand’s expansion beyond waterside mesh tops and swim cover-ups to sheer knits in a variety of fibers and gauges for fall.