The OSCARS 2024 happened last Sunday and at every turn, there were bodies—hot, famous, semi-naked bodies. Celebrities graced the OSCARS red carpet and the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party in the most stunning and daring looks. While some of them climbed the award stage in dapper suits and flowing dresses, a lot more came in sheer fabrics, feathers, and even fully undressed. (We see you John Cena!)
The Super Bowl of red carpet fashion as the Oscars is popularly called wasn’t about who wore it best, but who wore the least. Stars like Ice Spice, Madelyn Cline, Emily Ratjakowski, Anitta, Jennifer Lawrence, Kerry Washington and Quinta Brinson flaunted their curves in ensembles that left little to the imagination. From see-through clothing to floral patterns, each outfit was a work of art in its own right.
But the fashion on the carpet wasn’t just about showing skin; it was about embracing the body in all its glory. Rick Owens once said about the sheer trend, “To me, sheer is just a protest against conventional judgements,” and stars like Kendall Jenner and Charlize Theron confirmed that, as they paired sheer dresses with intricate lace detailing for the night. Margot Robbie and Zoe Lister-Jones traded traditional gowns for vintage corsets, meanwhile, Vanessa Hudgens proudly showcased her baby bump in a sheer cape-style dress, confirming that motherhood was no barrier to style.
Now, the cynics might say that this trend is just a desperate cry for attention, a bid to break the internet with strategically placed Swarovski crystals and couture undergarments. But maybe, there’s more to the trend than meets the eye. Maybe it’s a power move, as British designer, Charlotte Knowles, described it, “Liberating in the way it can be layered to conceal and reveal.“
The naked trend seems to have served as a way for celebrities to reclaim their bodies and rewrite the rules of red carpet fashion, which has long been associated with a certain level of formality and tradition. And, in an age of social media frenzy, celebrities need to stand out. A daring, revealing outfit is sure to grab headlines and stay atop twitter trends.
Is it attention-seeking? Maybe. But it’s also a savvy way to stay relevant in a crowded media space.
So, what’s the real reason why everyone is naked in 2024? It’s likely a combination of all these factors. It seems to be a conversation starter about self-expression, challenging norms, the evolution of beauty standards, and the ever-present battle for attention in the digital age. One thing’s for sure, the next award show promises to be a rival to this, with celebrities pushing the boundaries of red carpet fashion (and maybe our comfort zones) once again.
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Written by Angel Joanne Okonkwo
