Margot Robbie leads the naked dress revival — from couture to the high street

Margot Robbie has become the latest star to embrace the “naked dress” trend, stepping onto the red carpet in a daring sheer gown — and the look is already filtering down to the high street.

At the UK premiere of A Big Bold Beautiful Journey, Robbie wore a floor-length, backless creation from Armani Privé’s SS25 couture collection.

Covered in crystal and sequin motifs and finished with a plunging back that revealed a beaded thong, the gown was striking yet refined.

The styling was kept minimal — diamond studs and strappy Aquazzura heels — giving the look the air of a living artwork. Some saw it as a tribute to Giorgio Armani, who died last week aged 91.

“If anyone can master the barely-there dress, it’s Margot Robbie,” says Eshita Kabra-Davies, founder of By Rotation. “The key is balance: she kept her beauty look natural, which let the embellishment shine. It shows that if you go bold with the outfit, grounding it with simple beauty choices makes it both chic and wearable.”

It wasn’t her only statement of the day. Earlier, Robbie appeared at a photocall in a vintage Thierry Mugler AW98 ensemble: a sculpted bra and pencil skirt.

Sheer dressing has long divided opinion, but it has become an A-list staple.

The Cannes Film Festival even banned naked dresses this year, a move that only amplified their allure.

On the same night as Robbie’s premiere, Dakota Johnson appeared in a sheer Gucci gown in New York, while Cara Delevingne turned heads at another premiere in a silver mesh design. And the Met Gala, of course, remains a showcase of experimental transparency.

Now the trend is moving beyond couture.

On the high street, brands are offering their own interpretations: Rise & Fall has a silk organza midi skirt layered over lyocell, while Cos has sheer balloon-sleeve blouses in vivid shades.

“Worn under a blazer, they add delicacy without feeling exposed,” notes The Telegraph’s Tamara Abraham.

How to style it? Oversized tailoring can offset the fragility of sheer fabrics, while slips, bandeau tops or full briefs offer more coverage than a beaded thong.

“Adding contrast is a clever move,” says Kabra-Davies. “It makes the look tougher and more approachable.”

Whether naked dressing will truly move from red carpet spectacle to mainstream wardrobe is still uncertain.

But for now, it’s clear that sheer is no longer shocking — it’s fashion’s latest statement of confidence.