Sheer Front
It may be a coincidence but all this talk of financial meltdown is having an effect on our fabric – by which I mean cloth, material, rather than the fabric of our lives, or some such profundity. Why, this is a fashion blog after all, sweetie, and not The Economist or The Philosopher so let’s not get too deep and meaningful. Still, fashion’s response is sheer parsimony: rein it in on the material front. Thin and gauzy is where it’s at, and no item carries this message better than the blouse. All the fash mags are hailing the return of the blouse, this most grown-up of garments, so a sheer blouse will win you mega kudos.
We can trace it back to (who else) Kate Moss in 1993 who wore a transparent metallic Liza Bruce slip dress to the Elite Models Party in New York. The iconic shot of her make-up free face, black hipster knickers and bra-lessness was altogether more grungy than sexy, as Liza Bruce notes, “It wasn’t a come on…it was just ‘this is me’”.
Again Kate proves that sheer is versatile. Last year at her clothing launch in NY she updates with a flimsy dress cinched at the wait with a corset belt, and this year at her birthday lunch in a star print pussy blow Chanel blouse. Also take inspiration from Diane Kruger who wore a beautiful 50s style lace and net dress (with her modesty intact) for the Venice Film Festival.
Perhaps the time has been and gone for a slip of nipple-revealing sheer; decadence has given way to a more sombre mood. The challenge is as much about what you don’t reveal as what you do. A peek at hidden assets, shall we say – of the unliquidated kind…
Image Credit: dailymail.co.uk
Image Credit: oasis.com
Oasis blouse with bib ruffle frill on sale at £20
