50 Of The Nakedest Red Carpet Dresses *Ever*
Hey there, if you're looking for something to wear to, IDK, your 10-year high school reunion that gives off main-character energy—with just a splash of "How dare you not like me during sophomore year? Look how hot I am now!"—might I suggest a naked dress. Quick definition if you're unfamiliar with the concept: A naked dress is, you guessed it, a dress which gives the illusion of nakedness, thanks to a combination of sheer fabric and careful design.
And celebrities truly can't get enough of them—like, the naked dresses on the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet alone were more than we usually see in a year. But honestly, naked dresses have been a thing since pretty much forever (no one did it better than Marilyn Monroe), and I'm rounding up the best of the best.
Please be advised that this roundup has some mild nudity in it, but if you're still shocked by the sight of nipples on the red carpet in 2023, you've probably come to the wrong place! On that note: Here are 50 of the boldest and most jaw-dropping naked dresses of all time—from Halle Berry's iconic Oscars gown and the completely see-through dress Ciara wore to the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party to that time Kendall Jenner wore a casual thong to the Met Gala.
Charli XCX at the 2023 Brit Awards
Sorry, Mom, I'm wearing this Ludovic de Saint Sernin to my wedding and will NOT be accepting comments at this time, thank you.
Sabrina Carpenter at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Important life update: Bejeweled built-in pasties are now a thing.
Anne Hathaway at the 2023 Berlin Film Festival
Mia Thermopolis is SHAKING.
Irina Shayk at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Just a supermodel supermodeling in Versace.
Ciara at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Welcome to the most daring naked dress on this list.
Halle Berry at the Oscars in 2002
No one does it better than Halle Berry when it comes to most things in life—including, but not limited to, wearing naked dresses on the red carpet.
Marilyn Monroe in 'Some Like It Hot'
Okay, kinda cheating here since this isn't a red carpet dress, but not including Marilyn's iconic Some Like It Hot gown felt illegal.
Jennifer Lopez at the 2015 Met Gala
Considering wearing a recreation of this Versace to Thanksgiving this year just to mess with my conservative relatives.
Janelle Monáe at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards
Vera Wang, you're a genius for this.
Megan Fox at the 2021 VMAs
"Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, show-stopping, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before, unafraid to reference or not reference, put it in a blender, sh*t on it, vomit on it, eat it, give birth to it." – Lady Gaga describing Ryan Murphy / me describing Thierry Mugler.
Lily James at the 2023 Critics Choice Awards
People had a lot of opinions about this Oscar de la Renta gown on Lily, but she's working it!
Alessandra Ambrosio at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Truly wondering if the VF party invites have a naked dress requirement.
Rita Ora at Heaven Night Club
When in doubt, throw on some star-shaped pasties and a shower curtain and call it a day. Queen things only!
Rita Ora at the 2015 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Just FYI that sheer dresses are kinda Rita's thing.
Rita Ora at the 2018 VMAs
Like, truly nary a carpet goes by when she isn't in one.
Bella Hadid at the 2017 amfAR Gala
Bella's icy Ralph & Russo gown took 3,000 hours of hand embroidery and featured 150 meters of hand-appliquéd silver chain. Wowza!
Vanessa Hudgens at the 2022 Met Gala
Naked dress, but make it goth.
Kendall Jenner at the 2018 Fashion Awards
Weirdly, they didn't give out an award for Nakedest Dress, but if they had, this would have won.
Kendall Jenner at the 2022 Met Gala
Fun fact: Kendall considered doing the red carpet completely topless, but in the end, she went with a sheer tank from Prada.
Kendall Jenner at Cannes 2018
As Kendall put it in her Insta pic of this dress, "Oops."
Florence Pugh at the 2022 Valentino Haute Couture Show
Miss Flo got some absurd backlash for wearing this sheer dress, and fully shut down critics, saying, in part, "I'm very grateful that I grew up in a household with very strong, powerful, curvy women. We were raised to find power in the creases of our body. To be loud about being comfortable. It has always been my mission in this industry to say 'f*** it and f*** that' whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what's hot or sexually attractive."
Kendall Jenner at the 2017 Met Gala
Sorry, almost forgot to include Kendall's La Perla dress from the Met Gala, which was basically just a thong with some sparkly netting over it :)
Rihanna at the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards
This Adam Selman dress couldn't have been more perfect for Rihanna to accept the Fashion Icon Award in.
Hunter Schafer at the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
With such little material, you could say Hunter's look is as light as a feather...
Jennifer Lopez at the 'Shotgun Wedding' Premiere
When in doubt, go naked with a giant bow around your waist and a gauze sheet for good measure. I mean, if anyone can, J.Lo can.
Paris Hilton at Cannes in 2018
As Paris, who many say is "the Shakespeare of our time," would say: That's hot.
Paris Hilton at the 2020 InStyle Golden Globes After Party
Naked dress was such a vibe, she did it again two years later.
Halle Berry at the 2018 NAACP Image Awards
The way I would've immediately had a wardrobe malfunction upon wearing this Reem Acra...
Jaimie Alexander at the 2013 'Thor' Premiere
Ran out of clean underwear? No prob in this sheer Azzaro Couture gown.
Gwyneth Paltrow at the 2013 'Iron Man' Premiere
Guess it's a Marvel circa 2013 thing?
Bella Thorne at the 2016 Critics Choice Awards
Specifically side-sheer gowns really had a moment in the mid-aughts.
Lily-Rose Depp at the 2020 BAFTAs
When you wanna be naked and high fashion? Go with a lace Chanel catsuit and a strapless gown on top.
Camila Morrone at the 2017 Brit Awards
Morticia Addams could never!
Beyoncé at the 2015 Met Gala
No one does it better than Beyoncé and that's that on that.
Kim Kardashian at the 2015 Met Gala
Before she was causing everyone to completely spiral over Marilyn Monroe's dress, Kim stepped out in this resplendent (and very nude) Roberto Cavalli.
Chrissy Teigen at the 2015 VMAs
"The higher the slit, the closer to god!" – unknown poet
Jennifer Lopez at the 2015 Billboard Music Awards
A lesson in how to super subtly let people know your abs are amazing.
Khloé Kardashian at the 2016 Angel Ball
Gonna go out on a limb and say Khloé was inspired by J.Lo.
Zoë Kravitz at the 2021 Met Gala
@ Merriam-Webster, we present a new pictorial definition of the word "cool."
Winnie Harlow at Cannes in 2019
The glamour is on another level.
Emily Ratajkowski at the 2019 Met Gala
It's called subtlety.
Doja Cat at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards
I mean, not as iconic as her all-red crystal vibe at Schiaparelli, but a close second.
Gemma Chan at the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party
Okay, this Tom Ford is not QUITE as "hi, here's what I look like naked" as other dresses on this list, but we're counting it!
Kim Kardashian at the 2018 People's Choice Awards
naked dress 🤝 optical illusion dress
Rose McGowan at the 1998 VMAs
'90s Rose McGowan in her Scream / Charmed era wearing this dress WAS the moment.
Imaan Hammam at the 2021 Met Gala
New definition of "star" coming through.
Amber Rose at the 2014 VMAs
Less a naked dress and more a bra with a series of chains attached to it, but still fits the profile.
Ellie Goulding at the 2020 Brit Awards
This dress has so much going on, you might not realize it's completely sheer at first glance—but that it is!
Katy Perry at the 2010 MTV Movie Awards
California Gurls are unforgettable, indeed!
Ciara at the 2021 VMAs
And finally, taking things back to one of Ciara's other best naked dress moments—this gorge Tom Ford!
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