Written by Zachary O'Dell

Photos of Bailey Culver, Sarah Harbaugh, Hal Lueking, and Caleb Moll by Mindy Welland

Visible undergarments take on the runways and everyday life; owning who you are and the underwear you wear is finally rising to the top. Society expects clothes to cover unwanted appearances of bra straps, panty lines, shapewear, and boxers. Expecting traditional outfits and limiting individuals to only dress professionally. The slogan, “Dress your age” is used as a tactic to control fashion trends and dull creativity. The rise of undergarments being exposed isn’t just for celebrities in power or on the red carpet. News flash––everyone wears underwear.

Incorporating undergarments in your outfit is powerful. The illusion of undergarments being an eye-sore or inappropriate is a false narrative. A narrative that has banished undergarments to the back of closets, hidden in dressers, and kept away from the human eye. Society pushes the agenda of hiding what’s underneath an outfit; however, trends rising in social media are proving this forced agenda wrong. 

Transparent clothing and thin fabrics stock the shelves in retail stores across the globe, becoming a major trend circulating through multiple social media platforms. This transparency in fashion asks the question: What exactly do you wear underneath? The answer lies in the garments you wear with every outfit. Own the sexiness of an exposed bra and prove society wrong with the color a boxer waistband adds. Elevating an outfit isn’t possible when there’s limitations. Break away from normal trends and explore options you’ve never considered.

Molly Rogers, a costume designer for the hit series Sex & the City states, “What’s so wrong about seeing your bra?” During the television show, Carrie Bradshaw and many others expose their undergarments. A backless dress framing a neon green bra underneath, overalls revealing the side of the bra cups, and a strapless dress sitting beneath black bra straps. Displaying an undergarment and making it a focal point allows for a diverse outfit. “Leave the bra on and it turns into some little fashion moment,” states Rogers.

Trends empowering the versatile use of undergarments dive deeper when spotlighting the ‘21 Met Gala in America. Vera Wang transitions her outfit to focus on her silk boxer shorts, Alicia Keys highlights her red lace bra underneath a sheer white top, and Kate Hudson fully exposes her pink Michael Kors bralette paired with a stunning pink silhouette. Numerous events involving the popular red carpet provoke celebrities to think outside the standard box; no matter the event, you can always count on seeing an outfit highlighting an undergarment.

I beg the questions: Are undergarments meant to be covered up? Who sets the professional boundaries in our ever-changing fashion industry? An off-the-shoulder top yearns for a bra strap, a low-rise jean calls for a thick branded underwear waist-line. Older generations believe undergarments aren't meant to be seen or highlighted; stating that it’s called “under” for a reason. Instead, undergarments are becoming a power statement––once again, social norms are being contradicted and rules revolving around undergarments are being ignored.