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A new trend in 60 seconds

Welcome to the crazy opposite land of fashion, where we exalt the joys of underwear as outerwear.

UNDERWEAR AS OUTERWEAR

Not since Madonna wrapped her hands around her Jean-Paul Gaultier conical bra in the 1990s have our undies got so much exposure. This spring get ready to banish your Bridget Jones granny pants, turf out your frill-free Wonderbra and invest in your smalls! From corsets to suspenders, camisoles to bralets, lingerie that takes the lead was all over collections by D&G, Marc Jacobs and Dior recently.

Never ones to miss the opportunity to sauce up an outfit, celebrities have been leading the charge. Lady Gaga stormed the Brit Awards in rhinestone-covered knicker-shorts in February. Rihanna (pictured) played tourist in Venice for a friend’s wedding, with a fluoro, animal-print bra – that this fashionista spy knows was from Agent Provocateur (she has the same set languishing in the back of her underwear drawer waiting for her fella to invite her to Venice. Pff!). Mischa Barton was “papped” on a night out with her suspenders on show, and Pixie Geldof did one better in Henry Holland’s Super Suspender tights for Pretty Polly. Though hard to pull off, thankfully this hosiery trend has a vast array of options – from Henry Holland’s tights that read “Wanna Party” down the back of your ready-to-dance-calves, to Agent Provocateur’s snake motif stay-ups.

For those who want to show off a first-class rack, Topshop has a cute range of bralets (more substantial than a bra but not as long as a corset) to layer under floaty, vintage-style frocks or to leave the boys tongue-tied, exposing a sun-kissed midriff with pale denim cut-offs.

But if the idea of flouncing around in your undies fills you with dread, there are options.

A lace-trimmed vest top or a lace body worn under a cashmere cardigan with skinny jeans is less slutty, more sultry. Likewise, silk camisoles or bodice detailing on tops or dresses goes far. The knicker-shorts are trickier to nail but if your pins are up to it, they’re great leglengtheners, worn with killer wedges.

So gaga have we all gone for this kinky new trend that Selfridges has reported a 20% rise in sheer lingerie and nipple covers. As an anonymous quote goes: “If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” Welcome to the summer of lust boys.

WE LOVE

€13, WWW.URBANOUTFITTERS.CO.UK
Floral and sheer, layer these 1950s-style undies over opaques.