Bare essentials take over the runway

Once considered the ultimate wardrobe malfunction, the pantless look has now evolved into a full-fledged fashion movement. Whether it’s at the Met Gala, onstage during global tours, or strutting down the runway, celebrities and designers alike are embracing the art of wearing underwear as outerwear. It’s less rebellion and more revelation—a sartorial statement that says confidence is the only coverage you really need.

The origins of this daring silhouette go back decades. In the 1940s, structured two-piece playsuits flirted with the idea of minimal bottoms, while the 1970s saw the rise of hot pants that turned legs into the main attraction. By the 1980s, the aerobics craze cemented the no-pants aesthetic into pop culture history—think Jane Fonda’s high-cut leotards or Jamie Lee Curtis’s glossy workout gear in Perfect (1985). The ‘90s pushed the envelope even further, with Chanel, Alexander McQueen, and Jean Paul Gaultier parading bold leg-baring looks down the runway. The early 2000s saw Miu Miu and Christian Dior continuing the experiment, cementing the no-pants narrative as cyclical rather than shocking.

Fast forward to today, and the trend has returned in full force—only glossier, glitzier, and decidedly bolder. The “fashion diaper,” as it has been cheekily dubbed, is not just a brief but a design philosophy. These pieces are crafted to be seen, not hidden—high-waisted, embellished, leather-clad, or even knit. Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter 2023 show reimagined panties as luxury fashion staples, while Prada’s Spring 2026 menswear lineup hinted at the genderless future of short, sharp tailoring.

The red carpet has quickly followed suit. At the 2024 Met Gala, Helen Williams turned heads in a Louis Vuitton leather bodysuit layered over monogrammed tights, while K-pop star Lisa made her debut in a black jacket paired with jewelled bikini briefs. Sabrina Carpenter, now hailed as the queen of the pantless era, doubled down on the look in a burgundy unitard and cropped blazer with tails. Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, and even Beyoncé—who toyed with denim briefs and sequined bodysuits during her Cowboy Carter tour—have all become torchbearers of this unapologetically leggy moment.

Taylor Swift’s onstage ensembles from The Eras Tour—particularly her Vivienne Westwood crystal briefs—might have signalled the tipping point, blending theatricality with everyday wearability. What was once provocative is now empowering, and what was once lingerie has evolved into a symbol of freedom and self-assurance.

The pantless trend has moved far beyond the runway and the stage, slipping effortlessly into everyday life. Bella Hadid has stepped out for dinner in a floor-grazing coat paired with high-waisted briefs, run errands in white underwear and mini Uggs, and Kendall Jenner continues to embrace the look at every opportunity. What once felt like a celebrity-only spectacle has quietly crossed into mainstream dressing. In a fashion landscape that constantly negotiates the balance between “too much” and “too little,” this trend delivers its own kind of clarity. The new rule is simple: wear what makes you feel unstoppable. And in 2025, the boldest look of all might just be the one that confidently leaves the pants behind.

All images: Getty Images
 

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