Dakota Johnson, Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum are making a strong case for showing what was once meant to stay hidden. From sheer lace gowns revealing black lingerie to slip dresses inspired by traditional nightwear, celebrities are increasingly turning underwear into an intentional part of the outfit in 2026.
Lace has always had a close relationship with lingerie, but this season the fabric is moving firmly beyond the bedroom. Across red carpets, fashion weeks and celebrity street style, lingerie-inspired dressing is appearing in increasingly varied forms, blurring the line between underwear and outerwear without relying on a single silhouette.
Dakota Johnson Puts Visible Lingerie Centre Stage
One of the clearest recent examples came from Dakota Johnson at the UK gala screening of Verity in London on 24 September 2026.
The actress wore a floor-length cream lace gown by New York designer Colleen Allen, with the sheer fabric revealing a black lingerie set underneath. Fashion publications including Vogue, Harper's Bazaar and Allure identified the look as another example of Johnson's long-running preference for sheer and 'naked' dressing.
The contrast between the pale lace and black lingerie made the underwear an intentional part of the overall look rather than something concealed beneath it. The outfit was completed with simple jewellery and Johnson's dark hair, allowing the lace and visible lingerie to remain the focus.
It is not the first time Johnson has used the combination. She has previously appeared in sheer designs that incorporate lingerie into the finished look, while her recent appearances at Vogue World: Milano also featured transparent lace and lingerie-inspired elements.
Olivia Attwood Gives Lingerie a Nostalgic Twist
Olivia Attwood approached the trend differently when she recreated one of Margot Robbie's memorable lingerie looks from The Wolf of Wall Street.
In September 2026, the former Love Island star wore the same navy La Perla slip dress with cream floral lace that Robbie wore in the 2013 film. Attwood styled the dress for a night out in New York with knee-high boots, a silver clutch and oversized Gucci sunglasses.
Rather than simply revealing underwear beneath another garment, the slip dress itself draws directly from traditional lingerie. The look demonstrates how lingerie-inspired dressing can work through recognisable shapes, lace trims and delicate fabrics without necessarily relying on a completely transparent outfit.
Jennifer Lopez Takes Lace Into Evening Dressing
Jennifer Lopez has also embraced the lingerie-inspired aesthetic during Milan Fashion Week. At a Dolce & Gabbana after-party in Milan, Lopez wore a black lace lingerie-style slip dress beneath a black fur coat, with the sheer floral lace allowing the underwear underneath to remain visible.
Her Milan appearances came as Dolce & Gabbana presented its Spring/Summer 2027 collection, which included lingerie references such as embellished lace slips and bra tops. The combination highlights how the trend is not limited to red-carpet gowns. Lingerie-inspired pieces can also be incorporated into evening wardrobes through layering, coats and accessories.
Heidi Klum Embraces the Sheer Lace Gown
Heidi Klum offered another interpretation at Vogue World: Milano on 23 September. The model wore a black embroidered lace and lingerie-style gown by Celia Kritharioti. The completely sheer design featured floral lace detailing over a transparent construction, with black underwear visible underneath. Vogue described the look as part of the event's wider focus on craftsmanship, lace and elaborate surface decoration.
The outfit shows how visible lingerie can be combined with highly detailed couture techniques. Instead of treating transparency as the sole feature, the intricate lace became part of the visual structure of the dress.
Why Visible Lingerie Is Appearing Everywhere
The current interest in lingerie as outerwear is not entirely new. Fashion publications have covered the idea for several years, while designers have repeatedly incorporated sheer fabrics, corsetry, bras and lingerie-inspired silhouettes into ready-to-wear collections.
What feels particularly noticeable in 2026 is the variety of ways the aesthetic is being interpreted. A sheer lace gown can reveal a contrasting bra and underwear, while a slip dress can borrow directly from traditional nightwear. Elsewhere, lace bodysuits, corsets and sheer layers can be combined with more conventional tailoring.
With celebrities continuing to bring lingerie-inspired pieces onto red carpets and into fashion-week dressing, lace is increasingly being treated as something to show rather than hide. The result is a fashion direction that places delicate lingerie details firmly within the wider wardrobe.
