In 2026, underwear isn't just something you wear under your clothes. It's very much becoming a visible part of the outfit itself.
The recent naked dress looks that dominate fashion campaigns and red carpets — where bras, thongs, and sheer fabrics take centre stage — are the best example of this. And Bella Hadid is one of the most recent well-known individuals who have taken on the peekaboo lingerie trend, igniting conversation across the fashion world.
Bold and breathtaking, the current underwear-as-outerwear wave is rewriting red carpet norms. What was once thought to be risqué is now valuable for contemporary clothing and couture expression as see-through designs become more mainstream and worn intentionally.
What Is the Peekaboo Lingerie Trend?
The peekaboo lingerie trend is exactly what it sounds like. It's underwear and intimate apparel designed to be seen, not hidden. This means garments such as bras, bralettes, corsets, thongs, and bodysuits are intentionally incorporated into outfits so they show through or are partly exposed.
The broader underwear-as-outerwear movement is where the trend originated. It's a fashion concept that uses previously private garments as acceptable components of an outfit. Historically, such pieces were considered daring or niche. But in the 2020s, they have gained acceptance and even been praised as a component of mainstream fashion.
In the context of 2026 red carpet fashion, peekaboo lingerie often appears alongside naked dresses. These are either sheer or translucent outfits that are constructed to reveal undergarments or skin beneath. Such dresses are crafted so that underwear becomes an intentional design feature.
Bella Hadid's Bold Take On Sheer Fashion
Bella Hadid's recent naked dress moment is one of the most widely discussed contemporary examples of this trend.
The supermodel created her own personal catwalk in a black, see-through midi-length dress. It features long straps that framed a backless design and a peekaboo thong, turning her undergarments into a central element of the look.
Beaded fishtail-inspired accents criss-crossed her backside, adding an iridescent shimmer to the sheer fabric. Hadid paired the daring ensemble with towering black pointy-toed stilettos and kept her hairstyle very neat.
This striking look was captured in behind-the-scenes snaps from the Oscars 2026 after-party, which she posted on Instagram.
Hadid is hardly alone in experimenting with these ideas. Yet her choice of sheer beading and confident styling exemplifies how underwear is being reframed from something hidden to something expressive.
How Fashion Brands Are Embracing Lingerie Trends
What makes the peekaboo lingerie trend particularly notable in 2026 is how many high fashion designers and houses have embraced elements of it in their collections. The rise of the peek-a-bra and naked dress on runways and red carpets reflects a larger shift in design philosophy.
Designers like Miu Miu, Dolce & Gabbana, and Valentino have experimented with visible lingerie elements in ready-to-wear and haute couture collections. They deliberately place bralettes and undergarments front and centre beneath delicate outer layers.
At the same time, celebrities and influencers have reinforced the look by wearing it to high-profile events and on social media. The trend works both ways. It's bold on the red carpet, yet adaptable for everyday wear when balanced with classic wardrobe staples.
What distinguishes 2026's iteration of the trend from earlier lingerie-inspired dressing is the intentionality behind it. In contrast to past styles that accidentally reveal straps or waistbands, the current wave is about deliberate exposure. Cuts, sheers, and silhouettes designed so that underwear is meant to be seen.
Styling Peekaboo Lingerie With Confidence
For fashion-forward readers curious about incorporating peekaboo lingerie into their own wardrobe, the key is balance. Styling visible underwear pieces with structured outer layers or tops with strategic cut-outs can make the look more wearable for everyday occasions.
For instance, pairing a lace or satin bralette beneath a tailored blazer allows the underwear element to feel intentional and polished. Alternatively, sheer tops with subtle lace bralettes give a nod to the trend while still feeling classic and contemporary.
The modern peekaboo trend also connects to the broader fascination with sheer fabrics and illusion garments. These materials give the impression of nakedness while maintaining crafted detail. From see-through mesh to embroidered sheer overlays, these choices allow creative expression without relying solely on exposure.
The Future of Fashion
The peekaboo lingerie trend represents more than just a fleeting style moment. It highlights how fashion continues to blur the lines between private and public creative expression. Underwear is no longer just something to conceal. It can be a highlight of a thoughtfully curated look.
This evolution speaks to changing attitudes around body confidence and personal style. Whether it's on runways, at fashion shows, or in everyday streetwear, the visibility of underwear is now a creative choice that invites conversation about how we present ourselves in clothing—and what we choose to show.
This trend is a defining style of the moment as designers continue to play with fabrics and as influencers and celebrities adopt these looks.
