Stay informed with free updates by signing up to the Life & Arts myFT Digest, delivered directly to your inbox. I empathize with José Luis Sanz, the newly elected mayor of Seville, who is waging a battle against public nudity. The city council, in a recently announced law, plans to prohibit wearing costumes or underwear that may violate another person’s moral or sexual integrity. Acts of obscene exhibitionism will also be forbidden. This legislation aims to address the increasing stag-party culture that has seen a rise in people wearing offensive outfits on the streets. Similar measures have been implemented in Málaga and Mojácar, with other European cities also imposing restrictions to control the influx of individuals engaged in immodest behavior.
However, enforcing such rules may prove challenging, as it seems that the trend of public nudity is becoming more prevalent. In today’s society, nudity is no longer confined to saunas, locker rooms, or private gardens. In 2023, it has become increasingly common for people to wear very revealing attire or even just underwear in public. During my recent attendance at fashion events showcasing the upcoming spring collections, I observed a consistent trend: the decrease in clothing coverage. Miuccia Prada set the tone at Miu Miu in October 2021 with micro-skirts that barely covered the buttocks, paired with cropped tops. This outfit became a viral sensation on social media, leading many fashion houses to offer similar designs. Taking things to the next level, Mrs. Prada eliminated bottoms altogether in a recent collection, sending models down the runway in sparkly knickers paired with expensive leather blazers. Although this look may have raised eyebrows, the trend of wearing underwear as outerwear has gained momentum across the fashion industry. Designers like Sabato De Sarno at Gucci and Stella McCartney have incorporated micro skirts and sparkly bras or extremely short shorts into their collections, pushing the boundaries of nudity.
Nudity in fashion is not limited to revealing bottoms. Bare breasts have also taken center stage. Transparency has emerged as a major trend in 2024, with countless nipple sightings during the Milan fashion week. This trend extends beyond the runway, as I recently met with a designer in New York whose breasts often escaped from her top, to which she reacted nonchalantly. Another editor in her fifties told me she has embraced naked dressing as a way to cope with her mid-life angst, going out in a bra-top to feel empowered and liberated. Could all this be the result of the Free the Nipple movement that began in 2012? This movement sparked a conversation about women’s clothing choices and challenged the restrictions imposed by social media platforms like Facebook, which often blocked women who were deemed to be in violation of guidelines.
However, it is worth noting that the fashion industry is not known for its strong feminist ideals. Watching emaciated models with minimal clothing walk the runway does not feel like a celebration of emancipation but rather a reflection of an industry that still objectifies models. This reality contrasts with the industry-wide effort in 2017 to protect the well-being of models, with brands like Kering and LVMH signing a charter to ensure models’ care, including access to psychologists or therapists during their working time.
While I personally prefer a more modest approach to clothing, it is clear that many people, regardless of gender, are embracing nudity. Men have been going shirtless during heatwaves in Paris, and sheer undergarments are becoming increasingly common on public transport and at fashion events. Perhaps the rising global temperatures have pushed people to dress more provocatively as a means of staying cool. This trend poses challenges in the workplace, where nudity is becoming a sensitive issue for HR departments. Cultural attitudes towards nudity vary greatly across different regions, making it difficult for managers to address this issue appropriately. Sexual banter, reminiscent of the character Daniel Cleaver from “Bridget Jones’s Diary,” is no longer tolerated.
In light of these trends, I have taken some inspiration from Bridget Jones and wore a transparent top to a presidential dinner at the Élysée Palace last week, paired with a tuxedo for coverage, of course. When in France… For more stories and updates, follow @ftweekend or email me at [email protected].
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