Shocked by the more naked than nude selfies of the ill advised Blake Lively making every high school boy on the interwebs happy? If truth be told, the only shocking thing about them is the lighting. And that Terry Richardson wasn't there? Let's be fair now, he would have at least brought a flash.
What mamma should have told her is that there is something far sexier about the suggestion of nudity, but then, it's hardly the American way. Lively could have hopped on the red carpet in a gownless evening strap, 'forgotten' to wear underwear, or 'not noticed' the way that pap flashes dissolve sheer fabrics at the click of a button- and completely avoided the reels of comments that are more concerned with what generation of iPhone she is for the most part successfully covering her face with in the process. And potentially the loss of a contract.
In fact, Lively's manic grab for publicity is tantamount to the monkey who can't get his fist back out of that jar. Cover Us Vogue, drape arm over Lagerfeld, yacht hop with Di Caprio in Cannes...it's always that last cookie that gets them into trouble. Not that I'm implying she did it on purpose...
However, as I've nothing against a bit of 'barely there', here are a few looks that are a little less Brazilian wax and a little more French Vogue. Start with wearing nudes, creams and blushes- it's all about the suggestion of skin, so experiment with silk chiffons and organzas, lightweight jerseys, mesh, and open knits
The next options you have are loose sheer layers that softly swathe and skim the body like a whispered veil of fine sheets, or you can wrap the body so tight you're practically a walking felony. Sheer panelling and lightweight drapes can help here. Life With Bird cut sheer shirting and dresses to perfection for SS12, and Nearly Nude shape wear provided the perfect foundation garments fit for those of us not up for indecent exposure. These looks are about elegant, minimalist restraint with light silks that conceal as much as they reveal.
Sheer shirting from Alexander Wang and Equipment do well here, as do draped mesh tees fro Tom Scott and cropped silk cuts. If shirts are a little to starched for you, silk camisoles in skin tones and white that show off shoulders do well too- make them light, loose or draped. Wide leg pants and maxi skirts in sheer fabrics swirl seductively around the leg, revealing form with movement. For restraint that is more about minimal fabric and maximum feats of engineering, look no further than Alaïa or Leger for some bandage action inspiration.
Alaïa nude dress
By Malene Birger silk and tencel top
Dion Lee dress
Dion Lee sheer cotton shirt
Elie Saab wide leg chiffon pants
Elizabeth and James cropped sheer silk blouse
Fendi organza trench
Helmut Lang sheer linen sweater
Herve Leger bandage dress
Herve Leger perforated leather dress
Herve Leger mini bandage dress
Kain washed-silk tank
Rag and Bone Hadleigh dress
Roksanda Ilincic dress
T by Alexander Wang sheer chiffon shirt
T by Alexander Wang sheer jersey tank dress
Tom Scott draped mesh T