How to Wear Sheer Clothing with Confidence
Do you shy away from sheer clothing? Have no fear. Age doesn’t matter. There are ways to wear those diaphanous layers of sheerness. I have complete guidelines for you here, along with examples. So go ahead and wear what you love. In this post, I explore how to wear sheer clothing with confidence. So you can be sure it looks good on you and shows just the right amount of your true self!
Guidelines for How to Wear Sheer Clothing With Confidence
First of all, err on the side of caution. If you think something is too bare for where you are going, it probably is.
For coverage under sheer clothes, the usual suspects are camisoles, slips, and I also recommend slip dresses. Sheer over sheer is luscious, but probably still needs opaque lingerie or an extra layer of clothing. If you are layering, you can add a tank, tee, cardigan, jacket, skirt, dress, shorts, long or cropped leggings, skinny jeans, etc.
Under a sheer skirt, try wearing:
- an underskirt,
- bike shorts,
- leggings,
- jeggings,
- skinny pants,
- or maybe even a nude half-slip.
You can wear sheer pieces year-round by mixing them with chunky knits and ribbed tights.
If you love the look of sheer, but wouldn’t dare, you could try a sheer accessory. Even a scarf or shoe can add visual interest to an outfit. There are sheer socks, transparent handbags, transparent trench coats or jackets, even belts! For every day, try wearing sheer socks with sneakers.
Or maybe you could try wearing something with strategic cutouts with lace or mesh insets (or add lace or mesh under your cutout creation) that doesn’t cause any indecent exposure.
When wearing lace, its texture is already decorative so you don’t need to load up on accessories. Wrap a thin leather cord around your wrist, or a delicate silver chain around your waist or at your neck.
You don’t have to spend a fortune on something like silk chiffon. Synthetics can feel hot, which negates the airy pleasure of wearing sheer in the first place, so look for cotton and linen blends.
If you fall in love with a transparent piece of clothing and can’t find the right lingerie, take it to a seamstress to be lined. But make sure the lining is worthy of the item. A cheap fabric can ruin the look or drape of an expensive garment.
Add A Layer Under
Gloriette Top from Sundance over a nude camisole
Nude:
Although I have seen a nude bodysuit or body stocking recommended by fashion magazines, I would never in my life wear such a thing under sheer clothes outside of the house. (And inside the house, it’s not even necessary to put anything under sheer clothes, lol!) But I might possibly try a nude slip or a little dress in a nude color under a sheer dress. Most of the time, though, I use a black or colored slip dress under a sheer dress or tunic. Also, I have often worn a nude camisole under a sheer or semi-sheer top.
Example: Wear an ivory or beige camisole under a sheer taupe blouse. You could dress it down with destroyed skinny jeans, booties and a pendant.
Black Lace:
Lace is both sexy and sweet. Black lace is especially sexy, but also adds a lot of coverage. Try a lacy camisole with tap pants or a half slip, or a lacy black full slip. Or just add any color lace top under your sheer piece.
Example: Add a lace top in a different color (such as lilac) over a black lace slip dress. Wear a black slip underneath it all.
Brights:
Colored lace is also an option. Choose from the lace items suggested above (a lacy camisole with tap pants or a half slip, or a pretty-color lacy full slip.)
A bright camisole, tank or tee can layer under something sheer also; it doesn’t have to be lacy. But another color under a sheer or lace top adds interest.
Florals:
Opt for a clear, distinctive, not-too-dainty print that doesn’t look like pajamas or wallpaper: perhaps a floral slip or camisole or tank top.
Example: A delicately printed floral shirt in a thin fabric like washed silk is a good day look under a lightweight sheer or open-knit sweater. Let the collar, hem and cuffs show. You might like to wear this with shorts for a casual vibe.
Fitted Basics:
If the weather is cool, layer sheer pieces over leggings and a matching stretch t-shirt for a dance-inspired vibe.
Add A Layer Over
Sheer Over Sheer:
Layering sheer over sheer makes them less transparent without losing the sense of lightness.
Examples:
- Add a pretty lace camisole under a white lace top.
- Wear a sheer skirt over another skirt.
Opaque Over Sheer:
Add a cardigan (fasten one button) over a sheer camisole, or a sleeveless sweater over a sheer slip dress.
At Work: Wear a sheer top under your suit.
Sheer Over Opaque:
Throw sheer layers over dresses and separates. For instance, use a sheer trench as a topper for daytime dressing to add style, not warmth. This is a good way to stay cool in warm weather without showing too much skin. For evening, a sheer blazer is a unique topper.
Examples:
- A sheer trench coat looks great with a solid-color dress or solid-color shirt and jeans or pants.
- A sheer bomber jacket is cute over a casual dress or jeans and a tee. You can wear a light sweater under the jacket if the weather is cool.
- Wearing a long, sheer skirt is a way to add some modesty to wearing a short skirt as a bottom layer.
- Put a sheer shirt over a tank top or fitted tee with jeans, pants or a skirt.
- Wear a sheer wrap over a dress for a night out.
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Angie
These are such brilliant ways to wear sheer clothing without overexposure! I love the cut-out tops, and a nice little spaghetti string tank also works well underneath!
I’m all for choosing the under garments that make us feel comfortable in sexy things. Since age doesn’t matter, we never have to give up being sexy, right? 😉
Beautiful!! I have a couple of sheer cardigans (?) that I wear over regular tops. I love them both. Years ago, I had a black lace top that I wore over a black bra. Those were the days!
I have a sheer lace cardigan but hardly ever wear it. Thanks for reminding me!