Underwear as Outerwear
Haven’t you heard? Underwear is stepping out of the shadows and into everyday fashion. That’s right – more and more people are daring to bare by turning their undies into outfits by styling lingerie as outerwear, and we aren’t just talking about designer-clad celebrities!
Anyone can do it, and it's not as hard to pull off as you might think…
Underwear as outerwear: Where did it come from?
We can trace the roots of this risqué trend back to the 1920s, which saw Coco Chanel become the first designer to use jersey material for outerwear clothing. Until the 20th century, jersey fabric was used almost exclusively for men's underwear and athletic wear. But during the First World War when many fabrics became difficult to get hold of, Chanel decided to make the more readily-available jersey the star of her womenswear collection.
While this wasn’t received well by everyone (lots of people considered jersey to be inappropriate for outerwear), the collection brought about Chanel’s first real success as a designer and helped pave the way for other risqué trends to come.
The T-shirt is one of those trends… Once considered undergarments, T-shirts evolved to become an outerwear staple for pretty much everyone. But how? During the 1960s T-shirts became a symbol of rebellion when worn by heart throbs James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause and Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire – and before long, everyone was wearing them!
Clearly, wearing underwear as outerwear isn’t a new phenomenon – it’s just developing in ways we’ve never seen before. Let’s take a closer look at how the underwear as outerwear trend is behaving today and see how the beautiful Gasque Girls are doing it so you can feel inspired to take your Scarlett Gasque luxury lingerie outside the bedroom and into the world!
No fur coat and all knickers
Remember the 00s? The era of low-rise jeans and proudly displayed g-strings, made iconic by celebs like Paris Hilton, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears? While many thought the trend of having your knickers on display was gone for good, the revival of Y2K style in 2022 has brought the exposed thong back to the forefront. Just take a look at Hailey Bieber and Dua Lipa rocking these low-back mini dresses!
Fast forward to 2024, and we find ourselves in another type of underwear rebellion: oversized knickers and not much else! With Miu Miu’s beaded silk panties stealing the show at Milan Fashion Week and influencers like Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner flaunting the look on the streets and social media, it seems that big knickers as outerwear are the next big thing.
At Scarlett Gasque, we think beautiful lingerie is made to be seen. Whether you feel like creating a peekaboo moment with our Forget-Me-Not Thong and a pair of low-cut jeans, or would rather wear a sheer dress over our Kiss-Me-Quick Lingerie Set to show off your magnificent body, we’re here for it! Read on for more tips on how to style your lingerie as outerwear.
Corsets breaking free
Back in the 1500s, corsets were designed to mould women’s bodies into nature-defying shapes. By the 1900s, some saw corsets as tools of oppression, while others viewed them as symbols of femininity. But despite occasional dips in popularity, corsets have never really left the fashion forefront. Just take a look at these iconic lingerie moments and you’ll see exactly what we mean!
Corsets are stealing the limelight once again as modern brands like Christian Siriano and Balenciaga make them a huge part of the underwear as outerwear aesthetic. And it’s not just designer brands who are doing it! High street stores from Zara to Primark are also embracing corsets as outerwear.
Do you want to incorporate lingerie into your everyday outfits? Take a look at how the Gasque Girls do it and find inspiration for your next laced-up look!
Incorporating lingerie into everyday outfits: How the Gasque Girls do it
Here we have Scarlett Gasque founder Chloé Rodgers effortlessly rocking our intricate Scarlett Waspie over a baby blue satin shirt and light blue mom jeans. The epitome of comfort meets style!
Get the look: Scarlett Waspie
Price: £360
Our Lemon Sorbet Yellow Gasque Corset pairs perfectly with a billowy white skirt, oversized hat and classic pearl necklace for major vintage chic vibes. Did somebody say timeless elegance?
Get the look: Gasque Lace Corset
Price: £480
Headed out on the town? Follow in the footsteps of Gasque Girl Olivia and pair the Bubblegum Pink Pearl Basque Corset with a body-hugging maxi skirt and compact clutch. Pure sass!
Get the look: Pearl Basque Corset
Price: £540
At the launch of Forbidden Fantasies: The Showgirl Collection, Chloé turned heads in our Wisteria Silk Waspie paired with a Royal Purple ruffled vest, and Lavender high-split skirt with matching gloves.
Get the look: Wisteria Silk Waspie
Price: £350
Gasque Girl Charlotte knows how to make a statement, pairing our Emerald Garden Silk Corset with a lace black mini skirt and bold Red lip. That’s some unmistakable edge and attitude!