What to Wear Under Sheer Summer Clothing

What to Wear Under Sheer Summer Clothing

Let's be honest: Summer pieces are basically ranked in order of opacity, from slightly sheer to completely transparent. Once temps start to rise, there tends to be a drop in fabrics (both in excess and in weight), and subsequently, an upswing in sartorial challenges.
It's a problem that affects the Hollywood set, too—but luckily, some of our favorite celebs have figured out stylish fixes to common sheer-clothing problems. At an evening event, Rashida Jones's look was sheer genius—and a lesson in how to pull of a see-through dress like a pro. She gave her sexy black lace midi-length dress a polished (and slightly offbeat) spin by layering it with a crisp white shirtdress.

As major proponents of public decency, we took a sampling of summer's shockingly sheer offerings, which range from open-knit crochet tops to unlined dresses, and coupled each problematic piece with a solution for what to wear underneath. No risky business here.

The Problem: A Scandalously Sexy Black Lace Number

Chances are, a black bra and a black micro skirt underneath a sexy lace LBD won't sit well at the office or Sunday's family brunch. The solution: Knock down the sex appeal with a sleek, chic styling option, such as a crisp white shirtdress.

Shop the look: Miguelina lace maxi dress, $450; net-a-porter.com. Thom Browne shirt dress, $480; farfetch.com.

The Problem: A See-Through Black Blouse

You have a transparent black blouse—now what? First, stay away from nudes or white layers underneath. The goal is to cover up, not tease the eye. The solution: this T by Alexander Wang black bra top that not only looks good layered under a blouse, but also worn alone.