For years, women have been inching away from painful underwires and going braless. Between the so-called bra-burning feminists of the 1970s to the more recent #freethenipple campaign, women have ditched the lingerie as an act of liberation. Following recent shifts in the societal norms and a large increase of celebrities, influencers, and everyday people opting […]
5 min.
For years, women have been inching away from painful underwires and going braless. Between the so-called bra-burning feminists of the 1970s to the more recent #freethenipple campaign, women have ditched the lingerie as an act of liberation. Following recent shifts in the societal norms and a large increase of celebrities, influencers, and everyday people opting to skip out on the extra layer of clothing, the bra has changed from daily armor to an optional accessory.
Looking at the past, it’s no surprise that we’ve found our way here. Celebrities and models like Madonna and Tyra Banks have made many a memorable fashion statement sans bra. Here, L’OFFICIEL rounds up the best braless celebrity-style moments in history.
Beloved Hollywood actress Jayne Mansfield was a sex symbol ahead of her time. The blonde bombshell stole the spotlight at a 1957 party being thrown for Italian actress Sophia Loren when she showed up in a dress that bared it all. The low-cut satin number left little to the imagination, and had Loren side-eying her cleavage in a now-famous photo. In a 2014 interview, Loren remembered, “Look at the picture. Where are my eyes? I’m staring at her nipples because I am afraid they are about to come onto my plate.”
In 1992, Jean-Paul Gaultier held a fashion benefit in honor of amFAR, raising $700,000 dollars for AIDS research. The celebrity-studded event was a night full of fun, freedom, and, of course, Madonna baring it all, removing an oversized jacket to reveal only a buckle-adorned harness bra.
Lead singer of Blondie, Debbie Harry remains a rock icon through both her music and ‘70s punk fashion. Vintage tees with no bra were a staple on and off stage.
The TikTok star turned singer has long been posting risky photos online since rebranding herself in support of her music career, and has posed topless for the camera on more than one occassion–perhaps most famously when teasing her breakout single „Diet Pepsi,“ with Rae using two Diet Pepsi cans in place of nipple covers while out tanning. She stunned in a braless, elegant look at the 2022 Grammy Awards, too.
The everlasting success of Friends helped ingrain effortless ‘90s style—high-waisted jeans, baguette bags, slip dresses, sneakers—into our current outfit repertoire. But the nipple as a fashion accessory is arguably the sitcom’s most influential fashion contribution, even surging the fake nipple trend in 2017. Though Aniston once admitted that she did in fact wear bras when filming the show, Friends has undoubtedly inspired us to go no bra when slipping on a tee in the morning.
The actress has been known for her viral braless moments–from casual outings to being chosen as Sabrina Carpenter’s „Juno girl“ and getting arrested for being „too hot“ in a black lace sheer top with no bra at the singer’s Short n‘ Sweet Tour in Los Angeles, Sennott is no stranger to choosing to go braless in public and online.
Braless looks have long been a runway regular, seen in collections from Chanel, Prada, Dior, and Versace for decades. In Sonia Rykiel’s Spring/Summer 1991 show, Tyra Banks showed how chic bra-free can be, wearing a mesh top under an oversized suit.
Jennifer Lopez’s 2000s Grammys look, an emerald chiffon Versace gown with a hip-length V, went down as the first viral dress in history. The buzz was monumental for J. Lo and Donatella Versace alike, and the two reunited on the Milan runway to debut an updated version in 2019.
When Rihanna graced the 2014 CFDA Fashion Awards to accept her accolade for Fashion Icon, there was no question why she was the pick for an honor such as this. Her Swarovski crystal-adorned naked dress, a custom piece by Adam Selman, exemplified raw Hollywood glamour.
Kendall Jenner’s first major runway was walking for Marc Jacobs at 18 years old. Her catwalk debut made headlines for the bra-free ensemble and extreme beauty look. Since then, Jenner has been a staunch #freethenipple advocate, making her love for going braless public for years, whether running errands or on the red carpet.
While attending Valentino’s Fall/Winter 2022 Haute Couture show in Rome, Florence Pugh arrived in a sheer pink gown from the brand’s pink Fall/Winter 2022 collection. While many were stunned by the actress’s breathtaking style moment, some social media users made less than kind comments about Pugh. The Don’t Worry Darling star called out body shamers on Instagram, saying, „It makes me wonder what happened to you to be so content on being so loudly upset by the size of my boobs and body..? […] It has always been my mission in this industry to say ‘fuck it and fuck that’ whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what’s hot or sexually attractive.“
The model and actress is known for her casual street style and her high fashion couture looks blending seamlessly, and she sports the no-bra look in both areas often. From shopping sprees in Tribeca to gracing the special edition cover of V Magazine for Spring 2024, she has never been scared to go braless.
On the Barbie Los Angeles premiere red carpet, Dua Lipa went braless in a sheer dress by Bottega Veneta. The singer is not shy about showing off her body, as she has donned numerous sheer numbers in the past, with more to inevitably come.
The singer is known for breaking boundaries and pushing buttons, and the braless trend is no exception. The star is often seen sporting casual outfits sans bra, but occassionally shows out with no bra for red carpet looks and performances, much like she did at the 2024 Variety Hitmakers event.
It is a known fact that the most scandalous looks from the awards season can be found at the Vanity Fair Oscars party. In its 2024 edition, Emily Ratajkowski—known for her daring looks—chose a sculptural Jacquemus gown that floated off her body, revealing some extra skin on her left side. Although risking a nip slip, the supermodel wore this braless look with the unapologetic confidence that characterizes her.
