Brave it in a bra

From bralettes to slip dresses, Prudence Wade shows how this catwalk-favourite look can be worn in real life

As far as fashion trends go, “underwear as outerwear” is probably one many of us might immediately discount ourselves from.

After all, flashing your undies – on purpose – sounds pretty risqué and hardly appropriate for the office.

While we’re not recommending you start wearing lacy bras and little else to work however, underwear as outerwear really could be more wearable than you think, it all depends on how you style it.

The trend has even made its way on to the red carpet, with Margot Robbie recently wearing a feathered black bra for the London premiere of new film Birds Of Prey (and she looked sensational, naturally).

Here’s how you can actually style the new underwear as outerwear trend, without raising too many eyebrows...

BRALETTES

A major part of the trend is bralettes, which are essentially formal sports bras. It-girl model Kaia Gerber stole the show at Givenchy this season wearing a pale pink satin bralette, in a collection inspired by the minimalist and powerful vibe of early-90s New York.

So how can you actually recreate this trend yourself? Bralettes can be easily styled for going out with friends – team one with high-waisted trouser and a slouchy blazer and you’ll reach Givenchy levels of cool.

Believe it or not, this trend could even be appropriate for the office (depending where you work maybe!) if you layer a crisp white shirt underneath your bralette. Go lacy for a feminine vibe, or you could even wear an actual sports bra with high-waisted jeans for a sportier look.

After all, athleisure still dominates, and mixing more formal, tailored pieces with sporty styles is bang on trend.

– Miss Selfridge PETITE Pink Boucle Bralet, £28

– Zara Lace Bralette Top, £9.99

– P.E Nation x H&M Sports Bra, £17.99, H&M

SILK CAMIS

Silk camis are a big part of nailing underwear as outerwear. If you want a bit more coverage than a bralette but still want to be on the cutting edge, a sexy vest is the way to go.

Pair with jeans and boots for a casual look, or slip under a coloured suit for a more formal event.

The key here is to keep things simple. Go for block colours – either sexy reds or blacks, or pastels for a cuter or more neutral vibe – and stick to a lace trim if you want any detailing.

– Zara Satin Camisole Top in Wine, £12.99

– V by Very Lace Trim Cami, £12 (was £15), Very

– F&F Black Satin Shell Top, £16, Next

SLIP DRESSES

Few things could be more Nineties than a slip dress, and they also fit nicely into the underwear as outerwear trend. You can play around with hemlines and layer over shirts or turtlenecks, depending on the weather and what you’re dressing for. Lean into the grungy Nineties vibe by teaming a silky slip with stompy black boots, making for a striking contrast with the delicate dress.

Cowl necks have also proved particularly popular this season, which is where the dress has a loose neckline draped over the collarbone. This is a good way of making sure your slip dress doesn’t look too much like you’re still wearing your nightgown too – a solid fashion choice. – Primark Pink Cowl Neck Slip Dress, £10

– New Look Satin Frill Hem Midi Dress in Navy, £27.99

– KLEY Side Split Satin Maxi Slip Dress in Dark Red, £10 (was £49), Debenhams

KLEY Maxi Slip Dress, Debenhams; Satin Frill Hem Midi Dress, New Look; Cowl Neck Slip Dress, Primark.

Lace Bralette Top in Black, £9.99, from Zara.

P.E Nation H&M x Sports Bra, £17.99, from H&M.

Pink Boucle Bralet, £28, from Miss Selfridge.

Satin Camisole Top in Wine, £12.99, from Zara.

F&F Black Satin Shell Top, £16, from Next.