Sheer for Spring: Does it really work?

I left work a bit early on Tuesday afternoon because I felt a sudden case of the chills and a temperature coming on. Anticipating many hours of dull TV and bedrest as I recovered, I stopped by a drugstore for some Tylenol, canned peaches (I had a craving for something sweet but not candy), and the March issue of Elle magazine. At home, I took my meds with some tea and a bowl of canned peaches and flipped through Elle to see what was hot for spring.

According to Elle's editors, sheer was going to be hot for spring. Now, the last few seasons we've seen more and more nude/white sheer cottons and chiffons for spring, mostly in the form of blouses layered over camis, sheer dresses which are lined or worn over slips, and so on. Elle's recommendations for going sheer went beyond that. Flipping further, I also came across an ad for some fairly sheer-looking evening dresses in Rock and Republic's spring collection.

All of this had me wondering: Is going sheer a good idea, or is it all just sheer nonsense? I'm going to weigh in on the looks proposed by Elle and featured front-and-centre in the Rock and Republic spring collection, and how they might or might not work in real life.

Look #1: Sheer pants under a bold-coloured trench

The idea behind this look is to mimic the dress-and-tights combo that was so popular in the fall, but to take it to the next level by wearing sheer pants as tights under a buttoned-up bold or patterned trench.

My verdict: Based on the pictures in the magazine and the visions in my head, this doesn't seem to be the most wearable runway trend. I'm all for colourful statement trenches, but pairing them with sheer pants seems silly. If you really must do the trenchcoat-as-dress look, why not just leave your legs bare and wear pretty peep-toe sandals? That's so much more unfussy and springlike, plus you won't end up with a pair of see-through pants you regret.

Look #2: Sheer trenches

Take a classic belted trenchcoat and update it for this spring by making it in sheer fabric.

My verdict: This look might actually work! Granted it doesn't serve any of the practical purposes an ordinary trench does (protects you from chilly spring weather, the rain, etc.), but a sheer trench can be a very interesting statement piece for evening looks. Imagine layering a sheer trench over a jersey tank dress or an LBD...magic happens.

Look #3: Sheer tunic tops

The spring Rock and Republic collection featured a yellow kimono chiffon top, which the model wore with nothing underneath it.



My verdict: Well, my first reaction to this look was "Oh holy jeebus! What kind of woman would go out looking like that and not get arrested?!?" As my friend J would say, in a dress like that, I'd have no more secrets. After the initial shock died down, I started thinking about how one might wear a top like that and concluded it might very well be the most versatile piece out of all the sheer pieces I've described so far:

• Wear it alone - just make sure you have full-coverage seamless nude panties, adhesive pasties, tons of double-sided clothing tape, a body like the model's, and loads of confidence. Also, practice bending down without bending over in case you drop something while out in public.


• Wear it with a tight bandeau or tube top and skinny jeans.


• Wear it layered over a short lingerie-like slip dress.

However, I'd be reluctant to buy that top anyway because at $367 US, I'd expect to be able to wear that outfit without having to purchase special underpinnings to pull it off.