How female stars are challenging society's rules about the female nipple through fashion Free the nipple!
The female nipple has long existed as a problem worth concealing it rather than a body part. That mindset began to fracture in 2012 with the emergence of the Free the Nipple movement, catalyzed by Lisa Esco’s documentary running through the streets of New York topeless. By 2014, A-list figures like Rihanna, Lena Dunham, and Miley Cyrus had joined the conversation, understanding the message and bringing it to center stage in the cultural zeitgeist. Although still largely a taboo, the nipple has continued its slow yet steady journey to transcend scandal and become a powerful statement. And now, this shift feels more visible than ever, etched not in protest and culture alone, but in what designers are creating and what women are choosing to wear.
SS26 Runways: fashion liberates the female form
Runways became far more liberating: At Spring/Summer 2026 ready-to-wear, labels like Schiaparelli, Ottolinger, Saint Lauren, Mugler, and Ann Demeulemeester have embraced looks that did not conceal the female form but rather freed it. Spanning everything from see-through gowns to Mugler’s now-infamous dress suspended by nipple-piercing-like straps, fashion embraced the movement with unapologetic fervor. And today, its impact is unmistakable on the red carpet, brought to life by plenty of female celebrities who have decided to take a stand.
Chappell Roan and see-through fashion on the red carpet
Most recently, at the 2026 Grammys, as Chappell Roan arrived at its red carpet, she did so in a custom Mugler gown held together by faux nipple rings and sheer fabric. What happened was one of the most talked-about moments of the night, if not the entire season. Roan wasn't the only one to free the nipple, of course. Sheer dressing has been building momentum for some time now. Greta Lee’s ethereal Dior at the Academy Museum Gala, Dakota Johnson’s voluminous Royal blue Gucci gown at the 2025 Zurich Film Festival, Olivia Rodrigo in archival Valentino at the 2026 Grammy after party, and Justine Lupe in Armani Privé at the Golden Globes were all moments leaning into transparency, further challenging society’s lingering discomfort with the exposed female body.
Body normalization and new fashion rules
And it isn’t sheer alone doing the work. Heidi Klum’s sculpted latex Marina Hoermanseder gown at this year’s Grammys, specially molded to emphasize her belly button, curves, and nipples, were impossible to ignore. Whether revealed through sheer fabrics, nipple adornments, or sculpted latex, the rise of the female nipple in fashion is not here for shock's sake. Instead, its purpose is normalization, reflecting a statement that goes beyond autonomy and control and also challenges our notions of what is appropriate.
