Were Sheer Dresses Banned at the 2025 Oscars? See Who Still Pushed the Envelope
Rumor has it that revealing dresses were banned at the Oscars after Bianca Censori's nude Grammys stunt. Some celebrities still pushed the envelope.
Celebrities at the 2025 Oscars went hard for the Old Hollywood look, capturing its essence in everything from pin-tucked curls to column gowns. And one aesthetic was noticeably absent on the red carpet: See-through gowns were practically nowhere to be found. After the notably naked Grammys this year, were sheer dresses banned at this year's Academy Awards?
At the Oscars, celebrities seemed to opt for modesty while attending film's biggest night, and this break from the sheer trend that's taken over fashion and red carpet dressing as of late wasn't by accident. A leaked memo from organizers of the Academy Awards seemed to ban sheer clothes, even if it wasn't that explicit.
"Actresses are expected to wear formal evening gowns either maxi or floor length, preferably pastel shades since the setting is very formal and done entirely in white and gold," the leaked memo read. Longer gowns, it added, were ideal to preserve the "dignity of this traditional affair."
What trigged this? It might have been the Grammys in February, where Bianca Censori arrived on the carpet fully covered in a fur coat, until she shed it to reveal a fully nude dress. She was, ultimately, naked (and, soon after, removed from the event). The Academy Awards' updated dress code seems to be a reactionary rule after Censori's move and several other see-through looks that night.
Most celebrities followed this more modest code on Sunday night, but some still pushed the envelope, finding ways to work in sheer elements to their outfits or cutouts. Rachel Zegler stepped out in a nude Dior dress that was shimmery and had a see-through bodice. Lily-Rose Depp showed up for her first Academy Awards ceremony in custom Chanel, which blended sultry black lace with an Old Hollywood silhouette and beauty look to match. Zoe Saldaña wore a custom wine-colored Saint Laurent gown had billowing layers and a nude-colored upper.
The Oscars are known for being elegant and tend to lean more conservative than other award shows, and this year, the leaked memo seemed like organizers cementing the traditional dress code. Despite that, some celebrities still pushed the envelope, finding ways to wear sheer gowns without being totally naked.
Keep scrolling for all the celebrities wearing see-through dresses, nude-colored gowns, and risqué cutouts at the 2025 Oscars.
