When Miley Cyrus stepped onto the 2024 Grammys red carpet, the internet basically broke. It wasn't just because she looked incredible—it was that gold, shimmering, completely miley cyrus see through dress that seemed to defy the laws of physics and textile science. People called it "naked." They called it "shipwreck chic." Honestly, most people just stared at their screens wondering how on earth those 14,000 safety pins were holding everything together without a single wardrobe malfunction.
But if you think that dress was just about being provocative, you're kinda missing the point.
Miley has been playing the "naked dress" game for over a decade. From the 2013 Marc Jacobs mesh gown at the Met Gala to the 2025 Schiaparelli crystal look she wore in New York, her use of transparency is a deliberate, high-art middle finger to anyone who tries to box her in. It’s about power, not just skin.
The Maison Margiela Masterpiece: 675 Hours of Work
The 2024 Grammys look was the one that really cemented the miley cyrus see through dress as a historical fashion moment. Created by John Galliano for Maison Margiela, the dress wasn't actually fabric. It was hardware.
We're talking 14,000 gold safety pins.
675 hours of manual labor.
A design inspired by Galliano’s own 1996 archives.
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The "dress" featured a sculptural halter neck and a metal waist structure that looked more like an exoskeleton than a gown. It was accessorized with those polarizing yellow velvet Tabi heels—the split-toe ones people love to hate—and hair that reached for the heavens, a clear nod to her godmother, Dolly Parton.
But why do we care? Because Miley wasn't just wearing a dress; she was wearing a comeback. This was the night she finally won her first Grammy for "Flowers." She wasn't the "Wrecking Ball" girl anymore, but she hadn't lost that "untamed" edge either. The dress was the perfect bridge between her chaotic past and her "Something Beautiful" era.
It’s Not Just One Dress—It’s a Strategy
Miley’s relationship with the miley cyrus see through dress concept is long and messy. If you look back at her 2015 VMAs hosting gig, she wore a plastic dress covered in strategically placed "dots." That was pure camp. It was loud, it was cheap-looking (on purpose), and it was meant to shock.
Fast forward to 2025.
While promoting her album Something Beautiful, she hit the streets of New York in a Schiaparelli Haute Couture gown. It was a crystal-studded netted dress, but this time it was layered under a massive ivory opera coat dripping in fringe.
The evolution is pretty clear:
- Early 2010s: Shock value.
- The 2020s: Archival glamour.
She's working with Bradley Kenneth, her long-time stylist, to dig through fashion history. They aren't just picking "naked" clothes; they’re picking pieces from Bob Mackie, Thierry Mugler, and Jean Paul Gaultier. When she wore that sheer blue-gray Gaultier shift with the cone bra in Paris recently, she wasn't just showing skin—she was referencing 90s Madonna and the history of feminist fashion.
The "Flowers" Performance and the Bob Mackie Connection
During the actual ceremony where she performed "Flowers," Miley swapped the safety pins for a silver beaded fringe bodysuit. This was vintage Bob Mackie from 2002. It was sheer, it was loud, and it moved like liquid as she channeled her inner Tina Turner.
Most celebrities borrow a dress for a night and return it. Miley? She’s a collector. Her stylist has mentioned that many of these archival pieces, like the sheer Bob Mackie she wore for her Billions Club film in 2025, come from her personal archive. She's been holding onto these pieces for years, waiting for the "perfect moment" to reveal them.
The Risks of the "Naked" Look
Let's be real for a second. Wearing a miley cyrus see through dress is a logistical nightmare.
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How do you sit down?
How do you move without showing... everything?
At the 2024 Grammys, she joked on stage while accepting Record of the Year that she "might have forgotten underwear." Whether she was kidding or not, the technicality of these dresses involves custom-made "metal panties" or sheer mesh underlays that are dyed to match the skin tone perfectly.
Then there's the public reaction. For every person who thinks she's a fashion icon, there's another person on Instagram asking, "Why can't she just wear a normal dress?" But Miley has never been "normal." She's a person who grew up in the most intense spotlight imaginable. For her, transparency is a way of saying, "I have nothing to hide."
Why the Sheer Trend Still Matters in 2026
We're seeing a lot of "naked" dresses on the red carpet these days. Everyone from Sabrina Carpenter to Kim Kardashian is doing it. But Miley's approach feels different because it’s tied to her musical identity.
Her latest project, Something Beautiful, is all about finding the raw, unpolished truth in her art. The sheer fabrics reflect that. It’s a literal representation of being "uncovered." When she showed up to the 2025 Oscars in that custom Alexander McQueen gown—which featured a beaded bodice and a sheer, flowy bottom—she paired it with bleached eyebrows and goth-glam makeup. It was a risk. People hated the eyebrows. They loved the dress.
But that's the thing about Miley. She doesn't care if you like the eyebrows. She’s using her body as a canvas to tell a story that's usually more complex than a "Best Dressed" list can capture.
How to Channel the Miley Vibe (Without the 14,000 Safety Pins)
If you're looking to bring some of that miley cyrus see through dress energy into your own wardrobe, you don't need a team of Margiela tailors. Honestly, you probably shouldn't try the safety pin look at home—it sounds like a tetanus shot waiting to happen.
Instead, look for these elements:
- Layering is key: Do the "Miley in New York" move. Wear a sheer mesh top or dress, but throw a heavy, structured coat or an oversized blazer over it. It creates a "peek-a-boo" effect that feels expensive rather than just exposed.
- Texture over transparency: Notice how Miley’s dresses often have beads, crystals, or metal? That’s what makes them "human-quality" fashion. It’s not just flat mesh; it’s the way the light hits the texture.
- The Hair Factor: You can't wear a daring dress with "lazy" hair. Miley always balances the lack of fabric with "big" energy—whether it's the Dolly Parton curls or the 2025 baby bangs.
- Confidence (The Only Real Requirement): You've gotta own it. Miley’s best accessory is the fact that she looks like she doesn't give a damn what anyone thinks.
The miley cyrus see through dress isn't just a trend; it's a testament to her survival in the industry. She went from being the girl everyone judged for "twerking" to the woman winning Grammys in archival couture. She took the "see-through" concept and made it so we could finally see the artist she was always meant to be.
Next time you see her in a "naked" dress, don't just look at what's missing. Look at the craftsmanship, the history, and the woman who finally knows exactly who she is.
Be sure to check out the official Maison Margiela archives if you want to see the literal blueprints of how that safety pin dress was constructed—it’s a genuine feat of engineering. And if you're curious about her latest music, her Something Beautiful visual film provides even more context for why she's leaning into this "raw" aesthetic right now.