How to Wear a Dress With No Panties or a High Slit

There are many different iterations of the naked dress. There's the flesh-toned one, there's the see-through one, and there's the one that boasts a slit so high, it's cause for alarm. All different, yet the idea is the same—to project the idea of nakedness without actually being naked. That said, there's still some risk you run when you wear a dress with no panties—namely, having a wardrobe malfunction.

So how do the stars do it? What sartorial sorcery occurs behind the scenes that allows them to wear these incredible naked dresses without suffering a catastrophic fashion mishap? The answer: a fantastic, well-prepared power stylist with tons of tricks up their sleeve. We called upon stylist Dani Michelle and asked her to spill the secrets on how to wear a naked dress with ease.

Keep reading for six tips for foolproofing your high-slit dress.

Meet the expert

Dani Michelle is a celebrity stylist who works in Los Angeles and New York. Her clients include Hailey Bieber, Rosie Huntington-Whitely, and Bruna Marquezine.

Opt For Form-Fitting

"The dress should be tailored to your body, so when you move in different ways, it won't create ripples, letting people see through at different angles," Michelle says. "You don't want any extra spaces for the dress to move or lift up." The goal, Michelle adds, is to have a dress fit you so snugly that there isn't any air or room for it to move around in any way.

Tape It Down

"It's not just about using a lot of fashion tape, but about taping it in the right places," Michelle says. "I always tape about an inch or more away from the edge, because you want your clothes to lie effortlessly on the skin and move naturally. By taping it further in, the garment stays put, and the natural edge still has slight movement."

Fearless Tape, which is double-sided and works on skin and clothing, is one of our favorites to help secure our risqué dresses. It's great for all skin tones because it goes on clear.

Use Strapless Undies

Yes, this is a real thing. "For extra protection, wear a strapless panty—or a nipple cover if you're wearing a plunge-neck top—so if, God forbid, there's an unexpected gust of wind, you're not exposed," Michelle says.

The stylist adds that she uses Shibue, a strapless underwear that goes from the front to back with no sides. "It's kind of like a pasty, but it's really nice, high-quality underwear—and it's washable, reusable, and affordable." If you're not sure that you can completely give up the straps, we might suggest getting clear straps instead. Consider the Seaur Adjustable Clear Strap Underwear.

Gather It at the Waist

The slit on a dress doesn't always have to go to the high heavens. Take, for example, Becky G's dress for the Latin American Music Awards. The opening goes up to the top half of her thigh, but the dress is also bunched at her hip. This gives the garment more dimension while adding protection from a clothing mishap.

Add Draping on the Side

Rihanna is no stranger to baring it all. Who could forget her iconic #FreeTheNipple dress at the CFDA Fashion Awards in 2014? Since becoming a mother, though, Rihanna has found ways to reveal a little less. This red dress with a high slit is a perfect example of that, as it's balanced with black draping to add built-in privacy.

Go Several Sizes Up

While it's a good idea to wear a high-slit dress that hugs every curve of your body, it's also acceptable to wear something a bit oversized. (After all, who doesn't want to be comfy?) The key here is similar to the draping of RiRi's red dress. The extra material flows along with Gabrielle Union's natural silhouette, and it drapes over her thigh just enough to prevent indecent exposure. If you go this route, apply tape for added insurance.

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