And The Bottoms Drop Out: How Pantsless Fashion Swept The 2025 Met Gala

The 2025 Met Gala dress code was “Tailored for You,” but judging by the red carpet, it may as well have been “Tailored...but forgot the pants.” From crystal-drenched bodysuits to blazers bravely flying solo, this year’s Met carpet was a formalwear fever dream, with an unmistakable lack of bottoms.

Now don’t clutch your pearls just yet (unless they’re part of your look). The pantsless aesthetic has been brewing for years. We first saw whispers of it in 2021, when sheer dresses paired with sparkly panties debuted as a refreshing twist on tired naked dressing. Zoë Kravitz did it best in a Saint Laurent silver slip, gleaming undies. Subtle? Not even close. Effective? Absolutely.

Fast-forward a few years, and we’re no longer peeking through mesh to catch a glimpse—we’re looking underwear dead in the eye. By 2022, Kylie Jenner was proudly front row in Loewe briefs, and Julia Fox made a case for lingerie as loungewear... in the grocery aisle.

Then came 2023, when Miu Miu declared war on pants, parading crystal-studded briefs and micro shorts down the runway like they were couture. At that point, the fashion world collectively asked: Are pants necessary anymore?

Apparently not. At the 2025 Met Gala, no-pants fashion was not just a trend but a movement. Louis Vuitton went all-in, decking Lisa in a crystal blazer and bedazzled briefs. Sabrina Carpenter stunned in a pinstriped bodysuit with flowing coattails - business on the top, scandal on the bottom. Bodysuits were everywhere. Doja Cat slinked in sequins. Helen Lasichanh kept it calm in leather. Even the micromini came back swinging, with Taraji P. Henson and Hailey Bieber rocking blazers so short they’d make a napkin blush.

And let’s not forget Amelia Gray, who took the whole “underwear as outerwear” challenge very seriously in a lacy Valentino ensemble that seemed to scream, “Pants? Never heard of her.”

But here's the kicker: even when pants did appear as skirts, they were practically transparent. Charli XCX, Kerry Washington, and Cynthia Erivo ensured their panties got some screen time, too. Modesty? We don't know her.

Still, it wasn’t all shock value. This fashion rebellion paid tribute to a powerful theme. The accompanying Met exhibit, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, celebrated Black dandyism and how personal style can challenge societal norms. Rooted in Monica L. Miller’s book Slaves to Fashion, the show highlighted how Black creatives have historically used clothing as a form of autonomy and resistance. In this context, the bold rejection of traditional suiting—pants and all—felt like a stylish act of self-liberation.

The honest tea: the pantless wave isn’t just washing over New York. It’s gently lapping at the sidewalks of Columbus, Ohio.

Around the OSU campus, trendsetters have been dabbling in the look—think flirtatiously short miniskirts, peekaboo lacy shorts, and confident strides. It’s giving co-ed meets couture, and honestly? We’re here for it. But we have to ask: when will these Midwestern fashionistas graduate to sheer skirts and full-blown pantsless suits? Don’t be shy, Columbus. The Met has spoken. Bottoms are optional.

So next time you're staring at your closet wondering, Is this too much leg? Just remember: the answer is probably not enough.