Archive · 12 Aug 2026
Beyond Hygge: 'Underwear as Outerwear' Trend Reaches Indian Closets
There is a new fashion trend called 'underwear as outerwear.'
In Danish it is called undertøj.
It started at a big fashion show in Copenhagen, a city in Denmark.
People now wear slip dresses, corsets, and bralettes as regular clothes outside.
Long ago, these clothes were worn secretly underneath to cover up or shape the body.
Now, wearing them in public is a way to feel confident and powerful.
The trend uses ideas from famous designers like Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood.
People in India are joining the trend too.
They wear lace corsets as saree blouses and add blazers and jackets.
It shows how fashion can mix new ideas with old traditions.
The 'underwear as outerwear' trend, known in Danish as undertøj, has surged from Copenhagen Fashion Week onto international runways and street style.
Corsets, lace bralettes, bustiers, and slip dresses are replacing waistcoats and basic white tees in everyday outfits.
Garments that historically symbolized modesty or constraint are now framed as armor of confidence and modern swagger.
Designers Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood are cited as influences on the trend's aesthetic.
The look is being adapted for India through bustier saree blouses, smart layering, and satin slip fusion outfits.
- Who
- Fashion enthusiasts and designers, building on the legacy of Jean Paul Gaultier and Vivienne Westwood, along with Indian fashion lovers adapting the style.
- What
- The 'underwear as outerwear' trend (undertøj), featuring corsets, slip dresses, bralettes, and bustiers worn as outer garments.
- When
- Not specifically dated in the articles; the trend gained momentum starting at Copenhagen Fashion Week.
- Where
- Copenhagen (via Copenhagen Fashion Week), London, and Indian closets and fashion scenes.
- Why
- The fashion world is moving beyond the cozy hygge aesthetic toward deliberate sheer and skimpiness, turning former symbols of constraint into expressions of confidence and empowerment.
- Trend name
- Underwear as outerwear (undertøj)
- Origin point
- Copenhagen Fashion Week
- Key garments
- Corsets, slip dresses, bralettes, bustiers
- Replaced items
- Waistcoats and basic white tees
- Influential designers
- Jean Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood
- Indian adaptations
- Bustier saree blouses, smart layering, fusion slip
- Central theme
- Empowerment and confidence