Sheer is THAT girl this year.
Since the debut of spring/summer collections last year, sheer clothing, or the ’barely there’ aesthetic as it’s being called, has been on the radar of fashion insiders for months. But after it was catapulted into the spotlight following buzz sparked around Ciara’s Vanity Fair Oscar Party look, it’s clear that the sheer aesthetic will be one of 2023’s hottest trends.
Ciara attends the 2023 Vanity Fair Oscar Party wearing a sheer dress from Dundas.
Lionel Hahn/Getty Images
Perfect for warmer temperatures, the minimalist trend packs a maximum punch no matter which way one decides to wear it. On the red carpet, on the beach, or at your local cafe, the limit is nonexistent, which is why this trend will dominate in 2023.
And while it’s not a new trend (hello, Lil Kim and Naomi Campbell in the 90s), it’s definitely been modernized this season.
Lori Harvey wears sheer top, skirt, bag, blue heels outside Tory Burch during New York Fashion Week.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Does the rise of “free the nipple” have anything to do with the rise of sheer, barely there dressing? It could be argued one influenced the other, but that’s not the chicken-egg battle we’re discussing today. Designers are pulling out all the stops to capitalize on this trend; from all-sheer dressing to a more demure nipple slip, it’s an accessible and scalable trend.
It’s all about showcasing as much or *as little* as you want. This is an updated way to incorporate last year’s reigning trend: cut-outs.
If you’re interested in trying out this trend, keep reading for effortless ways to incorporate sheer dressing into your wardrobe.
Bare It All
Arturo Holmes/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows
This aesthetic lends favorably to the risk-taker in us all. This style of dress is effortlessly transcending beachwear for everyday wear, even emerging into the echelons of cocktail and formalwear. If you’re comfortable baring it all, you can easily do that with a sheer dress and nothing else. But fear not, this trend is easily complimented by a structured long blazer or a belt to provide some wanted coverage.
Peek-A-Boo
Myha'la Herrold wears green sheer blouse, gray shorts during the Paris Fashion Week.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
Maybe full sheer isn’t your thing, and that’s what makes this trend so exciting. This is what I call the peek-a-boo method. Opt for a brightly colored sheer top to pair under a more neutral blazer or jacket for a very IT-girl moment. If you want to take even more of a risk, opt for a sheer shirt to pair with shorts and a trench, a la our girl Myha'la Herrold. The juxtaposition of textures and lengths is the perfect element for an understated but sexy moment.
A Touch Of Bling
Ari Lennox attends 2023 Roc Nation The Brunch.
Momodu Mansaray/Getty Images for Roc Nation
When in doubt, go embellished! This is an easy (and sparkly) way to create coverage without sacrificing the barely there element of sheer clothing. Whether you adorn yourself with a jewel-encrusted sheer dress or merely layer jeweled accessories on top of a black dress to elevate the look, it’s the perfect combination for any GNO.
A Feminine Dream
Amina Ladymya wears a sheer embroidered dress during Milan Fashion Week.
Christian Vierig/Getty Images
What is spring without a bit of pomp and circumstance? The lace detailing is a stylish way to elevate any piece of sheer clothing, especially for the spring and summer seasons. If you really want to lean into the renaissance aesthetic circling the runways, add ruffles and floral appliques to elevate this look.
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Okay, but what if you’re someone who, for whatever the reason, can’t stand traditional vitamins? Maybe they’re too hard to swallow. Maybe they taste nasty. Maybe you’ve never really seen how they can truly benefit you. Well, for the first two issues, in just a moment, you’re going to see why gummy vitamins might be the best alternative for you. As for the last point, as I get into some of the benefits of taking gummy supplements, you may see why taking vitamins can be a really good practice overall.
Gummy vitamins have been all the rage for a few years now. If you’re wondering if they’re more hype than anything else, please read on.
Why You Should Feel Good About Enjoying Gummy Vitamins
Photo by Maria Kozyr on UnsplashEven though I don’t have a problem with swallowing vitamins, I must say that about half of the supplements that I take are gummies at this point. I mean, let’s not act like they’re not sweeter, easier to consume, and, all around more fun (I mean, if vitamin taking can be considered an enjoyable activity).
And so yeah, when it comes to the top reason why you shouldn’t think twice — or feel bad — about taking the gummies route for your supplemental health, it’s because gummies make it easier to take vitamins in the first place. Thankfully, there are other reasons, though.
- Depending on the brand (more on that in a bit), vitamin gummies have basically the same nutritional value as traditional vitamins
- Your system is able to process/digest them more easily than traditional vitamins
- They’re super convenient (because you don’t need a beverage in order to take them)
- They oftentimes are branded for specific needs like hair/skin/nails, feminine pH, and others
- Although there are vitamins that also come in liquid form and chewable tablets, gummies tend to taste much better than them all
A deliciously convenient way to get the vitamins and minerals that you need. If that’s not an awesome reason to take gummy supplements, what is, y’all? What is?
What You Should Be Aware of on the “Downside” As Well
Okay, so what if you’ve heard somewhere that vitamin gummies are something that you should do your best to avoid? Is there any kind of truth to that? The short answer (based on the “pros” that I just provided) is “no.” However, before you decide to go vitamin gummies shopping, there are a few other things to keep in mind:
- Vitamin gummies taste good because they have a good amount of sugar in them (oftentimes 2-8 grams per serving) which can lead to tooth decay or, if there are sugar substitutes in the gummies, that could lead to intestinal issues
- Vitamin gummies need additives and preservatives in order to have a decent shelf life and sometimes those aren’t the best for you overall (although the FDA did recently ban red dye in food which makes this less of an issue)
- Although vitamins don’t technically expire, many of them do lose potency after about two years — faster when they are in gummy form; that’s because gummies are more susceptible to moisture and moisture can ruin supplements faster
- Since vitamin gummies taste so good, that makes it easier to take more than the daily recommended amount (which is on the label) — and that can lead to things like vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Minerals like iron are missing from vitamin gummies; mostly because they create a metallic taste that prevents gummies from being as appealing to the palate
So, you know what all of this means, right? Although, for the most part, vitamin gummies can be beneficial for you, 1) you shouldn’t expect them to be total health life-changers and 2) you definitely need to be wise when it comes to selecting the ones that will be best for you.
And that brings me to my final point about vitamin gummies today…
5 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your Supplement Gummies
When I first started getting vitamin gummies, I didn’t have this checklist. I wish that I had, though, because it took me a minute to figure out which gummies were going to not just taste good to me but actually be good for me. After a bit of trial and error, this is how I finally got to a brand that I am happy with.
1. Do some branding homework. Honestly, this should apply to both traditional and gummy vitamins because, as far as supplements go, they DEFINITELY are not all created equal. As far as my favorite gummy brand is concerned, it’s probably Nature Made, although OLLY, Honibe, and Smarty Pants are other ones that come highly recommended by health experts.
2. Make sure that the gummies are third-party tested. Basically, what this means is that the product has some sort of certification stamp on it. Speaking of stamps, be sure to check the expiration date on your gummies too. You’d be surprised by how many stores try to pull fast ones when it comes to not staying on top of that.
3. Pay close attention to what the label says. When you’re looking at the back of the label of any edible product, the nutrition is listed by what it has the most of. For instance, if you see vitamin C first, then it has more of that than anything else. And so, please, make sure that the additives and preservatives are very low. In fact, you’d be better off with a gummy that has none of them or has natural flavors and coloring instead.
4. Prefer what’s low in sugar. It’s not that we shouldn’t have ANY sugar in our life, it’s that we shouldn’t have more than 36 grams as a man and 25 grams as a woman on a daily basis. That said, if a gummy contains more than a third of what you should be consuming every day…can you see how that is already potentially problematic? Moral to the story: definitely look at the label for the sugar content too. Because it doesn’t make a lot of sense to take something for nutrition reasons if a ton of sugar is going to jack it up.
5. (Probably) go with bottles. Although gummy vitamins come in different types of packaging, you probably should go with bottles. Why? Because they typically have a seal that lets you know, beforehand, if the bottle has been tampered with or not. Pouches and jars don’t typically give you that kind of reassurance.
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Even if it wasn’t on your bingo card to learn about gummy vitamins today (LOL), I’m hoping that you can feel more confident about them, the next time you see a bottle at Target or your favorite pharmacy. Shoot, being able to consume something that tastes great that is actually good for you — how can that not make reading all of this totally worth your time?
I’m sayin’.
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