If 2025 had a dress code, it would basically be: “Wear something sheer and hope the room’s lighting is kind.” And honestly? Rachel Zegler understood the assignment a little too well. When she showed up at New York Magazine’s Culturati Cocktail Party in that peek-a-boo plum dress by LaQuan Smith—the moment was so good, phones practically leaped out of pockets on their own.
Let’s break it down, because this wasn’t just any Rachel Zegler dress. This was one of those “stop mid-sip, stare, and pretend you aren’t staring” fashion moments.
From the second she stepped onto the carpet, it was clear that Rachel wasn’t here to play it safe. The gown had all the essentials of a trending celebrity outfit: a sculpted silhouette, a daring cutout vibe, and that translucent, mesh-meets-evening-gown energy that practically screamed celebrity fashion 2025. Think lingerie… but raised by a strict, glamorous aunt who only speaks in Old Hollywood quotes.
That plum color? A power move. That light-catching sheer paneling? Fashion dare delivered with a smile. That peek-a-boo slit? Enough to make the whole Culturati crowd pull out their cameras like paparazzi-in-training.
The dress was the perfect mix of “sultry red carpet look” and “don’t worry, everything is still strategically in place.” And yes—this is absolutely a LaQuan Smith dress thing. The designer is famous for turning fabric into confidence armor, and once again, he nailed it.
But before we go any further, please note: this moment has entered the group chat.
So… Is 2025 Actually the Year of the Sheer Dress?
Short answer: Yes. Long answer: Absolutely, and also… yes.
Every red carpet right now looks like someone whispered, “Be bold,” and all the stylists took that personally. From mesh and sheer evening gowns to the cutout dress trend, celebrities are out here redefining what counts as a “statement evening dress.”
Rachel’s plum dress outfit fits perfectly into this moment. It joins the ranks of celebrity sheer outfits 2025—a growing club that includes looks from Paris Fashion Week, Grammys after-parties, designer runways, and more. If you need receipts, check out another standout sheer look from Bella Hadid in her blue lace naked dress at Paris Fashion Week:
See what I mean? Transparency is trending harder than a surprise celebrity breakup.
Fashion people keep calling this era the “sheer dress trend”, but let’s be honest: half the outfits look like they were inspired by a whisper. Still, the best ones—like Rachel’s—manage to look intentional instead of accidental. This isn’t a “Whoops, my dress is see-through” situation. It’s “Yes, it’s sheer. And yes, I look incredible.”
And she’s not alone. Designers across the board—from luxury runways to indie fashion houses—are embracing sheer fabrics, layered transparency, and textural drama. If you’ve seen the recent runway moments pushing similar aesthetics from the Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2026 show, you already know the vibe:
The Culturati Party Was the Perfect Place for This Look
The NYMag Culturati Party isn’t one of those quiet, stand-in-the-corner events. It’s a hotspot for media people, creatives, and the type of fashion girlies who know five different meanings of the word “editorial.”
Showing up in a Rachel Zegler sheer dress at Culturati Party was basically a power move. This crowd loves bold celebrity style moments. They love a risky look. They love a trending conversation starter. And Rachel delivered all three in one outfit.
On the carpet, the plum gown hit the light in a way that made the fabric look almost fluid—like the dress itself knew it was winning. And because Rachel has mastered the art of being glam without looking like she spent six lifetimes preparing, she pulled it off with total ease.
Her glam team deserves a snack basket, too. The makeup leaned soft and glowy—true Hollywood glam makeup—with hair that nodded to classic red-carpet looks without feeling stiff. If you need more beauty-insider vibes, check out how another celebrity leaning into bold styling, Lady Gaga, recently switched things up at a major event:
The Internet Had Opinions (Obviously)
Once the photos dropped, the comments section lit up like a group chat after someone said “Don’t freak out but…”
Some fans called it one of the best celebrity dresses of 2025. Others said it was too revealing for a cocktail party. And then there were the fashion theorists debating whether sheer dressing counts as empowerment or exhibitionism. Honestly? This happens every time a celebrity tries something bold.
This is where the conversation ties into the naked-dress trend—which is still going strong, by the way. If you want to dive into the bigger cultural debate, here’s the perfect deep-dive:
And if you want to see another celebrity redefining eveningwear, look no further than Sydney Sweeney’s viral corset moment:
The takeaway? People will always argue about sheer dresses. But fashion is supposed to make noise—and Rachel Zegler’s LaQuan Smith look did exactly that.
Why This Look Works (and Will Go Viral Again)
Here’s the magic formula:
- Color: The plum tone is rich, moody, and photogenic—ideal for a stand-out plum fashion trend moment.
- Cut: The peek-a-boo dress style hits that sweet spot between daring and elegant.
- Fabric: Sheer enough to be interesting, layered enough to be tasteful.
- Styling: Balanced makeup and hair to keep things polished.
- Designer: LaQuan Smith knows how to build a daring designer dress like nobody else.
Put it all together and you get a fashion-forward celebrity moment built to go viral.
Whether people love it or debate it, one thing is clear: this Rachel Zegler fashion moment will sit comfortably among the most memorable celebrity party outfits and breakout celebrity looks of the year.
Because in 2025? Sheer is here. And apparently, it’s not going anywhere.
