As award season rolls on, one thing is clear: fabric is no longer mandatory. That was evident at the Grammys.
From sheer gowns to daring cutouts, this year’s red carpet looks have reignited the age-old fashion debate...just how far can the pendulum swing when it comes to showing skin?
According to Michael Mamp, Director and Curator of the LSU Textile and Costume Museum, today’s bold looks are part of a much longer fashion timeline.
“When we look back through history, the risqué has always been part of the fashion continuum,” Map said.
He points to the flappers of the 1920s, whose short hair, bare arms, and knee-length dresses shocked a society still emerging from the restrictive Victorian era.
“What we see now as modest was considered scandalous at the time,” he said.
Mamp says similar reactions followed in the 1960s with the rise of miniskirts and tube tops; styles that once sent parents “to their knees to pray,” but are now mainstream.
While some modern red carpet looks may feel especially daring, Mamp believes the current moment is less about provocation and more about representation.
“Fashion today reflects diversified voices,” he said. “Everyone is finding room for themselves.”
He adds that clothing now carries meaning far beyond labels or trends, often serving as a personal statement of values and identity. Social media has only amplified that shift.
“The internet allows people to create themselves and wear what they want, even if their everyday life looks very different,” Mamp said.
Looking ahead, Mamp says fashion may continue to test limits, but balance still exists on the carpet.
“If you look closely, there are still plenty of people covered up,” he said. “Fashion right now is about choice.”
As award season continues, whether bold or buttoned-up, one thing remains certain; what we wear continues to say exactly who we are.