Showing skin is back, but this time it’s all about taking risks—thanks to the cut-out trend and more
When it comes to showing off skin, cutouts are a clever way to do it. But gone are the days you need to play coy when flashing a patch of your shoulder, midriff or even your décolletage. With the rise (and staying power) of the Y2K trend, the raunchiness and experimental nature of fashion back in the ‘00s have transcended to the design philosophies of 2022. Just take a look at talked-about designers like Coperni, Mugler by Casey Cadwallader, Nensi Dojaka and Christopher Esber, whose risqué and fresh take on cutouts bare the body in new and interesting ways.
RELATED: Y2K Fashion in 2022: What’s Hot and What’s Overdone
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Even established labels like Off-White, Christopher Kane and Loewe have ridden the trend, solidifying it as an aesthetic to reckon with. But what does define this skin-baring look that seems to apply to not only sexy halter tops or bodycon dresses, but to skirts, leggings, sweaters and more? It’s safe to say that now you don’t need to sport a tight-fitting frock to show off a keyhole or two.
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The beauty of the cutout trend in 2022 is its versatility. The aesthetic isn’t confined to one look alone but can be styled multiple ways to fit your personal style. Enter knitted tops that bare the shoulders but cover the neck, midi skirts that flash a suggestive keyhole by your hip bone, and stringy multiway tops you can wrap around your midsection like dental floss to either cinch or create an illusion of multiple cutouts. It’s about being playful and not being afraid to show so much more than you’re used to. After all, body-shaming is a thing of the past, and we should all be able to wear what we want, right? I take that silence as a yes.
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That said, here are key styles and design aesthetics that define this trend if you’re hoping to shop for a piece or two (or three, because why not?). Besides, Manila weather will permit you to show off skin all year-around—even when it’s so-called sweater weather.
It’s (s)lit!
Slits are more subtle cutouts that could reveal more or less depending on where they’re placed. Sometimes, movement is a huge factor on how these details fall on the body. Designer Nensi Dojaka is an expert at utilizing slits that are paired with delicate strings and made with sheer or barely-there fabric. There's als0 David Koma, who makes use of daring slits to cut across the torso for a healthy dose of skin. Take cues from these designers, and when shopping for a piece with details, be sure it exposes your clavicles and mid-section. A slit on a skirt is passé in our book!
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Shop the look:
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| Ribbed cutout top, H&M, P599, hm.com | Cutout bodysuit, H&M, P1190, hm.com | Cutout dress, Zara, P2495,zara.com |
(Key)hole in one
This detail has dominated the Y2K resurgence because, more often than not, a funky printed halter top has got one of these! But keyholes are no longer confined to showing off cleavage. Just take a look at brands like Dodo Bar and Ester Manas, both have a fascination with showing off one’s belly button. It’s no longer about showing off your abs, or lack thereof, but simply flaunting skin. Because your body is beautiful no matter its size—ripped, toned or not at all.
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Shop the look:
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| Ribbed keyhole top, P799, H&M, hm.com | Cutout dress, P3295, Zara, zara.com | Maxi dress with cutout, P3295, Zara, zara.com |
Shape cuts
Geometry was on every designer’s mind this season when thinking of ways to expose skin. Cutouts now come in circles, rectangles, diamonds and more. It’s been a play on shapes for labels like Mugler, Bottega Veneta, Christian Siriano, Prabal Gurung and others. Casey Cadwallader’s vision for Mugler has redefined which parts of the body deserve exposure—playing around with sheer skin tone mesh and stretch fabric to conceal only what’s necessary and reveal more than what’s usually left to the imagination. But if you don’t want to go too raunchy, you can always opt for pieces that expose unlikely parts of your figure—like your underboob, shoulder straps, rib cage and hip bone.
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Shop the look:
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| Cutout halter dress, Zara, P2495, zara.com | One shoulder bodysuit, H&M, 799, hm.com |
Cutout top, P1490, H&M, hm.com |
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Halter cutout dress, P1995, Zara, zara.com |
Cutout blazer dress, P5995, Zara, zara.com |
Skin is definitely in! Which trend are you eyeing to recreate?
Words Maura Rodriguez
Art Macky Arquilla
