Lingerie as Clothing

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Wearing clothes that resemble lingerie, or lingerie that can double as clothing, is not a new thing. It's a trend that comes and goes, but with lots of '90s styles being highlighted at the moment, I'm happy to see this look showing up more often. We're seeing babydoll dresses, camisole tops, and layered spaghetti-strap tanks.

Artless Forever is a Los Angeles boutique that fully embraces '90s minimalism and features several lingerie-inspired pieces, like the satin Greer dress shown at left and the Blake lace cami top, below.

I especially love the bits of white lace appearing to peek out the top edges of the Greer dress, and the elegant 100% silk construction of the Blake top. Both pieces have an unapologetic aura of stepping outside the boundaries of being this or that type of garment.

Founder Madison Orlando says in her mission statement: "Artless is inspired by the quiet confidence of people, places, and objects that simply exist." That's not to say that Orlando's designs aren't structured; the dress certainly is, with a form-fitting cut and figure-flattering seams.

The top, too, has a neckline and straps that are quite deliberately cut in a way that makes it fall just so -- with no awkward extra fabric, and a body-skimming fit that gently brushes the skin. This cami might be fine with a bra underneath, but I would keep it very simple: black, ideally; not padded; and either strapless or with thin straps.

I think it's perfect with jeans, but you could also pair it with an ivory pencil skirt or pants and a suit jacket for work.

Is anyone surprised that I even wear real clothes? I wouldn't blame you, since I almost never write about them. But I certainly wouldn't hesitate to wear either of these.