Small but perfectly formed

Show us yer bits! That's the message some fashion designers seem to be giving their customers recently, with an abundance of lacy, sheer, lingerie-inspired pieces being sent down the runway. Delicate fabric that exposed legs, arms, breasts and on occasion bums was seen at Christian Dior, Giles, Hermes, Alexander McQueen, Chanel, Chloe and Yves Saint Laurent, to name just a few. Fashion just loves to send a girl out on the runway with her nipples out - or covered with heart shaped nipple pasties, as horrifyingly seen at Ungaro. Lady Gaga was recently snapped wearing her pasties on the outside of her top, possibly lampooning this whole idea of underwear as outerwear.

Recent shows in Paris and Milan were crawling with undergarments as outergarments; think knickers and bloomers worn like pants (Nina Ricci, Dolce & Gabbana), bras worn as tops (Marc Jacobs, Vivienne Westwood), corsetry and bodice detailing (Proenza Schouler, Giles, Lanvin, Alexander Wang), girdles, bodysuits galore, and even the return of Madonna's famous cone bra - at Jean Paul Gaultier of course.

Gaultier's spring/summer 2010 collection explored his longtime obsession with undergarments, and was all about sex (he called the collection G-spot, in case you didn't get it). The recent Dior couture collection played with the idea of being half-dressed, featuring sheer skirts, little slips, bras and frilly lingerie-inspired things - something that designer John Galliano continued for his recent Dior ready-to-wear range featuring bra-and-knicker sets sewn into dresses and lace-trimmed satin knickers. Sera Lilly's show at Air NZ Fashion Week featured sexy printed "mock stockings" with faux suspenders which made the front row swoon - they are set to be stocked at her boutique, or can be bought online.

Expect the lingerie obsession to hit fever pitch in December when Sonia Rykiel releases her lingerie line at H&M; it includes pretty lace bras and mesh underwear with pink rosette accents. So pretty you could be forgiven for wanting to wear it around and show it off. The Rykiel for H&M line won't be available in New Zealand, but Stella McCartney's so pretty it hurts lingerie line will finally be on sale at Bendon stores in January, which should abate any pretty lingerie needs.

Of course, all this lingerie action is incredibly beautiful, but how does it translate into real life, on real, professional woman? Sheer things look wonderful walking down the runway, but can you really walk into the office with your bra showing through your blouse? Or worn over the top of it? (It depends on your office, I guess.) Would you walk into a bar wearing a see through skirt with your suspenders showing? Or leave the house wearing a sheer dress with nipple pasties underneath?

Please don't. Call me a prude, but strangers don't really need to see your bits or your lingerie. Let's chart this trend down to a pretty but also pretty silly one shall we? It reminds me of the scene in the new movie Valentino: The Last Emperor (released at the end of the month), where the designer delights in a new dress sample until he discovers he can see the model's legs through the fabric. He declares passionately "I make dresses for women who actually wear them!" He may be a tad dramatic, but he makes a good point.