European designers were among the first to add nip-focused looks to their collections. In 1991, for example, Sonia Rykiel gave the traditional suiting an NSFW upgrade when she sent Tyra Banks down the runway in a net top that exposed her breasts. It was major moment in Banks’ modeling tenure.

By the ’90s, Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier were already an iconic fashion duo. He was the brains behind her shocking cone bra ensembles and she, his muse.

The two stunned audiences when Gaultier mounted a show to raise money for the American Foundation For AIDS Research (AMFAR). Among the celebrity roster, Madonna made the biggest wave, stepping onto the runway in a dress that had only a leather harness around her breasts — completely exposing them to attendees.

Kim Kardashian would later wear this exact same dress, though with added bra cups.

Campbell has had her fair share of free-nip catwalks over the years (she rocked a couple this Spring 2024 season alone). But back in the ’90s, the supermodel was already championing the look. In 1993, she walked in the Chanel couture show cloaked a flowy lavender creation that had a nip slip built into the design.

During Tom Ford’s reign as Gucci’s creative director, he completely (and controversially) transformed the brand by taking it into NSFW territory.

Unsurprisingly, a few of his Gucci shows featured see-through garments, including this iconic monogrammed sheer bra from 1996. It was paired with a matching thong — another of Ford’s more risqué choices for the label.

To this day, Gucci’s sheer bras are a fashion favorite. Dua Lipa, for example, is a big fan.

One of the most iconic fashion moments of the era happened on the Christian Dior Fall 1997 runway. Shalom Harlow wore an ethereal, see-through gown with nothing but a skin-tone thong underneath.

Much like Madonna’s dress, Harlow’s floral-embroidered number featured a gilded harness that looked like jewelry.

The new millenium saw designers harkening less to free the nipple styles (instead, it became the era of exposed thongs). But Calvin Klein, who was always a big proponent of the body-flaunting philosophy, continued to send models down his runways in utterly sophisticated, yet utterly-sheer ensembles.

I can’t remember an era when Kendall Jenner wasn’t a supermodel, but back in 2014, she was just starting her career. She famously made her NYFW debut at Marc Jacobs’ Fall 2014 show.

The soon-to-be supermodel paraded down the runway in a completely sheer top, causing quite the internet stir. Jenner would free the nipple once again for the label in 2017. Since then, she has become one of the biggest Hollywood advocates for nipple autonomy.

Meanwhile, Jenner’s BFF and fellow supermodel Gigi Hadid bared it all for Fendi. The Guest in Residence founder has worn transparent looks several times in the years since, though this shimmery masterpiece is easily her most memorable.

While more designers have returned to the uncensored look in recent years, the nipple’s renaissance was evidenced most effectively at Valentino’s Haute Couture Spring 2019 show.

The fashion house presented a bevy of ornate pieces that fully flaunted the body part, including this ruffled confection. The designer even reunited with Campbell for yet another nip-forward look.

In recent years, Florence Pugh has been a stunning canvas for Valentino’s most sheer designs, doing the label stylish justice.

From New York to Paris, the recent Spring 2024 season was definitely the nippliest fashion month so far. The designers who stood out, however, where those who upgraded the uncensored look to museum-worthy status. Enter: Mugler.

In October 2023, the label showed multiple translucent breast plates made entirely out of resin. A masterclass in fashion as art.