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nakedness
December 30, 2013

A Brief History of the Nude Body Stocking

By Sally Holmes and Isabel Wilkinson

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Photo: Ronin 47/Splash News/Corbis

A thousand years from now, historians searching for clues of our civilization will find the collector’s edition of Sex and the City, Uggs, and eventually, video footage of Britney Spears’s Las Vegas extravaganza, which opened this past weekend at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. In this grainy film, they will see lots of smoke used to artfully engineer a dramatic entrance, dancers that look like stormtroopers on safari, and Britney Spears emerging from a metal orb, looking completely naked yet artfully bedazzled. And this is how they will discover the existence of the nude body stocking.

The nearly naked bodysuit has a rich history in the pop-star community: For years, entertainers have been wearing flesh-toned suits as a way to give the audience that Look! From afar, you think you’re actually seeing my boobs! effect, while still being remaining fully clothed in the eyes of the FCC. One of the most memorable moments in the nude body stocking’s lifespan was Britney’s striptease moment from the 2000 VMA Awards, when she removed a masculine suit to reveal the sparkly pants, bikini, and abs hiding underneath.

But before Britney, figures like Grace Jones and Cher made their own sartorial statements in see-through catsuits, and now, more than thirteen years after Brit’s sparkly, hip-gyrating performance, people are still slipping into bedazzled, semi-sheer body stockings, celebrating their own glittery, pantless existence. In honor of Ms. Spears’s Vegas debut and the return of her signature bedazzled birthday-suit costume, take a look back at some of the best nude leotard looks of all time, from Scary Spice’s whirlpool boobs to Karlie Kloss’s icicle lingerie.

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1 / 19 Photos
She might be a bodysuit aficionado, but it looks like Britney made the fatal mistake of layering high-waisted Spanx under that getup. Let us note: Two... She might be a bodysuit aficionado, but it looks like Britney made the fatal mistake of layering high-waisted Spanx under that getup. Let us note: Two layers of sparkly sheerness are not better than one. Photo: Ronin 47/© Corbis. All Rights Reserved.
Karlie Kloss There might be a whole lot of glittery fringe tacked onto this bodysuit, but nothing's going to distract the eye from the main event... Karlie Kloss There might be a whole lot of glittery fringe tacked onto this bodysuit, but nothing's going to distract the eye from the main event at the Victoria's Secret fashion show: cleavage. Photo: Bryan Bedder/2013 Getty Images
Nicki Minaj For some reason, even the addition of classy pearls can't distract us from rather alarming thoughts about the carpet matching the dra... Nicki Minaj For some reason, even the addition of classy pearls can't distract us from rather alarming thoughts about the carpet matching the drapes. Photo: Denise Truscello/2010 Denise Truscello
Lady Gaga Sure, you can see the outline of her thong, but considering Gaga's usual sartorial choices, the ratio of bling to bare butt is unusally... Lady Gaga Sure, you can see the outline of her thong, but considering Gaga's usual sartorial choices, the ratio of bling to bare butt is unusally high. Photo: MHD, PacificCoastNews/© MHD, PacificCoastNews
Jennifer Lopez As someone who loves celebrating all of the skin from her sternum to her belly button, we love that J.Lo kept that area sparkle-fr... Jennifer Lopez As someone who loves celebrating all of the skin from her sternum to her belly button, we love that J.Lo kept that area sparkle-free to create an illusion of two glittery boob-orbs floating on her chest. Photo: Joe Kohen/2011 Joe Kohen
Katy Perry For some reason, the clumped placement of these rhinestones combined with her facial expression makes us doubly uncomfortable. Photo:... Katy Perry For some reason, the clumped placement of these rhinestones combined with her facial expression makes us doubly uncomfortable. Photo: George Pimentel/2012 George Pimentel
Britney Spears in "Toxic" So much nakedness, so much slithering. We're actually not even sure if this is a bodysuit or artful CGI that ... Britney Spears in "Toxic" So much nakedness, so much slithering. We're actually not even sure if this is a bodysuit or artful CGI that covers the bare minimum of anything.
Britney Spears One of the most memorable nude stocking moments ever, this look is so great because she looks hot, and since this is a striptease ... Britney Spears One of the most memorable nude stocking moments ever, this look is so great because she looks hot, and since this is a striptease number, it actually makes sense why she would want to look naked onstage. Photo: Kevin Mazur
Lady Gaga Grandma meets alien meets Girl Interupted. Photo: Kevork Djansezian/2009 Getty Images
Pink Forget all the tape or whatever it is criss-crossed all over this thing. The first rule of thumb when choosing a semi-sheer spandex cropped ... Pink Forget all the tape or whatever it is criss-crossed all over this thing. The first rule of thumb when choosing a semi-sheer spandex cropped (shivers) bodysuit: Avoid camel toe. Photo: Michael Caulfield
Katie Price What, aren't you lying on a cloud in the nude but for floral rhinestone pattens and a furry boat captain's hat in your wildest fantas... Katie Price What, aren't you lying on a cloud in the nude but for floral rhinestone pattens and a furry boat captain's hat in your wildest fantasies? Photo: Ian Gavan/2010 Getty Images
Amy Childs Amy Childs is the creator of Hair Vajazzles ... Okay, let's move on. Photo: Eamonn McCormack/2012 Eamonn McCormack
Cher Cher was born in a nude bodysuit, so really, this is nothing for her. Photo: MARK RALSTON/2010 AFP
Grace Jones Always one to embrace a dramatic look, Grace Jones could really teach Miley a thing or two about wearing a harness. Photo: Ron Galel... Grace Jones Always one to embrace a dramatic look, Grace Jones could really teach Miley a thing or two about wearing a harness. Photo: Ron Galella
Melanie Brown What better way to kick off the Olympics than to have Scary Spice welcome everyone with her glittery tornado boobs? Photo: Hannah ... Melanie Brown What better way to kick off the Olympics than to have Scary Spice welcome everyone with her glittery tornado boobs? Photo: Hannah Johnston/2012 Getty Images
Jessie J She appears enthusiastic, but the sequins on her leotard resemble Bubonic Plague paillettes. Photo: GABRIEL BOUYS/2012 AFP
Jessie J This is pretty spectacular: the asymmetrical, one-shoulder, iridescent catsuit. It's both so horrible and so sparkly that you can't look... Jessie J This is pretty spectacular: the asymmetrical, one-shoulder, iridescent catsuit. It's both so horrible and so sparkly that you can't look away. Photo: LEON NEAL/2012 AFP
Linda Evangelista in W Well, the thing about this bodysuit is ... it really covers nothing. It also appears to be made out of latex, producing t... Linda Evangelista in W Well, the thing about this bodysuit is ... it really covers nothing. It also appears to be made out of latex, producing that whole Dominatrix Barbie effect.
Rihanna Just like a lattice pie crust, this top is not doing a good job at hiding what's underneath. Photo: Splash News/© www.splashnews.com
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  • brief history
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  • nakedness

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