The link between fashion and sexuality is a complicated one, because for many years cultural norms have dictated how these two worlds interconnect. And this doesn’t just apply to what’s revealed, but rather, a combination of clothing and emotions. For a while, the vision of fashion has been lopsided and inseparable from the male gaze. Men watched women and women watched themselves being looked at. Finally, women have redefined their terms of sexy and can look in the mirror to see themselves through their own eyes, and not that of society or men.

What’s driving sex appeal in fashion today?

In the past, lacy underwear and mini skirts were designed to be seductive without putting thought behind women's comfort. Today, practicality, self-expression and comfort are the key drivers of sex appeal. Gone are the days where lingerie was bought for date nights or to seduce their partners, women now buy sexy lingerie as a form of self-expression and how it makes them feel.

There is no greater feeling than the mystery of rocking your work outfit while wearing something special, for yourself, underneath. We have also learnt to appreciate the working-from-home outfits, which have shown us that revelling in the pleasure of our own self-confidence has huge personal sex appeal. Evidently, being sexy is about owning your look, being comfortable in your own skin and not letting the clothes you wear define you. 

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Did the #MeToo movement influence fashion?

We doubt you haven’t heard of the #MeToo movement. A force against sexual harassment and abuse, this cause was a conversation starter about healthy boundaries around exposure and nudity – that women shouldn’t be represented as sex objects. It also empowered survivors to break their silence. Following the birth of this movement, the fashion industry experienced a big shift – especially in its approach to sex appeal. This change offered women the voice and key to a new version of sexy that doesn’t merely pander the notions of male enjoyment.

Fashion runways from city to city have embraced the new kind of sex appeal, with hemlines becoming longer, silhouettes getting looser, and emphasis being more on fabrics than on skin. Before #MeToo, wearing your underwear out left one feeling vulnerable to an attack. Designers such as David Tlale, Thula Sindi and Taibo Bacar are among those tackling the new rules of body positivity to empower women so they can feel more confident in their own skin. 

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Wearable, low-key pieces embody the new sex appeal 

Before the pandemic, we saw the rise of athleisure, where comfort and chic played a major role. After a long stretch of isolation, no one thought lounge wear would be considered sexy, and that even on Valentine’s Day, it would be acceptable. This indicates that women are defining what their sexy is and how they want to express themselves without feeling objectified. Does this mean we are moving from glam to casual clothing? Is sexy in the eye of the beholder? Not at all, sexy is whatever you want it to be. Whether you want to reveal or cover up – what matters is feeling empowered no matter what you wear.

Thankfully, the Tiktok generation is here for the new take on sex appeal. Their vision of sexuality is embedded in self-expression, comfort and the essence that we should be able to make empowered choices on how we present ourselves to the world.