FAINTNESS is what sheer is all about. Making the faintest, lightest of impressions on the body thanks to the form and fabric being used. Designers all around the world have been rushing to snap up chiffon and transform it into delicious little wisps of dresses and tops. These are barely there clothes, made all the more bare by the material.
But are they also bearable? Yes, if worn both well and wisely. Monochrome colours in single layers are immediately vulnerable because they will reveal too much. But a pair of shift dresses such as those from Oakes shown here give a sufficient degree of protection. The asymmetrical hemlines show off chiffon's sheer quality without threatening exposure. Similarly, the pretty slip dress from Whistles has a double layer skirt to avoid offending anyone's sensibilities. If it still seems too naked, look for a little additional cover up from an equally lightweight shirt or shawl. Just keep the whole approach feather fine throughout.
The other option is to look for patterned chiffon because surface interest will distract from the body beneath. Floral prints are enormously popular right now and they look perfect on chiffon. The shirt designed by husband and wife team Clements Ribeiro for Dorothy Perkins combines all the right elements. It is floral, with a faintly oriental character (another strong theme at the moment), is in chiffon and has this summer's all important ruffles down the front. The matching trousers are also in chiffon, but lined to spare the wearer's blushes.
And since sheer is going to be a one season wonder, the Clements Ribeiro pieces are ideally priced, which is why they have become some of the most popular clothes now. Who could ask for anything more? Well, a couple of months' balmy sunshine would be quite nice.
SHEER style doesn't provide much cover, so for confidence, comfort and decency, you will probably want to make sure of good support underneath. When the look made its debut at the international collections last autumn, it was teamed with what came to be known as Tap Pants. Looking rather like old fashioned swimming shorts, these are more usually known as big knickers and can be found at branches of Marks & Spencer; containing microfibre for stretch, they are available in black and white and cost £7 for a pair. Also at Marks & Spencer in the same choice of colours: Smoothlines which sit slightly higher and promise to act as a "bottom lifter and tummy slimmer." Other big knickers with a degree of stretch are available in the G by Gossard range at £17.99; a matching stretch slip top in the same line is priced at £24.99.
For a plain body, Berlei's Answers range includes one, (£32.99) which has minimal decoration and a wired bra, making its slim shoulder straps optional. Triumph's new Bijou RE pushup bra (£19.50) is designed to be invisible under clothes. It comes in ivory, while the Triumph Bagatelle R bra is available in a flesh colour. Calvin Klein's underwear range offers a natural coloured semi transparent underwire bra for £24.50 and matching briefs for £10.50.
For women who don't want to wear too much, there are also thongs, such as the Triumph Amourette (£15.50) and the Gossard Elyse (£11.99). Alternatively, respectability can be assured with a camisole top such as Encore from Ballet which has a lace trim around the top and scalloped hem (£15.50). Marks & Spencer also produce crepe de chine camisoles in a range of colours for £9. Finally, for sheer tights, choose between Pretty Polly's Italian Nudes in Sunblush (£3.75), Wolford's Satin Touch in Gobi (£12.95) and Glen Abbey's Impressions in Haze (£3.50). All figures given are the recommended retail prices.