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The Dior Spring/Summer 2025 show began in a dramatic manner: artist Sagg Napoli strutted onto the runway wearing a one-shoulder black bodysuit and archery set before taking aim at a bullseye in the centre of the stage. In that moment, it was performance apparel. But after 27 of the 82 Dior looks featured the silhouette, it became apparent just how far the legacy fashion house — renowned for its traditional tailoring and full-skirted Bar suits — had leaned into the bodysuit, cementing the item as the season’s breakout trend.
Once confined to shapewear or practical undergarments, bodysuits have evolved into standalone statement pieces this season. Designers are reimagining this versatile piece for SS25, from ballet core-inspired styles at Ferragamo and Alainpaul to sportier, swimwear-influenced looks at Tory Burch. Meanwhile, Mugler, Stella McCartney and Balenciaga are leaning into lingerie-inspired takes, playing up the sensuality of exposed lace and corsetry details.
This reinvention of the bodysuit on the runway is coinciding with an expected spike in demand for the style. In the last six months, Net-a-Porter has seen a sharp rise in customer interest for the item, with “black bodysuit” searches growing by 1,022 per cent, “white bodysuit” searches rising by 273 per cent and “lace bodysuit” searches increasing by 461 per cent. Euromonitor predicts a 6.8 per cent increase in global bodysuit sales in 2024, reaching a market size of $94.8 million. The trend is expected to continue, with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3 per cent forecast through 2028.
“Bodysuits are quickly becoming a key category for us,” says Richard Johnson, chief commercial and sustainability officer of online retailer Mytheresa. He adds that looking ahead to SS25, even stronger performance is expected as more brands introduce varied styles, from sultry evening looks with lace and silk trims to everyday wear that pairs effortlessly with jeans or sheer skirts. “The runway trends are aligning perfectly with what our customers are seeking,” he notes.
The rise of bodysuits as a key fashion item in SS25 reflects broader changes in the way people want to dress today. There’s increasing demand for versatile, body-conscious pieces that can transition across a variety of looks — from casual, sporty aesthetics to elegant, lingerie-inspired looks. But as bodysuits become a staple on the runway, a key question looms: will consumers be willing to invest in high-end, luxury versions of this now-ubiquitous garment when affordable, chic alternatives are just a click away?
The TikTok effect
The meteoric rise of bodysuits as a fashion staple owes much to TikTok. Over the past year, bodysuits have become a mainstay on the platform, where the hashtag has accumulated over 515,000 posts, with users sharing styling tips, haul videos and reviews that have turned these once-basic items into wardrobe must-haves.
“In recent years, the trend cycle has been entirely uprooted from what the fashion industry was used to,” says Suzi Gardner, fashion consultant at Euromonitor. “This change to the trickle-up approach has seen the influence of social media platforms — initially Instagram, but now primarily TikTok — determining what products sell and what trends reach mass adoption. In the case of bodysuits, the trend has grown online through consumers reviving the trend and has now reached designer brands.”
Much of this bodysuit craze traces back to Skims, Kim Kardashian’s shapewear line, which sparked a shapewear boom that has since permeated the industry (as of July 2023, Skims revenues hit $750 million, with its overall valuation rising to $4 billion, the company told The New York Times). Social media buzz only intensified as fast fashion brands and retailers like Amazon flooded the market with affordable alternatives, says Kayla Marci, senior retail analyst for intelligence firm EDITED. However, Marci is also cautious about the proliferation of dupes, noting that it suggests “consumers will prioritise affordability when it comes to bodysuits”.
The growing interest in high-quality basics and capsule wardrobes could work in favour of luxury bodysuits, as affluent consumers look for investment pieces that offer superior craftsmanship, better materials and longevity, Marci notes.
Legwear and underwear brand Wolford is focusing on quality and durability in order to stay competitive as consumer demand spikes and luxury brands wade in. “Our innovative approach was crucial in leveraging the current surge in interest. This allowed us to position ourselves as a key player by capitalising on the brand’s expertise and long-standing reputation for quality,” says a spokesperson for the brand. They reference their upcoming special project with The Woolmark Company, which features bodysuits in a range of colours, made from 100 per cent wool with natural elasticity — achieved without using elastane as an example of this. The collaboration aligns with Woolmark’s ethos while maintaining high standards of quality and craftsmanship.
Underwear as outerwear continues to surge
Another factor driving the bodysuit craze is the broader trend of lingerie-inspired fashion transitioning into ready-to-wear. Last season, it was panties. This season, designers like Mugler and Stella McCartney have leaned heavily into exposed lace and corset-based bodysuits, giving the garment a sensual, lingerie-like appeal. It was also the standout look at Demna’s Balenciaga show, as a model strolled down the table-esque runway in a lace bodysuit, stockings and a fur coat. These garments, unlike more basic bodysuit styles, are clearly elevated from mass-market versions with intricate details and high-quality boning, providing a clearer opportunity.
Sales at luxury lingerie brand Agent Provocateur surged during Paris Fashion Week, with the label’s Paris store selling out of its new Gabby bodysuits in record time — they retail at $395. “I don’t think this was a coincidence,” says Sarah Shotton, creative director of Agent Provocateur, pointing to the growing runway interest in lingerie-inspired pieces that can be worn as outerwear.
Shotton pins the success to a changing perception towards what’s considered as appropriate going-out clothing, a shift that has already shaped their brand. “What started out as our customers daring to wear their favourite corsets and bodysuits more visibly has developed into us now creating dresses, stockings, corsets and bodysuits that are primarily all designed as ready-to-wear,” she explains. This trend is allowing women to play with the idea of sensuality in their everyday wardrobes — whether that’s by layering a lace bodysuit under a structured blazer or by wearing a bodysuit with nothing but tights. Shotton adds that it’s not just younger women embracing this trend either. “Most of our customers — especially those buying ready-to-wear and soirée (our high-end pieces) — are 35-plus.”
Agent Provocateur isn’t alone in noticing the demand for more sensuous luxury bodysuits. Lingerie label Fleur du Mal has featured bodysuits designed to be worn as ready-to-wear since its debut collection in 2012, “but people need to see a trend many times to feel comfortable buying into it”, says the label’s founder and designer Jennifer Zuccarini. Meanwhile, German hosiery brand Saint Sass launched an exclusive collection of bodysuits in September to bulk up their current hosiery offering and to capitalise on the emerging trend.
“If we present a style as innerwear and style it that way, customers have a hard time envisioning it as something to be worn out. Education and styling are very important for people to adopt and wear a lingerie-inspired style,” says Zuccarini. By carefully curating influencers to showcase ways to trial the daring trend, Fleur du Mal has already seen a 36 per cent increase in sales of their top bodysuit styles — and now, with the recent runway boost, that figure is only set to grow.
As fashion continues to evolve, so too will the role of the bodysuit; but its adaptability, versatility and cultural relevance ensure that it will remain a staple of modern wardrobes for seasons to come. “The sheer, daring designs we’re seeing now are not just runway or editorial moments, they’re filtering into everyday wardrobes,” says Mytheresa’s Johnson. “Consumers are becoming increasingly comfortable with more avant-garde styles, embracing the sheer, cutout and exposed corset details as part of their fashion repertoire.”
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