When Lingerie Meets Public Space: The Cultural Shift Behind Panties In Public

In the summer of 2024, a viral moment unfolded not on a runway but on a sunlit beach in Malibu, where pop sensation Billie Eilish was photographed wearing sheer, lace-trimmed undergarments as outerwear—without a hint of conventional modesty. This wasn’t scandal; it was statement. What once would have been deemed taboo or inappropriate has now become a calculated act of self-expression, emblematic of a broader cultural recalibration around gender, autonomy, and fashion. The visibility of panties in public spaces—whether as intentional style choices, performance art, or acts of defiance—is no longer just about clothing. It’s about who gets to define decency, who controls the female body, and how pop culture dismantles long-standing norms.

The trend isn’t isolated. From Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty shows—where models strutted in minimal lingerie against theatrical backdrops—to the rise of “underwear as outerwear” in streetwear collections by designers like Marine Serre and Mowalola, the boundary between private and public attire has been deliberately blurred. Social media amplifies these moments, transforming them into global conversations. In 2023, TikTok saw a 300% surge in videos tagged #pantiesinpublic, many of which were not sexualized but instead framed as acts of body liberation. This shift echoes earlier feminist milestones: the bra-burning imagery of the 1960s, Madonna’s cone bra in the '90s, or Miley Cyrus’s 2013 VMAs performance—but today’s iteration feels less rebellious, more normalized.

The normalization of intimate apparel in public isn’t merely aesthetic—it reflects deeper societal shifts. In an era where body positivity and gender fluidity dominate cultural discourse, the display of underwear challenges archaic notions of shame. It aligns with movements like #FreeTheNipple and the broader push against dress codes that disproportionately target women. When a teenage girl wears lace-trimmed briefs over denim shorts to a music festival, she’s not just following a trend—she’s participating in a lineage of resistance. The garment, once hidden, becomes a site of power.

Yet the conversation isn’t without tension. Critics argue that such visibility often benefits those with socially acceptable bodies—slim, conventionally attractive, and frequently white—while others face harassment or legal consequences for similar choices. There’s a fine line between empowerment and exploitation, particularly when brands profit from shock value without supporting systemic change. Still, the momentum is undeniable. From high fashion to everyday wardrobes, the panty in public is no longer an anomaly—it’s a symbol of a culture redefining its boundaries, one bold outfit at a time.