The week a pair of co-stars arrived at the Vanity Fair Oscars party both wearing transparent tops, social feeds lit up. When Connor Storrie and Hudson Williams stepped out in matching mesh shirts — one paired with a fur stole and diamonds — it became another reminder that modern red carpet style often trades safe tailoring for daring sheer statements. These choices are as much about choreography and personality as they are about fabric: a see-through top can highlight a fit, frame jewelry, or create a headline-making moment.
We curated a list of thirteen male celebrities who embraced the sheer look on high-profile stages and parties, and ranked them for readers who love fashion theatrics. The examples span award shows, runways, and Broadway stages, preserving each noteworthy detail: the event, the garment, and the styling choices that turned a simple top into a cultural snapshot. Across these moments you’ll see how accessories, tailoring, and sheer panels rewrite expectations about masculinity and glamour.
Why a mesh shirt becomes more than clothing
A mesh shirt functions as a fashion provocation: it exposes and conceals simultaneously, enabling an outfit to flirt with traditional red carpet norms without abandoning them. Designers and stylists use see-through fabrics to emphasize body shape, showcase layered pieces, or let jewelry perform as part of the silhouette. The visual tension—between restraint and reveal—turns a garment into a statement. Whether it’s a lace blouse at the Met Gala or a floral mesh top at an Oscars after-party, the decision to go sheer is deliberate, often supported by rings, pearl earrings, capes, trains, or even fur stoles to complete the narrative.
13 standout sheer moments
Met Gala and theatrical runway instances
Some of the most theatrical uses of sheer fabric occurred at costume-forward events. In 2019 Harry Styles wore a Gucci mesh blouse with a ruffled bow and black lace at the Met Gala, accessorized with a dangling pearl earring and rings that amplified the look. At his debut Met Gala in 2026, Conan Gray chose a jewel-encrusted mesh shirt with a matching cape and platform boots, a silhouette built to be noticed. In 2026 Manu Rios leaned into Moschino mesh paired with tall leather boots at an after-party following the Met Gala; the leather and buckles added an edge to the see-through top. These moments show how sheer fabrics are often married to costume elements to create spectacle.
Red carpet, parties, and awards highlights
Other memorable instances played out across premieres and award ceremonies. Rapper A$AP Rocky attended the 2019 Dior show in Tokyo in a delicate lace shirt that read feminine and fearless. At the 2026 Cinderella premiere, Shawn Mendes opted for a buttonless black sheer top open nearly to the midriff, a look that relied on simplicity to make impact. Ncuti Gatwa wore a fully transparent mesh shirt and dramatic train at Vogue World in London in 2026, embracing theatricality; similarly, Conor Storrie and Hudson Williams made waves at the Vanity Fair Oscars party when they both turned up in sheer tops, with Storrie’s turtleneck paired with a fur stole and diamonds on March 15 and Williams’ version showing off muscular definition and a train.
Festival, TV, and awards: alternative stages
Sheer looks aren’t confined to one type of event. On television and stage, garments can shift a performer’s image: Kit Connor transitioned from a youthful screen presence to a more adult take while playing Romeo in a Broadway revival, wearing a mesh tank that changed audience perception. At specialized industry nights, Hunter Doohan chose a floral mesh top for the Vanity Fair Oscars party in 2026, while Lucien Laviscount slipped into a skin-tight sheer black shirt at a 2026 Martini event. These moments illustrate how mesh shirts operate across contexts—premieres, parties, and theatrical productions—all aiming to generate conversation.
What makes a look land
The successes on this list share common threads: confident styling, commitment to an overall concept, and details that anchor the transparency—a cape, jewelry, or a tailored jacket. Zane Phillips used floral embroidery on black mesh at the 35th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2026 to add pattern and texture, while Benson Boone wore a sheer lace top with a white collar at the 2026 iHeartRadio Music Awards. In each case, the garment served as a tool for storytelling: it announced a mood, aligned with a persona, and gave photographers and fans something to dissect.
Final thoughts
Across celebrity culture, a sheer top can be a conservative designer’s nightmare and a stylist’s dream. Whether intended as a flirtatious reveal or a crafted costume piece, these thirteen moments prove that when male stars choose see-through fabrics, the results can be unforgettable. From couture-level embellishment at gala events to stripped-back Broadway pieces, the mesh shirt continues to be a versatile device for crafting memorable red carpet narratives.