Think of the peekaboo bra trend, and itty-bitty bustiers from Sydney Sweeney and Kim Kardashian paint a provocative picture. (They almost always hold on by a thread.) But at a Bulgari event in Milan last night, Dua Lipa's custom Balmain dress proved the trend can level up in a ladylike direction.
Lipa's stylist, Lorenzo Posocco, dressed the "Levitating" singer a shoulder-padded, long-sleeve gown from Balmain's Fall 2026 runway. It featured a wrapped, robe-style bodice, but the rounded neckline remained purposefully loose. That way, her purple bra and its silky slip knot earned a proper close-up.
According to the French maison, the lingerie element drew inspiration from an original, circa-1946 Haute Couture gown by Pierre Balmain—a source lightyears away from the naked dresses inspiring other lingerie-centric red carpet looks. To finish, Lipa accessorized with black sheer tights and pointy pumps, which emerged from beneath the bow-tied skirt's slit.
Similar peekaboo bras had a starring role throughout Balmain's latest runway. Each variation was stacked beneath almost-undone dresses, two of which boasted equally-luscious, moody velvet. Just like Dua Lipa, models only flaunted a portion of their bras—usually just the front of each semi-sheer, zebra-print balconette style. This made the Balmain dresses, including Lipa's, look effortlessly chic, like she threw it on before booking it to Bollate, Italy.
Lipa didn't board the peekaboo bra bandwagon just for Balmain. She's been a bra-forward fashion girl for years. Last September, the Grammy winner posed on Instagram in a balconette Agent Provocateur best-seller, beneath a fur-trimmed jacket. (The Dua Lipa Effect sold both styles out faster than you can say "peekaboo.")
The next day, Lipa kept the peekaboo picks coming on New York City's street style scene. Another lacy black bra was spotted beneath Lipa's oversize Jean Paul Gaultier button-down, which she tucked into a gray maxi skirt.
It's about time Lipa's favorite lingerie trend walked another red carpet with her. She hasn't worn a peekaboo bra at an A-list event since the 2024 iHeart Radio Music Awards. But time and time again, a glimpse is all anyone needs to know this hybrid dress trend is worth trying.
