Sexy fashion is back, from crop tops to miniskirts – just look at Dua Lipa in Versace and Kim Kardashian’s Balenciaga get-up. It’s time go out and party

Sexiness is everywhere on the catwalk this season, seen in crop tops, cut-out designs and body-con dresses, with the miniskirt ousting the midi-length hemline

Zoe Latta, of the New York label Eckhaus Latta, told Vogue it’s about ‘wanting to feel sexy and confident and free’ after 18 months of social distancing

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Chinese designer Rui Zhou with a model in one of her designs. The designer is one of many catering to women’s desire to dress sexy post-pandemic in a way that is inclusive and subtle.

Published: 5:45pm, 13 Oct 2021Updated: 7:35pm, 13 Oct 2021

Something has been in the air this fashion season. Have you felt it? A shiver, goosebumps flashed across the skin?

If you’ve paid even the slightest bit of attention to the spring/summer catwalk shows, you’ll have noticed that sexiness is everywhere. It’s there in cut-outs and crop tops, in miniskirts and body-con silhouettes.

It must be said, however, that all of this merely builds on a mood already there as we emerged from our cocoons and onto the dance floor – spied everywhere from Mugler’s body-framing catsuits to the slink of brands such as Christopher Esber and sheer, keyhole cut-out designs at emerging London brand Supriya Lele – not to mention Kim Kardashian’s show-stopping, fetish-like Balenciaga number for the Met Gala.

Still, ruminations on the body, sensuality and, frankly, getting physical, have proved a particularly potent inspiration this season. But rather than being anything obvious or exclusionary, the best thing about seeing so many designers explore notions of sexiness has been the proof that there is no one way to do it – there’s a lid for every pot, as my grandmother used to say.

Looks from the Versace spring/summer 2022 show.

Dua Lipa in a look by Versace at its spring/summer 2022 show.

So sexiness at Versace might be its famous safety pins (worn by It-girl of the moment, singer Dua Lipa, who is often spied in scanty ensembles) and megawatt-glamorous chain mail.