Chappell Roan Reinterprets the Archival Naked Dress at the 2026 Grammys

The Grammys red carpet has always rewarded risks. Tonight, Chappell Roan delivered tenfold, reinterpreting a legendary naked dress with a knowing nod to the ’90s catwalk.

Stepping out to the 2026 Grammys, where she’s nominated for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance, Roan pushed the naked dress into daring territory. The “Subway” singer chose a merlot-hued gown engineered to fasten directly to her chest via nipple piercings. While the industry’s obsession with naked dressing may feel like a recent phenomenon, Roan’s provocative look is deeply rooted in runway history.

The dress appears to be a custom re-creation inspired by Thierry Mugler’s landmark fall 1998 couture collection, Lingerie Revisited, where this exact nipple-baring silhouette first appeared rendered in inky black. For fashion devotees and Mugler loyalists alike, the design has long held near-mythic status. Now under the creative direction of Miguel Castro Freitas, the house recently revived the provocative shape for its spring 2026 runway.

The Grammys and vintage clearly go hand in hand for Roan. At last year’s awards, where she took home the Best New Artist trophy, she showed up in a dazzling Jean Paul Gaultier gown from the early 2000s. But tonight, she fully committed to the Mugler vision.

Roan upped the edge factor on her dress, which also had a matching modesty cape, by adding elaborate ink (presumably temporary) down her chest and back. The dress’s red wine color matched her curled and braided hair to a tee.

On a red carpet built for boldness, Roan more than met the moment.