So, it happened.

The Grammy Awards took place on Sunday night, but the event that has everyone talking happened even before the ceremony began. Rapper Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, made an entrance on the red carpet alongside his wife, model Bianca Censori.

The couple turned heads when they posed for photos; as seen in social media videos, a stern-faced Ye stood next to Censori, who dropped her long fur coat to reveal a form-fitting, transparent outfit that left little to the imagination. In stark contrast, Ye opted for a casual T-shirt, pants, and sunglasses.

The internet lit up with differing opinions about this eye-catching moment, with some characters dismissing it as typical Kanye behavior, while others expressed their outrage over the display.

Fashion and sociology specialists indicate that the duo’s intentions were clear: to provoke and attract attention (and they succeeded). However, this act also sparks a more in-depth conversation regarding the implications of clothing—or the absence of it—on gender, autonomy, and power dynamics.

Shira Tarrant, a professor specializing in women’s, gender, and sexuality studies and author of “The Pornography Industry: What Everyone Needs to Know,” commented, “What I observed felt repetitive. It lacks creativity. It’s worn out.” She noted how the contrast between a fully dressed man and an undressed woman perpetuates age-old narratives in pop culture, highlighting issues of power and the public accessibility of women’s bodies.

The significance behind Bianca Censori’s nudity

Nudity is a complicated subject, often interpreted in various ways. For some, it can symbolize sexual empowerment and freedom, while for others, it serves as a representation of degradation and objectification.

Experts in fashion and sociology emphasize that assessing the meaning of bold fashion choices requires understanding the context in which they occur.

Nudity can carry drastically different implications. For example, Rose McGowan made headlines when she wore a sheer dress to the MTV Video Music Awards in 1998. As a prominent advocate of the Hollywood #MeToo movement, McGowan expressed that her nearly nude appearance was a way to reclaim control of her body after being assaulted by disgraced producer, Harvey Weinstein.

“It was my first major public appearance post-assault,” she revealed to Yahoo! Entertainment years later. “It felt like that moment in ‘Gladiator’ where he asks, ‘Are you not entertained?’ My intention was to project power, not to appear sexy.”

Despite receiving criticism at the time, McGowan felt that her detractors missed her point. However, she also noted that some supporters fail to understand her message: “Many women who have recreated similar looks on the red carpet do so to seduce. For me, it was about challenging people’s perceptions.”

In the case of Ye and Censori, it’s likely that the dynamics were different, suggests Leora Tanenbaum, author of the upcoming book “Sexy Selfie Nation: Standing Up for Yourself in Today’s Toxic, Sexist Culture.”

“Censori’s choice to wear a revealing outfit shifted focus onto her body while diverting attention from West’s controversial behavior,” Tanenbaum observes. “This strategy serves to maintain his advantageous image as an alpha male with a captivating wife.”

Additionally, this situation exemplifies a significant fashion theory that many may not consciously recognize but is constantly at play, as explained by Lorynn Divita, a professor of apparel design and merchandising and author of “Fashion Forecasting.”

This theory, known as “vicarious consumption,” suggests that individuals find gratification not just in owning luxury items but also by being associated with them.

“It summarizes how, historically, men showcased their wealth through the presentation of their well-kept wives or partners,” Divita states. “By showcasing Bianca in striking attire, Kanye is effectively using her to assert his defiance against social norms.  Through her, he expresses his power.”

It’s not only about his control over Censori, Tarrant emphasizes—it’s also about demonstrating control over the audience. After all, the attendees on the Grammys red carpet didn’t consent to witness Censori’s nudity when she revealed her outfit. The same applies to those scrolling through social media who were unexpectedly confronted with images from the event.

What does Bianca Censori’s nudity at the Grammys signify for the fashion industry?

For those weary of nude or nearly nude fashion at significant events, Ye and Censori’s act may hint at a more hopeful trend: nudity for the sake of shock value could be decreasing.

For decades, clothing in American pop culture has gradually become more revealing, leaving little else that might be considered shocking apart from appearing nude.

As this trend faces exhaustion, fashion may soon need to pivot to something new, suggesting what Divita refers to as “the pendulum of fashion.” It is one of the few certainties in an otherwise unpredictable industry—once a trend has been fully explored, its opposite is likely on the rise.

To illustrate, she points to the evolution of skinny jeans: they became increasingly tighter until, almost suddenly, flared and baggy pants returned. Will the same shift occur with nudity in fashion?

“The only constant in fashion is that trends are cyclical,” Divita explains. “Eventually, people will grow tired, and a new cycle will emerge.”

If that happens, it will be interesting to see whether Ye and Censori are attuned to this change.