Would You Wear… a Cutout Dress?
We talked a few weeks ago about cutout leggings, and here’s another hot trend involving cut outs – the cutout dress. Spotted on celebrities like Ashley Olsen and Miranda Kerr, the cutout dress is an unexpected way to show some skin this summer – but is it another example of a trend reserved for the rich & famous only?
My take? I love Ashley Olsen’s DVF cutout dress and I think it works on her and especially works for the red carpet. Heidi Montag’s Herve Leger version, however, shows off way too much skin – not cute (although I do love her glitter Louboutin heels). A couple of well-placed cutouts can be unexpected, fashion forward, and fun, but there is definitely such a thing as too much in this case.
Now I want to get all of your takes on this trend. Would you wear a cutout dress? If so, how would you wear it and for what occasion? Do you think this look is real-life wearable?
Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts! Can’t wait to see what you guys think.
Posted on on June 16, 2009 / Filed Under: Would You Wear? / Tags: Celebs, Dresses, Heidi Montag, Miranda Kerr, Olsens, Trends, Would You Wear?
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Dre Ramirez
Most definitely! I have one thats similar in the picture to the right.
I think they are classy enough but still have an amazing and fashionable edge to be gorgeous!
Laura
YES ! I wore a formal full length gown version by BCBG to my prom last year. As long as the cut outs don’t become trashy ie. Heidi, it’s a great trend.
crystal
I agree with you…I really like Ashley’s, but the other two seem a bit over the top. I’ve noticed many dresses for Fall 2009 also have cutouts, but in more conservative places (shoulders, for example).
emma
yes yes yes and yes. They are so fashion forward and very Erin Wasson-esque. As long as you dress it right. It’s not a fad for girls who shop at outlet malls to try.
I would start out with the DIY type deal….shredded tights, etc to get the feel for how to dress it up first.
love it though.
la petite fashionista
definitely! I think they must be strategically placed cutouts for it to not look too scandalous, but if done right is very sexy & fashion forward!
i loved Dree Hemingay’s cutout dress she wore accompanied by Alex Wang @ the CFDA Awards–http://www.fashionologie.com/3307252?page=0,0,20
Rose
Ashley’s dress looks great! but Heidi’s just looks somewhat hooker-ish. I think I draw the line at “exposes underwear/lack thereof.”
Jojo
I would definitely wear one!
I saw an amazing bathing suit in Elle today that was a cutout. It resembled Heidi’s dress. It was a one piece, and I am not one to wear one piece bathing suits, but this one actually appealed to me. I am thinking about buying it . . .
Bryn
I like this look if it’s the right dress- I don’t care for any of the dresses shown here but Kate Hudson wore a black Rachel Roy cutout dress and it looked amazing! I definently think look is wearable in real life as long as it’s done tastefully and doesn’t show too much skin!
Renske
I think when it’s taken off the red carpet it becomes trashy…
kirsten
I REALLY like Ashley’s dress… I would definitely wear that one or one similar with just a small amount of cutouts.
Lyz
I love cutout clothes! I would definitely wear one. I have a one-piece bathing suit much like Ashley’s dress and I get compliments on it all the time. For my life I have theatre cast parties every two weeks so this is definitely a real-life wear for me.
myvogue
I like how the celebrities look in this kind of dress, but I wouldn’t wear it. It’s just not my style.
Lo
I LOVE the cut out style! I would totally wear something like it if it looked good and not trashy! I’d probably wear a dress like that to a party or some other frou frou event! (BTW I really like Miranda Kerr’s dress a lot!)
Jennifer
I don’t think I’d wear any of the examples above, but if I could find the right one, with classy cutouts, then maybe. It would probably depend on how much work I had put into toning my body before hand.
Maria
Never like the cutout trend, but if there’s a cutout dress that’s not too trashy i’d definitely like to try…
Jackie
Hmm…maybe for a concert or a night out at the bar. Otherwise, no.
Bryannah
I’d only wear a cut-out dress if I had the perfect body for it. :]
I love Miranda’s dress; it has the stragetically, perfect & statuesque cuts all in the right places, but I would prefer it didn’t have so many cuts in the leg area.
(: Great post!
xooooxoxo
Katie
I like the cutout trend but i feel like if you don’t do it right it can easily look trashy. But I love Ashley’s dress! That is a cutout dress done right. Also, Mary Kate Olsen looks like a grandmother in that picture, its terrible.
Chandra
Only if that meant that i would also have Orlando Bloom wrapped around my finger…. one can dream
Jess
I love Ashley Olsen’s dress so beautiful and very classy. The other two umm not so much.
I would wear a dress like Ashley Olsen’s. Its cute and fun.
hillary
for your “would you wear” and articles with these type questions you should add a poll. it’s a lot easier to see what ppl think instead of having to read all the comments. obv ppl can still feel free to comment but i think a poll would be a really good idea for this. just a suggestion! that said i would wear one :)
chickdowntown.com Kaitlin
I really love Ashley’s dress. I feel that it has just enough cut out without looking too slutty and leaving nothing to the imagination.
I think cut out swimwear is also really cool.
thanks!
shop chickdowntown.com for all your fashion needs and desires!
jen
i think its a bit over the top off the red carpet. especially the second two examples. too much skin.
i agree with the poll idea too
banana
I don’t think so.
Tara
I really love the cutout trend that’s popular right now. Like crop tops, I think cutout dresses only work in certain settings. I would would wear one to a club or a bar. I actually prefer cutout tops over cutout dresses though (in fact, I even own a few cutout shirts).
Fabiana Pereira
Yes, yes, yes! Actually all of those you have picked to illustrate your article. Which brings me to a question: why ask? Wouldn’t YOU wear them? Why?
Oppurtunities
I like the cutout trend but i feel like if you don’t do it right it can easily look trashy. But I love Ashley’s dress! That is a cutout dress done right. Also, Mary Kate Olsen looks like a grandmother in that picture, its terrible.
Kaitlyn
i don’t think i could pull off a cutout dress. #1 i would feel way too uncomfortable and #2 i would look horrible! lol.. that said, certain ones do look good on certain people. i think u must have a good, fit body in order to pull the look off. now, some dresses don’t look good on anyone – like the last one here, i don’t like it at all, it looks slouchy and sloppy. the one that heidi is wearing is very popular with celebs, i’ve seen quite a few wearing it, and i think it’s a faux cutout – as in, it’s not showing real skin, there seems to be a nude lining to it. but anyway, i do like ashley’s dress.. very cute!
Marijose
Yes, I would…
I really like this trend because is sooo sexy, and actually I like Heidi´s dress but it shows to much skin and make her looks trashy… If it didn´t have that much cuts I would definitely wear it!
I would wear it in a club…
(Sorry if I have a bad english.. I´m from México..)
Marijose
Yes, I would…
I really like this trend because is sooo sexy, and actually I like Heidi´s dress but it shows to much skin and make her looks trashy… If it didn´t have that much cuts I would definitely wear it!
I would wear it in a club…
(Sorry if I have a bad english.. I´m from México..)
ashley
i like Heidi’s, if it didn’t have THAT many cut outs. maybe like half the amount :)
Mani
Just…no. I could NEVER pull that off, and I just don’t like the look of it either.
naomi
I like ashley olsens,I’m trying to lose weight over the summer so if i manage to lose enough i might get the confidence to get one.
mag
i love ashley’s dress, i’m really thrown off by heidi’s dress to me it looks like some sort of trashy 13 years old’s self made “fashion” statement gone bad.
and off topic but can we please address what mary kate was thinking like she rolled out of bed and threw on a red carpet gown without even combing her hair?!!?
rohaina
leighton meester looked hot at the mtv movie awards
her’s was classy but sexy
Cara
Yes…if it was not too badgal or boho.
By the way, the coolest cutout dress ever is definitely the one in the end of the 80′s comedy flick “Crocodile Dundee.” Check it out as a retro rather than a “new” trend!
Lauren
I would definitely wear it but not Heidi’s one. Her’s looks more ripped than cut out
maggie
cutouts? yes. slashes and cuts? no way. ashley olsen’s dress is the best (never thought i’d say that) but the other ones just look hacked up.
morgan
absolutely not. i’m 110 pounds, if i wore a cut out dress you could see more then i’m really comfortable showing, like a whole huge part of me.
Beth
Um, no way. Like, not in a million years. I feel like even on the red carpet it doesn’t work. It just looks…awkward. The trend in bathing suits is good, but in dresses? No.
torontogirl
i would definitely wear a cutout dress!
just a comment though – i’ve worn the herve leger dress that montag is wearing in the second photo and it’s a super cute dress. those are actually NOT cut outs – it’s just a two tone dress with beige colored sections meant to look like skin. so, really, her dress is in some ways, the most conservative one there.