Katy Perry has come a long way from "Daisy Dukes, bikinis on top." The singer wore a glammed-up version of that iconic line from "California Girls" last night at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Hollywood. Instead of denim cut-offs, Perry opted for a sparkling black fish-net cover-up dress, tied together on each side by a series of red ribbon bows.
Underneath the net, she wore a basic black bikini with a triangle top and cheeky low-rise bottoms. Perry completed the look with Khaite black, thigh-high slouchy leather heeled boots and a pair of nearly opaque Acne Studios sunglasses.
Tatiana Waterford, Perry's longtime stylist, assembled the look, fit for the red carpet or a very specific kind of pool party where nobody actually gets in the water. (We'd recommend swapping the boots for sandals in the latter case—her deployment of the "wrong shoe theory" is more suited to the red carpet.) Her relaxed, beachy waves drove the vacation-ready point home.
2024 is all about naked dressing, and Perry is far from the first to try the trend. Translucent get-ups ruled the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party, where stars like Florence Pugh and Anitta freed the nipple in a semi-sheer Simone Rocha set and a netted see-through Fendi gown, respectively.
Perry is known for her out-there style, and has been experimenting with exposing more of herself, literally. Last month, she wore a red corset and skirt set, loosely laced down the back to expose a black thong.
Away from the red carpet, Perry's look might just inspire a bachelorette packing list or a look for a weekend at the beach—maybe without the heavy-duty leather boots. Shop cover-ups inspired by Perry's unconventional red carpet look below.
