Fashion: Power, Play, and Panties: How Sabrina Carpenter and Prada Turned Bloomers Into 2026’s Boldest Fashion Statement
- InsightTrendsWorld
- Nov 4, 2025
- 5 min read
What Is the “Lingerie-as-Daywear” Trend: When Intimates Become Icons
The once-hidden world of lingerie has moved center stage — literally. Sabrina Carpenter’s latest off-duty look in New York, featuring satin Prada bloomers straight off the S/S 2026 runway, signals a fashion moment where underwear is no longer under anything. Prada, the arbiter of subversive chic, has officially transformed “granny panties” into a high-fashion statement.
The Rise of the Bloomer Revival.Detail: On Prada’s S/S 26 runway in Milan, Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons redefined boudoir dressing, showcasing satin bloomers and structured underwear styled with tailored coats and sheer fabrics. Sabrina Carpenter’s street-style adaptation confirms the runway’s commercial power — translating avant-garde into Instagram-ready.
Celebrity Catalyst.Detail: Carpenter, currently touring North America, wore a full Prada look in NYC — pink coat, matching heels, and the standout satin bloomers — transforming a delicate runway piece into confident, wearable power dressing.
From Hidden to Hero Piece.Detail: Once taboo, exposed lingerie now symbolizes confidence and self-expression, reflecting a broader generational shift toward body positivity and aesthetic irony. The “granny panty” rebrand is rooted in humor, nostalgia, and empowerment.
Insight: The Lingerie-as-Daywear trend transforms vulnerability into visibility — redefining femininity not through allure, but audacity.
Why It’s Trending: “The Return of Subversive Softness”
Fashion’s pendulum has swung from quiet luxury to playful provocation. The bloomer trend embodies that shift — romantic, nostalgic, and powerfully self-aware.
Gen Z’s Love for Irony.Detail: This generation embraces fashion that blends irony with intimacy — turning something once dismissed as old-fashioned into something defiantly cool. “Granny chic” becomes a statement of confidence, not rebellion.
The Body Positivity Continuum.Detail: Exposed lingerie no longer equates to objectification; it’s reclamation. Bloomers — once symbols of modesty — now project autonomy and humor.
Celebrity Amplification.Detail: From Prada’s runway to Carpenter’s off-stage style, celebrity diffusion gives the trend credibility. Expect Bella Hadid, Zendaya, and Olivia Rodrigo to follow suit with their own “couture intimates” looks.
Insight: The bloomers trend bridges two desires — to shock and to soften. It’s the aesthetic sweet spot between rebellion and romance.
Overview: “When Comfort Becomes Couture”
Prada’s 2026 aesthetic turns comfort into statement. By elevating lingerie’s simplest form — the bloomer — into a luxury item, the brand capitalizes on the ongoing desire for playfulness amid high design. Sabrina Carpenter’s embrace of the trend grounds it in pop relevance, making satin underwear the new symbol of carefree sophistication.
Insight: Comfort is no longer anti-fashion — it’s the new luxury language.
Detailed Findings: “The Fashion Facts Behind the Bloomers Boom”
Runway Origin: Prada S/S 2026 Milan showcased structured satin bloomers as key separates.
Celebrity Diffusion: Sabrina Carpenter’s NYC street look turned the concept into cultural currency.
Color Palette: Soft pinks, ivories, and metallic sheens dominate, signaling romantic nostalgia.
Retail Translation: Brands from Chloé to Reformation now offer “tap shorts” and “mini bloomers” for daily wear.
Insight: Prada leads, celebrities validate, and fast fashion follows — a perfect example of trickle-down turned viral.
Key Success Factors: “Soft Power Meets Street Style”
Cultural Timing: Audiences crave fashion that’s bold yet relatable — sexy without being performative.
Design Accessibility: Bloomers are easy to style under oversized coats or blazers, bridging comfort and couture.
Social Media Magnetism: Visually striking yet humorous, they dominate platforms like TikTok and Instagram.
Insight: The lingerie trend succeeds because it’s both wearable and viral — a visual wink, not a whisper.
Key Takeaway: “Underwear Is the New Outerwear”
From Runway to Real Life: The transition of lingerie into everyday wear is the ultimate sign of cultural comfort with visibility.
Fashion Irony as Empowerment: What once represented modesty now signals confidence and control.
Luxury’s New Role: Turning intimate garments into aspirational statements blurs high and low fashion boundaries.
Insight: What used to be hidden for privacy is now worn for power.
Core Consumer Trend: “Playful Empowerment”
Consumers — especially Gen Z — embrace duality: sensuality mixed with irony, comfort paired with confidence.
Insight: The modern woman dresses for self-expression, not seduction.
Description of the Trend: “The Intimate Revolution”
Lingerie as Lifestyle: Intimates evolve beyond the bedroom to become daywear essentials.
Rebellion with Refinement: Feminine silhouettes challenge traditional norms through high-fashion construction.
Cultural Subversion: Designers reinterpret domestic archetypes (housewife, grandmother) into icons of power.
Insight: The real revolution in fashion is not exposure, but reinterpretation.
Key Characteristics: “Nostalgic, Ironic, Empowered”
Nostalgic: References to 1950s femininity.
Ironic: Tongue-in-cheek styling — bloomers paired with luxury coats.
Empowered: Confidence in recontextualizing modest pieces as couture statements.
Insight: Empowerment is now expressed through humor, not hardness.
Market and Cultural Signals: “Runway Whimsy Meets Retail Reality”
Designers: Prada, Chloé, and Miu Miu push “playful lingerie.”
Retail: Searches for “bloomers shorts” and “tap pants” up 180% year-over-year.
Pop Culture: Stars like Sabrina Carpenter embody the modern coquette aesthetic — playful yet poised.
Insight: The trend thrives because it resonates across nostalgia, humor, and high design.
Consumer Motivation: “To Be Seen Without Pretending”
Authenticity: Wearing bloomers signals ease and irony — not effort.
Aesthetic Escapism: A lighthearted antidote to minimalist “quiet luxury.”
Identity Expression: The lingerie trend allows creative freedom and personal storytelling.
Insight: Self-assuredness is the new sex appeal.
Motivation Beyond the Trend: “Fashion’s Need for Emotional Softness”
Cultural fatigue with formality.
Desire for whimsical self-expression.
Celebration of individuality through vulnerability.
Insight: Fashion’s emotional reset starts with softness.
Description of Consumers: “The Ironic Coquette”
Who they are: Gen Z and Millennial fashion consumers fluent in visual irony.
Age: 18–32.
Style mindset: Fearless, playful, digitally savvy.
Lifestyle: Engaged in fashion as storytelling — part performance, part identity.
Insight: They dress not for validation, but conversation.
How the Trend Is Changing Behavior: “From Seduction to Self-Styling”
Shift from traditional lingerie to hybrid styling pieces.
Increased demand for comfort-driven couture.
Normalization of intimate silhouettes in public dressing.
Insight: The new intimacy is unapologetically public.
Implications Across the Ecosystem: “When Visibility Becomes Value”
For Consumers: More creative styling freedom.
For Brands: Opportunity to reinterpret heritage silhouettes.
For Retailers: Lingerie-as-outerwear creates new cross-category markets.
Insight: Transparency — in fabric and messaging — drives connection.
Strategic Forecast: “The Couture of Comfort”
Runway crossovers: Intimates will dominate collections from Dior to Valentino.
Material innovation: Sustainable silks and satins lead the charge.
Digital acceleration: TikTok trends will make lingerie styling a core 2026 narrative.
Insight: The next wave of luxury is intimate, ironic, and Instagrammable.
Areas of Innovation: “Where Intimacy Meets Invention”
Luxury loungewear hybrids.
Gender-neutral lingerie silhouettes.
Digital try-ons for intimate apparel.
Insight: The lingerie revolution will be both inclusive and interactive.
Summary of Trends: “Play × Power × Provocation”
Prada’s bloomers redefine sensuality through irony.
Sabrina Carpenter drives runway-to-reality validation.
Lingerie evolves from hidden confidence to visible expression.
Insight: Vulnerability is fashion’s new luxury.
Final Thought: “From Boudoir to Bold”
Prada’s revival of bloomers — embodied by Sabrina Carpenter’s effortlessly daring look — captures the new energy of fashion: fearless, funny, and free. What was once hidden is now heroed. This isn’t about rebellion — it’s about reclamation.
Insight: The power of fashion in 2026 lies not in perfection, but in play.
