Hi! I’m sure you’ve heard, to the point of obnoxiousness perhaps, the TikTok sound of a woman muttering “that was rude. That was really fucking rude” in a sing-songy voice. Its origin, if you don’t already know, is a clip from the relatively new Broadway adaptation of the 1992 film Death Becomes Her, a campy body horror-lite cult classic starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as two aging-phobic broads who render themselves undead in their attempts to out-young each other. The “rude” thing stage actress Jennifer Simard, who originated the role of Helen, is referring to in that clip is the fact that her frenemy has just blasted a hole clear through her abdomen:
Smartly, Simard’s press appearances have seen her styled with various nods to this injury (as have her co-star Megan Hilty’s, with references to her character’s broken neck baked into her dresses and tops). Most potently, for her Tiny Desk appearance, Jake Sokoloff styled Simard in a tight blue wrap dress with a large O-ring over her belly:
I love this attention to detail and commitment to the bit extending offstage, but Simard’s holes triggered an even more interesting exploration for me in which I noticed that it seems holes, specifically large, circular swaths of absent fabric exposing an underlayer or skin, seem to be popping up everywhere in fashion right now, especially in the apparent hive mind of the hottest young designers. Does it speak to a turn towards the aesthetic of vulnerability in its revealing nature, or is it a reverberation of violence both real and cartoonish that we are inundated with from every angle these days? Or is it a sex joke? I suspect all three approaches marry together in most of the cases I picked out for you below! Oh, and read on for the secret link to snag a $1.50/month subscription to Esque!
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The pointelle “Peekaboo” skirt (£155) by Katya Zelentsova is potentially the most radical form of hole I’ve seen at a fairly accessible price point. It reminds me of some of the looks
picked out in Emily’s recent coverage of the 2025 PornHub awards—I think there was one look in particular that was fairly covered up everywhere else but extended the concept of “butt cleavage” to include all of both cheeks. I can’t find the exact fit right now, but I am putting out feelers so I can add it to this post if and when I do!
Much more wearably, this Logo Removal tee ($94) by Ramp Tramp Tramp Stamp is a constant in the brand’s repertoire, always changing prints but maintaining the lace-trimmed, rent-open chest as if the wearer attempted to tear their own heart out for their lover’s benefit.
I own this swimsuit and have written half a dozen times about how it’s to this day one of my favorite going-out fits paired with a mini skort or parachute pants. I recommend sizing down so your breasts are pinned in place and you can show off some tasteful underboob through the hole without your entire chest getting sucked into The Void.
For $163, the Eris Top could be yours—I’ve written about how much I like it before, but to be honest, I’d have to use binding tape to tuck my tits under my pits if I wanted to wear this in the way I desire. It almost feels like a futuristic surgery outfit in an alternate reality where fashion is a priority during open heart surgery.
This dress/romper? by Adriana Hot Couture is the holey item here I’d be most excited to slip into. Its frilliness makes the contrasting swath of smooth skin look even more tender and vulnerable, and I can imagine it flounces beautifully when danced in.
I’ve featured this Cate Blanchett snap before because of the incredible dress she’s wearing by Jill She, seemingly an Alaïa protege. It seems the actual dress is much more saturated:
Which do you like better? There’s something unnerving about that jail cell gray juxtaposed with cheery primary red and I think the subdued version serves the crazy, anime-character-shot-by-a-canon shape better.
A little on-the-nose, no?
I have no idea who made this cape/jacket/cocoon styled in a shoot by Javier de Pardo (I hate the recent trend of stylists not listing piece IDs in a social post), but it reminded me so much of the Jill She dress above in its abrupt cut and structural base that I wanted to include it alongside Cate.
Thank you so much for reading! I’m still in dire financial straits, so subscribing to this blog (you can even do so for $1.50/month with this secret link) is more valuable to me now than ever. I am so grateful for your support and hope my odd musings get you thinking, one way or another. Be back soon.
<3 ESK
I want that Jill She!!😍 oh my goodness, that rings every bell for me, Esque! I adore cutouts!
was just talking about this phenom with my friends as we tried to recreate the Nena Hansen bungee shirt at home!