How to Wear Sheer Pants: What to Wear Underneath and How to Style Them

Sheer pants look like a risk until you know the rules, and then they are one of the easiest things to wear in warm weather. They are light, they move beautifully, and they make a plain top look considered. Here is what to wear under them, how to style them, and the sheer pants from Shona Joy at Coveti. For more, browse wide leg pants.

How sheer is sheer?

There are three levels. Semi sheer and lined: the fabric is light and slightly translucent, but a lining covers you. The Aura Semi Sheer Pant in Ivory and Aura Semi Sheer Pant in Rouge are this kind. Sheer and unlined: designed to show what is underneath, like the Bowery Jacquard Sheer Pant in Bone, a floral clipped jacquard. Sheer georgette: soft and fluid with a little coverage from the volume, like the Amina Sheer Harem Pant in Black. Hold the pants up to daylight before deciding what goes under.

What to wear under sheer pants

Seamless briefs in your skin tone: the most invisible choice under lined and semi sheer pants. High waisted shorts: a slip short, a bike short and a tailored short all work under an unlined sheer, and turn the see through into a deliberate layer. A bodysuit: neat under a sheer pant, with no line at the waist. A swimsuit: at the beach, the obvious answer. Black under ivory is a statement; choose it on purpose.

The Shona Joy sheer pants

1. Aura Semi Sheer Pant in Ivory

Cut from a lightweight semi sheer woven (84% lyocell, 16% polyester) with a soft hand and a subtle sheen, lined. Mid rise, an elasticated waistband with a tie, and a wide leg. Fit: relaxed and wide through the leg. Sizes XS to XL.

2. Aura Semi Sheer Pant in Rouge

The same pant in Rouge, a deep raspberry red. Wear it with the matching blouson top for a full look.

3. Bowery Jacquard Sheer Pant in Bone

A floral clipped jacquard in 100% viscose with an elasticated tie waist and a relaxed leg, unlined and designed to be sheer.

4. Amina Sheer Harem Pant in Black

Semi sheer viscose georgette in black, a high rise balloon shape with an elasticated tie waist.

How to style sheer pants

The matching set: the Aura Sheer Blouson Top in Ivory with the ivory pant, and the Aura Sheer Blouson Top in Rouge with the rouge, a V neck blouson top with sleeves elasticated at the edges and a tie at the hem. Matching top and pant in the same semi sheer fabric look like a jumpsuit and wear like pyjamas. With a fitted tank: the Sol Jersey Racer Back Tank in Black tucks in and balances the volume of a wide leg. With a halter: the Aura Semi Sheer Halter Top in Black over the ivory pant. At the beach: over a swimsuit, with the Celina Cotton Voile Shirt open on top.

Shoes and length

A wide sheer pant looks best skimming the top of the foot. With a flat sandal, choose your usual length; with a heel, the hem can graze the floor. A kitten heel and a flat thong sandal both suit the Aura pant.

How Shona Joy sizing works

Shona Joy cuts its dresses in Australian sizes, and an AU size carries the same number as a UK size, so an AU8 is a UK 8. The Aura separates, the Celina shirt and the Mirelle dress come in letter sizes, XS to XL. Coveti lists every style in UK sizes, and the size guide on each product page converts UK sizing to US, Italian, French and German sizes. Read the brand’s fit note before you choose: “designed to sit away from the body” leaves room, “slim fit through the waist and body” follows your shape without clinging, and “fitted through bust and waist” sits close where the shirring is. For more, read is Shona Joy true to size.

Caring for the Aura fabric

Shona Joy’s care label for the Aura pieces is gentle: turn the piece inside out, hand wash cold and separately with mild soap, rinse cold, and do not machine wash, wring, soak, bleach nor tumble dry. Dry it flat in the shade and cool iron on the reverse with a protective cloth. It can also be dry cleaned. Keep the fabric away from rough surfaces and jewellery clasps, which can catch a fine semi sheer weave.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear under sheer pants?

Seamless briefs in your skin tone under a lined semi sheer pant; high waisted shorts, a bodysuit and a swimsuit under an unlined sheer pant.

Are the Shona Joy Aura pants see through?

The Aura Semi Sheer Pant is cut from a light semi sheer fabric but it is lined, so it is not see through in the way an unlined sheer pant is.

Can you wear sheer pants to work?

A lined, semi sheer wide leg pant in a dark colour works in a relaxed office, worn with a tucked knit and a flat shoe. Keep unlined sheer pants for evening and holidays.

What top goes with sheer pants?

A fitted top balances the volume: a tank, a bodysuit and a cropped halter. A matching blouson top makes a set.

How do you wash sheer pants?

Follow the care label. Shona Joy asks for a cold hand wash with mild soap, no machine wash, no tumble dry, drying flat in the shade and a cool iron on the reverse.

Related guides: what to wear under a sheer dress, the Shona Joy Aura collection, halter tops, beach cover ups, wide leg pants, Shona Joy matching sets, designer pants, Shona Joy summer dresses.