Kourtney Kardashian’s Balmain Renaissance Painting Dress

Forget what you knew about naked dresses, because Kourtney Kardashian just upped the ante. In an Instagram gallery posted on Jan. 26, the Poosh founder took the revealing trend to new heights, showing off her nude-print gown. Styled by Dani Michelle, the high-neck Balmain look prominently featured a Renaissance-era nude painting of the female form running from collar to hem, mirroring the curves of Kardashian’s own body.

Kardashian posed to demonstrate the optical illusion before giving her followers a look at the back of her dress. From behind, the outfit faded into a sky blue, trading the singular naked body for a cluster of winged cherubs. “If you’d like to make a call please hang up and try again,” Kardashian wrote in her caption.

Balmain Creative Director Olivier Rousteing previously spoke to Vogue about the spring 2023 collection from which Kardashian’s dress originated, emphasizing his focus on sustainability. “We all saw climate change this summer. We all saw fires around the world. And coming back with a show in September, thinking about whether our pants are going to be high-waisted or low-waisted — it seems a bit futile to me,” he explained. Kardashian’s “naked” dress, then, could be thought of as an escape, calling back to an era characterized by innovation, exploration, and pure artistry.

As far as Kardashian’s style goes, this is not a huge departure. In fact, just four days earlier, her husband, Travis Barker, shared a photo of her wearing a minidress in a similar style, only with different artwork and a slouchier silhouette. Could it be that Kardashian is in the midst of her own personal style renaissance? Check out her literal take on the naked dress to find out.