# The Birthday Suit as Couture Fashion Mags Skip Rags, Save Money By Jennifer Astle | Published 2008-12-12 | Naughty Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/couture-fashion-mags-save-money-by-skipping-the-threads References: [pipeline.refinery29](http://pipeline.refinery29.com/trend_spotting/naked_lunch_fashion_magazines.php) & [pipeline.refinery29](http://pipeline.refinery29.com/trend_spotting/naked_lunch_fashion_magazines.php) We know that fashion designers often try to be ironic in their designs. Social trends influence fashion trends and vice versa. In the face of the current credit crunch, fashion magazines are imitating the [spring runways](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-springsummer-2026), where models going bare seemed to be the next big thing (apparently we should be expecting a *warm* spring). We know that print magazines often feel the brunt of a bad economy first, but saving money by skipping the [couture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/la-robe-ketchup)? Can you imagine what a Chanel birthday suit would look like? There are always ways to stay classy when implementing [nudity as an artistic medium](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dirty-looks) and the two mags that produced these photos (Tar and Gravure) seem to be on to something. Black-and-white photos are a good start, and from a merchandising perspective, a “blank canvas” is always the best way to showcase an item--although I have to ask: How many of you were actually looking at the shoes in the first photo? Anybody? ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.3/10 - Popularity: 70% | Activity: 51% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Naughty](https://www.trendhunter.com/naughty) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Fashion Magazines Embrace Nudity:** Opportunity for designers to incorporate nudity in their designs and for fashion magazines to push boundaries. - **Black-and-white Photography:** A trend to capture artistic and minimalist aesthetic, offering a unique way to showcase fashion. - **Influences of Social and Fashion Trends:** The interplay between social and fashion trends, where designers utilize social trends as inspiration for their designs. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion Design:** Opportunity for designers to disrupt the industry by incorporating nudity as an artistic medium in their designs. - **Print Publishing:** Opportunity for print magazines to disrupt the industry by pushing boundaries and embracing nudity as a way to save costs. - **Photography:** Opportunity for photographers to embrace the black-and-white photography trend and create unique fashion editorials. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Body Artwork-Inspired Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/body-tattoo.md) - [Body Paint Fashion Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/miley-cyrus-maison-margiela.md) - [Fashion-Focused Substack Publications](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/what-should-i-wear.md) - [Intimate Spring Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/louis-vuitton-springsummer-2026.md) - [Politically-Inspired Runway Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/selkies-the-libertine-collection.md) - [Artistic Dress NFTs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unwearable-dresses.md) - [Statement-Making Fall Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/auteur-studios-fall-2025.md) - [Handle-Only Fashion Handbags](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/no-budget-bag.md) - [Dynamic NFT Magazines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/vogue-singapore-magazine.md)