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By Claire Dodds
Life & Trends Reporter
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Heidi Klum’s appearance at the 2026 Grammy Awards quickly became one of the night’s most talked-about fashion moments, as the supermodel stepped onto the red carpet wearing what appeared to be a glossy, flesh-toned second skin.
The sculptural “naked dress,” designed by Austrian fashion designer Marina Hoermanseder, blurred the line between clothing and body art—and its creation process proved just as arresting as the final look.
The custom piece, made from nude-colored leather molded directly to Klum’s form, was revealed in behind-the-scenes images shared on social media by Hoermanseder.
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The Instagram photo carousel traced the dress’s journey from early sketches and computer renderings to the final lacquered garment Klum wore at the Grammys.
According to Page Six, the design began with a custom-sculpted mold of Klum’s body, capturing details from her neckline down to her knees, including natural curves and contours.
From there, leather skins were soaked, stretched and carefully shaped over the mold. Hoermanseder’s team used hairdryers and specialized leather-working tools to achieve a precise fit, effectively turning the material into a rigid yet body-hugging shell.
A Complex Process
The dress was constructed in two separate pieces—front and back—which were later buckled together along the sides.
Jagged edges at the neckline and hem were hand-cut with utility knives, creating a raw, organic finish that gave the garment a sculptural quality.
Color proved just as crucial as construction, and multiple paint shades were tested against Klum’s skin to achieve a near-perfect match.
Each section of the dress was sanded, painted and then coated with a high-gloss lacquer, giving the leather its reflective, latex-like sheen.
The result was a piece that appeared poured onto the body, amplifying its illusion of nudity under the red carpet lights.
'Standing ovation all the way'
Klum, who is known for her shocking Halloween costumes each year, acknowledged that the dramatic look came with practical limitations.
“I’ll be the one clapping and standing the entire time,” she joked to Reuters at the event, noting that sitting down in the restrictive design was not an option.
“Standing ovation all the way,” she added.
Entertainment Weekly also reported that Klum later changed into a more comfortable black dress once inside the ceremony, sharing a video of herself enjoying a burger.
'A showstopper'
Speaking to Reuters, Klum explained the concept behind the piece: “So she basically does a mold of the body. It’s leather. And then she sprays it and color matches it as close to my skin as possible so it looks, like, nude,” she said.
The designer is known for her leather corsets and body-molded “vases,” and has previously dressed stars including Kylie Jenner, Naomi Campbell and Rihanna.
Klum, who has built a reputation for bold red carpet risks, told Billboard, “I always go for a showstopper kind of an outfit”—a goal unmistakably achieved with a dress that transformed craftsmanship itself into spectacle.
Newsweek has reached out to Heidi Klum's representatives for comment.
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