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Tracee Ellis Ross appeared on the streets of Manhattan on July 22 wearing a monochrome ensemble centered on sheer, wide-leg trousers.
The 51-year-old actress was photographed in Midtown en route to an appearance on NBC’s The Today Show. Her outfit featured an asymmetric black top with a single translucent shoulder panel tucked into high-waisted black hot pants. Over the shorts, Ross wore full-length, floor-sweeping trousers constructed from transparent organza fabric that gathered at the high waistband and billowed outward toward the hem.
She completed the look with pointed black leather pumps, silver drop earrings, and an oversized black leather handbag .
Translucent and mesh garments have seen a surge on luxury runways and red carpets over the past several seasons. Designers including Alaïa, Dries Van Noten, and Paloma Wool showcased sheer pants, skirts, and dresses across their recent Spring 2026 collections. Sheer pants are having a moment with celebs: Anne Hathaway wore sheer balloon-leg trousers in New York, and Beyoncé wore white lace capri-style pants to the World Cup Final in New Jersey.
While sheer garments are often thought of as a high-risk red carpet trend, Ross’s tailored approach shows how wide-leg, sheer-layered trousers can work for women over 50 who are looking for fresh, modern summer alternatives.
The design couples built-in solid shorts with a translucent outer shell, providing lower-body coverage while maintaining the lightweight, airy feel needed when temperatures soar. A high-waisted rise anchors the midsection as the floor-length, voluminous leg creates an elongated vertical line that allows for airflow without clinging. By using sheer black organza as an outer layer over solid base pieces, the style allows dressers to experiment with trends while mimicking the look of a breezy maxi skirt.
Ross’s New York appearance comes during a press run for her Broadway debut in the solo play Every Brilliant Thing. Written by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe, the production relies on audience interaction and narrative storytelling.
Ross gained widespread recognition for her role as Dr. Rainbow Johnson on the ABCsitcomBlack-ish, which ran from 2014 to 2022. Her performance earned her nine NAACP Image Awards and a 2017 Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. Prior to Black-ish, she starred as Joan Clayton in the UPN/CW series Girlfriends from 2000 to 2008.
Outside of acting, Ross founded Pattern Beauty in 2019, a haircare line formulated specifically for curly, coily, and tight-textured hair types. She’s reknowned for her personal fashion choices, receiving the Fashion Icon Award at the 2020 E! People's Choice Awards.
