New York University

The democratization of intimacy wear reflects how Gen Z and millennial consumers are rejecting rigid dress codes that previous generations accepted—this shift is particularly visible on NYU's Washington Square campus where students use fashion as identity expression rather than conformity

Fashion schools like Parsons (part of The New School near NYU) are now teaching lingerie construction and design as legitimate outerwear technique, marking a shift in how fashion curricula address the blurred lines between undergarments and ready-to-wear

The trend challenges traditional notions of 'appropriate' dressing that were central to 20th-century fashion education, making it a relevant case study for NYU's fashion journalism and business programs when examining how consumer behavior drives industry standards