Could you believe the flimsy sequin top that Nora wears in her singing act. It's something that would be considered scandalous if even Cher wore it. It looks like the blouse just barely covers her breasts, and it being sequined, is even see-through. How did that get by the censors back then?
shareI thought that, too...wow!
And how 'bout the hideous hats in the movie? Really, I've seen some wild hats in 40s movies, but some of these...Geez, if they had a fashion censor...
There is fabric under the sequins, covering her entire front. You don't see the edge at the the top, because the outfit has a choker-style collar, to which the fabric is attached (along with some huge shoulder pads!).
Neutral-colored fabric under sequins or some other kind of spangle was a not-uncommon way to have an outfit "read" as nude, especially when filmed in black and white, while being perfectly respectable.
Even the white gown she put on to hit the town in NY was risky, with those multiple cut-outs.
shareI was going to say the same thing. They still do that today. A lot of the figure skaters and ballroom dancers wear things that. From afar, it looks just like there's just an applique strategically placed to cover private areas; everything else looks as if it's their bare skin. There's really is a very sheer, thin cloth that covers the body. Otherwise, their movement would expose too much. If they get the color to match the skin exactly it's as good an optical illusion as Nora's dress.
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]