Nene Leakes returned to the “Real Housewives” spotlight with a bold fashion statement at New York Fashion Week.
The 58-year-old reality star, who recently rejoined the franchise after a four-year absence, sat front row at Luar’s show on Monday in a fully sheer top and matching shorts from the buzzy brand’s menswear line. She wore no bra beneath the see-through Triangle Sleeve top, with only a pair of hot pants underneath.
“The bob is bobbin’, honey. It’s not too tight, honey! It’s bobbin’, weavin’,” she told Fashion Bomb Daily while getting ready for the show. Leakes was referring to the icy platinum blond bob from her own hair line, Color Mane Wigs, which she wore to complete the look.
The risqué set retailed for $380 combined: the Triangle Sleeve top at $180 and the Farmer short at $200. She accessorized with a black circle-handle Luar tote and glittery silver knee-high boots. Stylist Paris Chea and her assistant, Brandonn St. Regis, assembled the outfit, with makeup and hair by Michele Latrice and MagicMike.
“Not Playing Fair 👊🏽🔥” Leakes captioned a carousel of snaps of the look by photographer Caz on Instagram, drawing fire emojis and praise from fans and fellow Bravo stars. “My girllllllll,” rapper Kash Doll wrote in response. “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star Melissa Gorga and “RHOA” castmate Marlo Hampton also chimed in with approval.
Longtime viewers of the Atlanta franchise immediately recognized the “not too tight” comment as a pointed callback to Season 7’s “Puerto Read-Co!” episode. During the cast’s Puerto Rico trip, Leakes memorably tore into castmate Claudia Jordan’s bob as “tight” and “completely folded under.” Fans flooded Leakes’ Instagram comments with references to the scene, writing: “Claudia this is how you wear a bob hunny 🤏🏾🔥🔥🔥🔥😮💨” and “What’s wrong with a bob? NOTHING☺️🔥😍😍😍😍✨.”
At the Luar show, Leakes posed with rapper Young Miami and influencer Jackie Aina, strutting for videographer Jared Battle. The appearance marked her latest high-profile outing since rejoining the “Real Housewives” universe last month on the premiere of “Real Housewives Ultimate Girls Trip: Roaring 20th Special.”
That return represented her first franchise appearance since she exited “RHOA” in the middle of the Season 12 reunion in 2020. Leakes subsequently sued Bravo and Andy Cohen for racism in 2022 before dropping the case last year.
The fashion week moment capped a busy stretch for the television personality, who has been rebuilding her presence in the Bravo ecosystem while expanding her own business ventures. Her Color Mane Wigs line provided the signature hairstyle that helped drive conversation around the Luar look.
Leakes’ front row appearance generated significant social media engagement, with the see-through ensemble and deliberate wig commentary combining to create one of the more talked-about celebrity moments of the NYFW season.
The reality star’s return to the franchise last month on Peacock’s “Ultimate Girls Trip” special set the stage for her reemergence in the pop culture conversation, with the fashion week appearance serving as a continuation of that momentum.
Leakes’ lawsuit against Bravo and Cohen, filed in 2022, alleged a racist and hostile workplace environment during her time on “RHOA.” She voluntarily dismissed the case in 2023 without public explanation of the decision.
