The bare-chested tux is a perennial red carpet trend that's been worn by strong women including Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney and Tyra Banks since the days Diana Ross paraded around Studio 54 with her breastbone bared. 

It's a look that says 'I'm too cool for a trad dress and I don't need to make an attention seeking fuss about it' at formal events while still looking smoulderingly seductive. 

Who doesn't want a piece of that vibe? Sign us up for sharp tailoring and a load of tit-tape this Saturday night. But wait, can you actually wear this actually pretty risque trend in the wilds of the real world? Can you really imagine ordering a pint and a packet of peanuts IRL with all but your areola on show, and would you need to set up a Saint Laurent saving fund to get a good enough suit to make it work?

Let's take a look at some of the most dedicated bare-chested tux wearers to help us find out...

Carey Mulligan pushed aside her often pretty style and looked sleek and sexy in this Victoria Beckham cape tux, kept simple with minimal make-up and jewellery at the Tiffany and Co. Blue Book Ball in April 2013.

Does it work IRL? The narrow V and Carey's demure chest mean there's not actually much boob on show without compromising on depth, so this might just pass in a swanky cocktail bar if you were feeling bold. 

Thandie Newton looked like the louchest lounge lizard in a soft silk take on the trend at Harpers Bazaar's fashion week closing party back in February 2014. 

Does it work IRL? Front on, this one's not wildy exposing, but all that loose fabric is bound to give a much raunchier side-view. Plus, silk would make nipple clinging quite apparent. Don't be deceived into thinking you'd easily get away with this one. 

At the Venice Film Festival premiere of A Single Man, star of the film Julianne Moore took a leaf out of its director Tom Ford's book and wore a sharp suit. In true Tom style it was super-sexy too. 

Does it work IRL? The stiffer fabric of this suit means there would be plenty of security, but that neckline is still quite deep. This may work for the brave and pert of breast only, and even then if you're taking a cab to somewhere fancy. 

Liberty Ross bounced back from Kristen Stewart cheating rumours last summer looking fabulously chic in a tux dress at the Vogue and MAC dinner forPrabal Gurung at the Chateau Marmont. 

Does it work IRL? Think of it as you would a V-neck dress and it totally does, and it has long sleeves to balance the chest flesh. 

Scarlett Johansson made her name as one of the sexiest women in the movie business in the breast-baring suit she wore to the Lost in Translation premiere in 2003. 

Does it work IRL? Not even slightly. Unless goading catcallers is your thing.

Stella has made clean lines and androgynous shapes her signature, so a trouser suit is right up her street, and being ample-bosomed like Scarlett takes it to a whole other level. 

Does it work IRL? Not really, and this exposing side-view this cut provides is all the evidence you really need. 

As a key Super, Linda Evangelista was the queen of 90s fashion, and shows us how great the bare-chested tux could look with signatures of that decade, such as high-waisted trousers and a bared midriff. 

Does it work IRL? While undeniably bare-chested, Linda's got a fair amount of coverage from this jacket. But the chest isn't actually the issue here. Remember, the woman's a goddess and that cropped cut, which is essential in stopping the closed chest from looking dowdy, isn't going to look good on many people, so sadly, this is probably the reserve of the red carpet realm. 

While Yves Saint Laurent made the tux a big deal in the 70s with his infamous Le Smoking, it wasn't necessarily worn with a bare chest. Diana Ross, showstopper that she is, went for it when she wore the trend to Studio 54 in the 70s.

Does it work IRL? The thin and relatively demure dip of the neck, yes. A three piece white suit with coattails? Probably only Diana Ross can get away with that one. 

Victoria Beckham, pictured here in 2003 has been wearing this trend since her Spice Girl days and always looks great in it. 

Does it work IRL? VB has always favoured a wide and deep neckline, making her take heavy on the inner side boob, so if you're fully replicating her look, real life probably isn't the place to do it. 

We're used to seeing plenty of Miley Cyrus, so bare-chest or otherwise, the Versace suit she wore to the American Music Awards in 2013 seemed grown-up and cool. 

Does it work IRL? If you're small-breasted and very brave knock yourself out. 

Cara looks as electric as the shade of her suit with her chest on show at a Mulberry dinner in 2014.

Does it work IRL? See Miley Cyrus. 

With a low, wide neck and a loose cut, Olivia Wilde went unadulterated bare-chest tux at the world premiere of Rush 2. 

Does it work IRL? In short, not unless you're very daring. There's no two ways about it, her breasts are basically out, which looks fabulous on the red carpet, just ask Rihanna, but could get you arrested outside the pub. 

Amy Poehler is probably as close to a normal person as you get in Hollywood and she made the bare-chest tux look very accessible at the InStyle Golden Globes party in 2013.

Does it work IRL? Do you know what, this neckline finishes in just the right places to make it no different from a V-neck dress, and you totally could. 

So perhaps a bare-chest tux isn't as terrifying after all, if you pick the right one, mind. The question is, do you dare to wear it?