One of the easiest and most fashionable looks to keep you right-on-trend this season is to wear a little lace.
This year's fall runways were rich in lace, from Milan, Paris, London and New York. This season sees lace in all shapes and forms, from lace-covered purses and shoes, to lace dresses, skirts and even coats.
Forget the old imagery of lace for women of your grandma’s age; this season’s lace fashion trend is big, bold and heavy.
According to the Daily Mail’s article “Its sheer delight as sexy dressing goes from obvious to stealth sexuality”, of 5th September 2008, “You probably have to live in a sewer not to know that lace is a crucial story this season.” That may well be an over exaggeration but certainly there is lots of it this fall — from Prada to Balmain, Derek Lam to Peter Som, Roberto Cavalli to Givenchy and Valentino to Versace.
Prada Lace Collection for Fall Winter 2008
Says the Daily Mail, “Without wishing to be forever banging on about Prada, we can lay the praise or blame for this entirely at their door, since their current collection has one message — lace. Miucca Prada described lace as the most important fabric in a woman's life. It begins by being with her at her birth, later in marriage, and finally in death, (along with many milestones in-between.)
Miucca Prada is quoted in Marie Claire’s August 2008 US edition as saying that she never really liked lace but wanted to see if she could make it modern by taking the old connotations away.
Despite her initial feelings, after finding a piece of lace in her studio, she contemplated the idea of reviving this old-fashion technique by using ultra-modern shapes. After first ignoring it, she came to the point where it took over almost the entire collection. "I thought using a little bit here and there is tacky, so we've had all Switzerland working on couture,” quotes Style.com in their "Prada Fall 2008 Review."
Lace for Fall 2008
The look is sophisticated, sharp and feminine with an antique feel, from layered lace to transparent outfits in on-trend sculpted shapes. The Prada fall collection in particular is full of layered buttoned-up shirts, sculpted suiting and lacey transparent skirts and dresses. Other fashion houses offer black lacy outfits to brown, bronze, blue, and silver. This season’s designs take on architectural proportions with lots of volume and bold styling.
According to Elle.com’s fashion report, “Lace Trend,”, the trend also took hold at Giorgio Armani, where the designer selected electric blue Chantilly lace to complement to his candy-colored gypsy dresses. Derek Lam and Erin Fetherston shrouded their models in gothic girl-style black lace dresses with provocative little eye masks.
All this is a far cry from the delicate and girlie image of the past. Forget delicate lacy lingerie texture, this fall’s lace is heavy and tough, much like the texture of rope. Skirts and heavy and finish below the knee and coats are covered in rope-like textures. You’ll also find layered lace-on-lace and tweeds with lace inlays.
Celebrities like Charlize Theron and Brittany Spears have taken onboard the trend. Charlize Theron was photographed at her recent Hancock movie premier in Japan, in a navy Prada dress.
How to Wear Lace
This season, lace has been shunned as only a fabric for evening wear and has moved on to being a daytime fashion staple.
- As lace provides the main fabric of an outfit rather than just edging or fringing, be careful not to kill the look with fussy accessories. Keep cuts simple and sophisticated. Wear sleek shoes (patent pumps?) and plain purses.
- Wear transparent lace dresses over high turtle-neck sweaters and big boy short-style knickers.
- To achieve this season's gothic undertones, wear black lace against alabster skin.
- If you prefer your lace in moderation then choose a lace covered handbag (think Valentino’s lavender lace purse or Prada’s Piazzo S Lace Satchel) or a pair of sophisticated lacy pumps or lace ankle boots.
- For an ultra-modern twist, team lace outfits with elbow length gloves and brightly colored opaques.
Gill Hart - Gill Hart is a fashion and image professional who specializes in women's fashion over 50.
