Looking luscious with lace

There are few fabrics that will stand the test of time as well as lace. The luxurious fabric will always be a wardrobe essential: one that brings sophistication, femininity and an air of seduction to any ensemble. The attraction of lace has been around since the 16th century: when it first originated in Italy. Handmade lace is a rare commodity these days with the introduction of mass-made clothing, so hold on to any antique family pieces you may already own. New York runways this year were filled with lace pieces.Yet it was Donatella Versace, lead designer of the Versace brand, that made lace such a crux of this year’s fashion line, with her recently shown collection in Milan three weeks ago. She decided to not use lace in its full form, as Prada did several seasons ago, but to use it to embellish and accent pieces: from military jackets, to shorts, to mini dresses. Almost every piece in her collection had a lace mark. Further, Lanvin, a celebrity favourite, featured a Kelly green organza shift dress with lace overlay this season for the more chic vibe. Valentino, opting for a rather unusual eclectic femininity, paired a lace bodice with a tweed, checkered skirt. Dolce &Gabbana and Michael Kors, on the other hand, stayed with the classic look, and both had black three quarter sleeve full dresses in their collections. There are many different ways to wear lace this season: no matter your style. For the more classic look, wear a dress that is entirely made of lace. If you do this, make sure to wear very simple accessories: possibly nude patent shoes or a natural color clutch. For the more boho-chic dressers: eclectic is key! Mix the femininity of the delicate lace with asymmetrical cut edges and chunky heels. Also, pile on the accessories of different materials: gold, silver, enamel and clay are just a few ideas. The boho-chic is all about the contrast of image: innocence with independence, vintage with modern, ornate with simplicity. Lastly, for the more edgy dressers out there, take a hint from Versace: pair lace with leather. It’s easiest to do lace in neutral colors: blacks, creams and whites. But should you wish to go big for colour lace: make sure to have it be the only standout piece in your outfit. That’s the fashion scoop for this week. Got a thought? Trend? Style you hate? Send it my way.