TREND REPORT: Lacy Lady
Mary Fellowes • 09/20/2016
Photo: Song of Style
THE DEBRIEF:
As summer turns to fall, sartorial chaos descends in the form of many, many questions. Tights or no tights? Pants or skirt? Open or closed toe shoes? Is white too ethereal? Are we ready for autumnal tones of moss green, burgundy, and cinnamon? That transient period between summer’s twilight and the fall of the first leaves keeps us stuck in style quagmire. One quick fix has you covered—pre-fall’s lacy love affair. Lace never goes out of fashion. Ever. The golden rule is to pair lace's inherent romance with a masculine or minimalist twist.
As summer turns to fall, sartorial chaos descends in the form of many, many questions. Tights or no tights? Pants or skirt? Open or closed toe shoes? Is white too ethereal? Are we ready for autumnal tones of moss green, burgundy, and cinnamon? That transient period between summer’s twilight and the fall of the first leaves keeps us stuck in style quagmire. One quick fix has you covered—pre-fall’s lacy love affair. Lace never goes out of fashion. Ever. The golden rule is to pair lace's inherent romance with a masculine or minimalist twist.
STYLE NOTES: Invest in ivory or dark lace separates and team them with clean neutrals, monochromes, navy, scarlet, saffron, or denim. Layer tops with a sleeveless black or ivory cotton turtleneck for when the evening chill sets in. Boldly add a solid strapless bra or bustier under a high-neck top or dress for nights out. Avoid frothy romantic or pirate styles—the modernity comes from simplicity in shape. Leather’s toughness strikes the perfect harmony with lace’s delicate femininity. Mannish tailoring—a long gilet, floor length coat, or loose pants—easily offsets the whimsy. To add an athletic touch, pair a loose satin track pant with a structured simple lace top, or a sweatshirt with a lace skirt (swingy or pencil). To accessorize the lace dress, keep the necklaces no longer than the collarbone and avoid bracelets unless the sleeves run short—there is enough texture already. A lace dress of any length is perfect with a tough ankle boot. The heels can be low or high, but should always be chunky. Lace shoes are a timeless investment—a high pump brings the perfect feminine punctuation to simpler garments or takes office garb straight into cocktail hour in one fell swoop. Just contrast the color palette...
BEAUTY NOTES: Lace tops and dresses need a graphic touch around the face and no added texture. Go for a dark or nude matte lip, a strong brow, and straightened or pulled back hair.