8 Australian creatives show us how they style lace
IMAGE VIA @lovemadeline_/INSTAGRAM
WORDS BY RUBY STALEY
Peekaboo.
Once a symbol of social status and wealth, lace and lace-covered clothing has since become synonymous with sex and sensuality. Worn as far back as the 15th century around billowing collars, puffed sleeves and tiered gowns, the delicately formed and highly decorated fabric was donned mostly by those who had the money to afford such intricate stylings.
Thanks to ’80s pop stars like Madonna, subversive punk culture and the rise of lingerie as outerwear, the past 50 or so years have seen a sexy revival for lace as a fabrication. Now, lace has made its way into a variety of other styles, from muted Y2K looks to cottagecore outfits, threaded into our day-to-day style in a myriad of ways. From capri leggings and gloves to fringing and ribbons, I’ve been seeing iterations of lace just about everywhere lately.
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I’m no stranger to this fabric – I love my lacey singlets as layering pieces, particularly over structured T-shirts and sweaters, and I’ve been known to style a lacey dress or two when the occasion calls for it – but this current revival is more pervasive than ever before. I’ve noticed stylists, models, designers and other cool people styling it in ways I hadn’t even considered.
Recently, I bought a pair of lace leggings that feel slightly out of my comfort zone, but nonetheless, I want to try and make them work. To help me in my quest to figure out how to best style them, I called upon some of my favourite local creatives to show me how they like to wear their favourite lace pieces.
Keely B, she/her, content creator
This look is definitely more warm-day appropriate, but it’s such a fave. I’ve been loving layering black sheer lace dresses and skirts over baggy jeans with a kitten heel lately. It feels so effortlessly cool and an easy way to spice up a usually simple outfit. For those colder days, I just add whatever coat I’m vibing with and just love how the lace pokes through.
Tory Price, she/they, stylist
I don’t think I have ever been a lace fan until a very good friend of mine gave me this HOT Dyspnea skirt! Side note: I also don’t like red but once I tried it, I just loved that it was sexy and see-through and really so beautiful to look at… I am now obsessed! I love that it’s a little unexpected for my style to go with lace. That’s half the fun for me to keep everyone guessing! Lace lets you see more skin and I am very into that.
Cat Forsyth, she/her, stylist and writer
Photography by Liz Sunshine
This lace look was one of my favourite outfits that I wore to PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival. I was so lucky to be gifted a top from one of my favourite brands, It’s My Room Mate’s, which featured black lace straps and side panels. To tie that lace in, I added these awesome leggings that I found in Italy – black lace with stirrups!
I completed the look with my Not Sew New skirt and tied the whole thing together by adding lace ribbons to the strap of my bag. I loved the combination of these beautiful new Melbourne-made pieces with vintage ribbon that I thrifted. Of course, I topped off the look with Sandy Liang-inspired ribbons on my cheeks and ended up being snapped by the one and only Liz Sunshine!
Emma Cutri, she/her, Founder of Sister
I have hardly taken this skirt off since we made up our samples last year! I’ve styled my Sister Starr Lace Skirt with high-waisted black undies and a chocolate strapless top. I love wearing it with cowboy boots or ballet flats and a big denim jacket.
Ciena Giovannina, they/them, model and office administrator
Lace is so versatile to me – it can be very gothic, very bridal, modest or sexy. Here, I’m wearing a lace long-sleeve that’s been layered with a mesh and a lace nightie and a lace corset to give the look a little more structure. Usually, I’d wear tights under this but it was cold this night, so I opted for black yoga pants and some patent boots. I love layering lace on top of lace – you get a different pattern in the end and it’s overall just a bit of playful fun.
Madeline Assi, she/her, fashion designer and stylist
I think the allure of lace is its soft, sheer and delicate properties. You can create nuances of femininity, seduction and playfulness by peppering lace throughout a look, and visually it adds texture, dimension and balance. There’s something really sexy about the juxtaposition of styling lace with harder, edgier materials like leather and hardware.
My look plays with these notions by styling the lace gloves with a chunky silver bracelet, the vintage lace corset with sleek black glasses and the skirt with lace trims with leather boots. The soft elements of the lace styled with the edgier pieces create that balance I like to incorporate into all my looks.
Niamh Kinsella, she/her, DJ
Lace is a staple in my wardrobe. It is such a versatile fabric that offers a perfect mix of sensuality and statement. I find styling lace to be super exciting and experimental – layering and playing around with various textural elements. Having committed to only buying secondhand clothing for the past four years now, I’ve definitely accumulated a selection of beautiful vintage and pre-loved lace garments, all of which have distinct patterns and use different materials, some silky and others featuring more detailed needlework.
This outfit definitely features an array of textures, perhaps verging on chaotic but complementary nonetheless. I incorporated a vintage cream slip dress as a base, layering an asymmetric tartan quilt and black lacey corset over the top. Layers on layers on layers is the way of the winter season. The laced hem added a fun accent and contrast to the dark wash tartan flares. Ooh and check out the cute rose necktie my friend crocheted!
Imogen Kent, she/her, fashion student and Founder of Allorae
I’ve styled this lace tank from Allorae with a pair of classic wide-leg jeans, some black pointed-toe boots and of course my gorgeous Sage Avenue bag. I’ve then taken a long scrap piece of lace to use as a belt and tied it in a big bow to piece it all together! My favourite thing about this fit is that it’s super comfortable, and could be dressed up with a jacket for a winter night out, or even dressed down by simply taking away the belt and putting back on accessories. I love how lace can be worn in a way that’s classy and chic, and has the versatility to be dressed up or down depending on what it’s styled/paired with. It can be layered, sheer, made into accessories, romantic, refined – the list goes on!
For more on the resurgence of lace, head here.
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