Lovely In Lace

Lace never goes out of fashion. But there are a few risks involved with wearing lacy clothing – you can easily start looking like a Goth, trashy or tacky, or worse, morph into a bad table decoration.

Follow these tips and set yourself apart from the masses …

THE DO’S
• Be romantic, but not too feminine. Be sensual, but not too suggestive.
• Take lace that would have once only made up a part of a garment and make it an item of its own. This includes lace skirts and lace dresses. Dare to wear them without a slip underneath.
• Strike a balance in the amount of lace you wear. You don’t want to wear too much but you don’t want to wear too little either. For example, a great pair of lace tights can add a sexy feel to almost any outfit, but don't overdo it by wearing other lace-trimmed pieces at the same time.
• Choose fine lace. Chunky patterns are outdated and unflattering and tend to make you look like your granny’s tablecloth.
• Choose your colours carefully. When it comes to spring and summer, opt for lighter shades with very dainty, feminine patterns. White and ice-cream-type tones are best. When it comes to autumn and winter, stick with darker colours that look less pasty, such as chocolate brown, charcoal, black and navy.
• Opt for lace panels. It can be a safe alternative to full, lace garments.

THE DON’TS
• Never buy poor-quality lace. It hardly ever fits properly and it won’t look or feel right.
• Watch out for itchy and stiff lace.
• When choosing your colours, be cautious of using too much black. You don’t want to look like you’re in mourning.
• Avoid wearing too much jewellery with lace. A simple pair of earrings or even just a bangle will do.
• Never wear white stockings with lace, unless you are going to a theme party and you're going as Alice in Wonderland.
• Avoid a white lace trim around the hem of a skirt. Always. It really only suits little girls. Avoid jagged and uneven cut hems too.

Author: Andrea Albertyn