Timeless Lace

Lace is one of those materials that fashion has never truly stopped telling. Perhaps because, more than many other fabrics, it lives on a very fine line: that between innocence and temptation. For centuries it has been the language of purity — in bridal trousseau, the immaculate shirts of European aristocracy, or the collars that framed seventeenth-century portraits. Yet it only takes a change of context for it to become something else entirely: sensual, theatrical, even provocative. From Christian Dior to Alexander McQueen, fashion has continued to rewrite it, and season after season, it was turned into something ever different. On the most recent catwalks, lace continues to shift register. For the Italian maison Dolce & Gabbana, lace remains a symbol of sensuality. In recent collections it often returns in visible lingerie – bralettes, slips and bustiers – layered over more structured garments, and it transforms underwear into the star of the look. For Chloé, lace takes on a poetic and bohemian level. Light dresses, romantic blouses and cut-out details evoke the Seventies spirit. Blumarine interprets lace in its most sexy version. Sheer fabrics, figure-enveloping lines, and lingerie details transform lace into one of the most sensual elements of the contemporary wardrobe. Lace is one of the most recognisable codes of the brand Ermanno Scervino. Refined and artisanal, it is used on elegant dresses, romantic blouses and couture-inspired pieces that enhance Italian tailoring tradition. Then again Self-Portrait, where lace has always been the brand’s distinctive language. Midi-dresses, embroidered tops and coordinated sets. Finally, Miu Miu, which interprets lace with an ironic and unexpected approach. In the latest collections, lace can be seen in perforated aprons, mismatched dresses and tops that play with proportions and layering, transforming a classic material into something surprisingly contemporary.