Start your sewing adventure with us.    Join Seamwork

Articles on this site were all published prior to 2017 and this site is no longer updated. Please visit our current Articles, Patterns, and Classes for the most up-to-date content and products.

Detail Inspiration: A Touch of Lace

I love the look of all-over lace fabric, but find it can be tricky to work into a more casual wardrobe. While a dress made entirely of lace fabric is sweet and could be made a bit more suitable for everyday wear with the right accessories, it can also look too dressy for some occasions. One trick to add a bit more all-over lace into your wardrobe is to mix it with other, solid fabrics. Below are a few of my favorites from both vintage and contemporary garments that I think exemplify the use of all-over lace in a tasteful way.

I chose this 1950s blouse as an example of a lace-accented garment because of it’s striking resemblance to the Sencha pattern. The front portion is only done in lace, while the hip yoke (hidden by being tucked into a skirt) and back are of an opaque material. This is a great idea for small remnants of lace or short lengths of more expensive laces.

Colored lace as an accent can sometimes be the trickiest to use effectively and in an elegant way. This Erdem pants and blouse ensemble from S/S 2012 is a good example of lace used in a way that could be more casual (especially the blouse). The lace yoke is a very modern treatment with it’s sheer quality. It would be easy to incorporate this lace yoke detail on both blouses and dresses.

Paired with a solid skirt (in this case—but it could easily be flipped to a lace skirt with a solid bodice instead) is a fantastic way to dress-down all-over lace. More casual fabrics, like this sheer cotton (lightweight linen would also be a great summer option), are a nice contrast to the see-through lace top. Note the half-lined bodice lining for modesty—great idea! I also love the piping details that pull the skirt fabric to the bodice neckline and sleeves.

Images: 1950s Ecru Lace Blouse, S/S 2012 Erdem ensemble, 1950s Blue Lace Dress.

Casey Cartwright

Comments

LizJane

June 20, 2012 #

Love the last option – would work for Macaroon beautifully!

Nettie

June 20, 2012 #

Ha, I just celebrated my 13th anniversary, and found out the traditional gift is Lace. Too bad the hubby didn’t find me a dress like that last one.

Angelina

June 20, 2012 #

I never thought about adding a collar to the sencha blouse, but now it’s ALL I can think about! Just beautiful! Now to find somewhere online that sells nice lace…

Agneta

June 21, 2012 #

Me too am planning for a lace-Macaroon dress. It would be so pretty! I just have to decide color and then which lace. But I find it difficult about the lace, sometimes I find lace-fabric but then it looks to much like a lace-curtain and I don’t want that…
Love the Sencha-look-alike! :)

Kim

June 21, 2012 #

I want to make a macaron with lace detail too! Probably an evening style little black dress! I am still a bit unsure of sewing with lace though! Need to built up the courage, but I love lace detailing!

Kat

June 21, 2012 #

Very pretty options, but the pants are a bit much for me :P