STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Embrace the Lace

Lace is one of my favorite summer trends. It can be feminine for a brunch or edgy for a music festival. And no one can ever forget the head-to-toe red lace ensemble Lady Gaga rocked at the Video Music Awards in 2010 no matter how hard we all try. Pucci, Lanvin, and Jason Wu all sent lacy and sheer concoctions down the runway this spring and the trend continues to dominate this summer.

This Fashionista’s simple and effortless look is a perfect example of the versatility of the lace trend. The lace juxtaposed against the sweet sheer, swiss dot pattern creates a flirty and feminine top. To balance the sweetness of the look, this fashionista layered the top over a black maxi dress – the perfect way to tone down the girliness of the top and embellish a wardrobe staple. I love how this Fashionista used a sheer top to provide a little more coverage on a strappy maxi, while still showing off the dress to its full effect.

Lacy pieces are the perfect, fashionable way to beat the summer heat. When paired with a dress like this fashionista’s, a lace top can provide just the right amount of cover while still staying cool on a scorching day. You can follow this Fashionista’s example and pair a flirty, lacy top over a neutral maxi. Or go for the bold with a more vibrant option like this fuchsia maxi from Madewell.

By keeping the colors neutral and the silhouette simple, this Fashionista created the perfect go-to look for a day of going to class and running errands. To transition this trend into the night, try a colored lace top like this coral one from ASOS and pair it with a simple skirt or white skinny jeans to sharply contrast with the bright color. Follow this fashionista’s example and keep your other pieces minimal to put all of the attention on the lacy statement piece.

There are also options to incorporate small doses of this trend into your wardrobe. Designers have thought of everything when it comes to lace, from Sally Hansen’s Lace Nail Strips to Jeffrey Campbell’s lace wedges.

Lace is no longer confined to only white and dainty. This summer, lace is going wild and can be found in every color and cut. And because lace patterns can be so different and versatile, there are no limits as to how you can style it!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Embrace The Lace

To quote the trailer from the very funny and very well cast blockbuster hit Valentine’s Day, “It comes every year, whether you like it or not. It’s the day when your love life is put on display. Where there’s always a chance for romance or disaster. It can be confusing, it can be complicated, but at the end of the day, it’s all about love.” Ashton Kutcher said it best, my friends, “like it or not, February 14th is tomorrow.”

I personally happen to be a moderately sized fan of Valentine’s Day; it gives me permission to bake my boyfriend mass quantities of sugary treats and shower my friends with affection and homemade crafts. Most importantly, it allows Fashionistas everywhere to embrace their inner fifth grader self and dress like Valentine’s Day princesses. Are tiaras and tulle skirts not your thing? Take the title from this week's STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK to heart, and remember to “Embrace the Lace!”

Lace is undeniably hot right now in the world of fashion. The sexy and sweet effect it produces with its subtle cut-outs is unrivaled by any other fabric. This Fashionista makes lace look so right as she pairs her peek-a-boo frock with suede ankle booties. The seventies feel of her outfit is played up via a flared sleeve and chunky costume jewelry. Her free spirit play on the material proves that lace can work for Fashionistas of every aesthetic.

When you wake up tomorrow and head towards your closet, begin to imagine that perfect outfit and keep lace in mind. The classic nature of the fabric looks rich yet playful at the same time. I recommend building your look around one entirely lace piece and layering on accessories until the outfit feels completely your own. Not sure where to start? Try these pretty picks from Madewell, J.Crew and Nordstrom!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Embrace the Lace

Instead of focusing on all the wonderful colors of spring, I thought I would pay attention to the other beautiful colors I have been seeing on these busy Chicago streets. As you can see, this Fashionista is wearing a gorgeous white top with a hanging lace neckline–paired with some skinny jeans, and some pink espadrilles, which are totally in this season. With it being the last week of school for all of us Columbia students, it's been refreshing, very much like those tulips, to see some great styles passing me by!

White and lace has been quite the buzz lately all because of the Royal Wedding Dress that Catherine Middleton wore, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Every detail of the lace on her wedding dress was gorgeous, so with all the wedding fever I have been having, I instantly had to snap a picture of this great ensemble. My favorite thing about this top is how form fitting the shirt actually is. So, instead of it being a tight tee, it turns into a very angelic top with the poncho like neckline, making it sophisticated, but not too fancy for class.

My advice to you Fashionistas out there is to bring on simple, yet sophisticated white and cream clothing. Spring is so innocent, so with your white sundresses, tops, skirts, etc, you will feel beautiful always, especially with all the blooming flowers around you. Don't really own anything white besides your white V-necks? No need to worry, all our favorite retailers are on it! Stores that would carry pieces just like the top this Fashionista is wearing, are places I have mentioned before, like Anthropologie, American Apparel, Forever21, and many more. Besides trying to bring out your pretty whites, espadrilles are a must! Even if you are not really much of a heels person, you are in luck because these great shoes have thick heels, so they are easy to walk in and easy to woo with.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

STYLE ADVICE OF THE WEEK: Embrace the Lace

Lace is beautiful, flirty, romantic, feminine and chic. Lace is classic. We have seen this look for months now in almost every store, and the trend will continue throughout spring. Lace dresses, jackets, pantyhose and even heels are popular, but this week I am focusing on the fashionable lace tank. There are endless choices when shopping for this item. Large prints or tiny patterns each present a different look. You have the complete sheer lace tank, lace on the backside, lace overlay or a lace pocket. It can be somewhat overwhelming, but this trend works for day and night.

This Fashionista triumphs the lace look. First, she mixes vibrant spring colors. Her tank is a honeysuckle pink, which has a reddish tint and her front draped open cardigan is deep teal. The loose-fitted tank she wears features horizontal white lace stripes. With black leggings to accent the colors and light taupe booties, this Fashionista embodies everything lace stands for. You can pair lace with jeans, skirts or pants for a causal or dressy ensemble.

Celebrities like Rhianna, Hayden Panettiere, and Leighton Meester have all embraced this trend at award shows, premiers and fundraisers. Like I said earlier, lace tanks can be found at almost every store. Urban Outfitters has an array of tops for very reasonable prices. My favorite is this V-neck racerback tank with lace paneling at the front. So, channel your inner beauty with the beauty of lace.

Hint: If you are looking for other lace options rather than tanks, try a lace tunic, boyfriend tee, blouse or long sleeved top. While blacks and whites are common colors, bringing bright colors into your wardrobe like this Fashionista will help you embrace the lace.