Lace is Back!

Even though it was misrepresented in the 80's and unkempt in the 90's we can honestly say that lace has made an illustrious comeback in the past few years. Only recently has it made a real imprint on the hearts and minds of the designers- enough so that high end fashion and formalwear are seeing the effects. Lace has been transformed. Not only has lace returned to the runways, displaying for the new year, but it has been seen on many celebs in various form. The comeback arrived with the lace shirt; celebs such as Kim Kardashian unveiled the tight lace top and the re-return was in full swing. The lace obsession is predicted to roll over into the 2011 prom season and this allows us to enjoy the wealth of dress-availability.

Lace comes in many, many shapes, styles, cuts, layers, etc. When choosing a dress which contains lace you will want to follow a few rules. The key is to be aware of your body and your body-type; this will allow you to be picky in regards to the shape and cut of the dress that you select. Lace is a clingy fabric but it is great when used in layers- either over or under- most dress types can be quite accommodating with this thin fabric.

Top Designers Incorporating Lace for 2011

Designers such as Bermain, Versace and Carolina Herrara have added lace to accentuate their recent 2011 dress collections. These creations have also combined parallel trends with the lace craze; mixing the mermaid dress trend with lace by replacing the trains with thickly layered lace which add volume. A big trend is being seen in the slip-cover look- using lace as an overall cover for the underlying dress fabric. This effect is used by Versace, Valentino (famously displayed by Kristen Stewart), Bermain and several others- the layer of lace adds depth to any dress design. Also, an overlay of the bodice (with lace) can equal magic. Monique Lhuillier can prove this. Her square-shouldered, black lace, covered mini is an incomparable example of how a lace covered bodice accentuates the entire ensemble. This was only one example- a lace covered dress does not have to be 'body-glove' tight mini. A properly made covered dress can look amazing with lift and movement. Just remember to dress according to your style and body type and a lace-accentuated dress will steal the show at this year's prom.