Strait-Laced

I have to be frank with you. I just don't know about lace. It seems great, and fun and lovely, but I think it might talk about me behind my back, I think it might try and make me look bad.

Because try as I might to make friends with it I fear it cheapens me.

Right now you can barely move for another picture of Kristen Stewart at a premier in a lace dress. And she (for the most part) looks good in them.

Despite that I was listening to my hard won anti-lace stance until I saw this divine By Malene Birger dress in a sweet boutique in Bath. I love it. Particularly as the lace back doesn't show flesh through it, which I think is part of my problem with lace. You know in that it looks like you are covered in spider's webs.

In fact that might be the source of my fear of lace. I had a lace trimmed dressing gown when I was younger and one day when I thought the lace cuff was scratching me I looked down to discover a spider hanging out. I wasn't best pleased, I can tell you.

So is it time to get over my phobia? I'm not afraid of spiders anymore so maybe I could give lace a chance too.

I am loving all of these other By Malene Birger lace numbers.

 Or is it best left for the likes of Kristen? Hmmm, tricky.

(Images via By Malene Birger)

Lace and Favour

The lace thing has been on my mind. Yeah, yeah, I know, I need to get out more, right? Well, be that as it may, I feel this is an important enough topic to spend at least a couple of minutes of the day on.

So, anyhoo, I'm thinking that a party dress might just be the right context for a bit of lace. Particularly like the Banana Republic one above. Yowza! Isn't that sexy?! I can't quite work out how it works in that picture. I assume there must be some kind of lining, that it can't all be out there... Hmmm, it confuses me slightly, and possibly scares me too. But the shape? The shape I love. There is definitely something sexy about a high neckline at a party, particuarly when other dresses are all tits city. (But then this one might be too, we are yet to ascertain.)



I also really like the look of this one, except for the neckline, it is the one slim part of me, do I want to hide it like this, then reveal less appealing parts? It also makes me think about Gwyneth Paltrow, and I'm in two mind about that.



But Julianne Moore? Yes please! And she is rocking the trend. She definitely makes me want to give it a go. Oh, so classy.



I'm thinking it works better in black, or a dark colour. I think the white might be a bit too cutesy or 60s looking. Waddayasay?


(Via Handbag)

This Oasis one is probably one of the easier ones to carry off, but possibly a little bland. Help you blend into the background, and honestly, this is a party, who on earth wants to do that? Alternatively it could be a bit Italian widow, not very festive, sure, but definitely a better look.


(Via Whistles)

The long sleeves on this Whistles number give it a little something unique, but does it look like a little girl's dress? Coz I'm not down with that.

Any favourites?

Twitching the Nets

(Via River Island)

I have to admit, I am a little bit wary of lace. It can look really cheap, and a bit trashy and bedroomy, or (worse case scenario) like you have run through blackened cobwebs - maybe while goths go for it.

But a little touch, on a pretty top?

The other quandary I have with this top is that it is very sheer, and I'm not about to just wear it over my bra, but the back is split and a flash of flesh would be appealing. Also, I think getting just the right underlayer is vital otherwise it just ruins the whole thing. Maybe a flesh coloured item, so you aren't distracted from the top itself. Any thoughts?