I have long believed that lace is the most underestimated protagonist in a woman’s wardrobe. I remember, during my college days, being stopped on the street by a stranger asking after my lace blouse. It wasn’t an archival piece or a designer sample, it was a simple high-street find paired with straight-leg denim, but it possessed that inexplicable look that only lace can command. It was my first lesson in the fabric’s innate alchemy — its ability to make the mundane feel significant.
Lace has always been omnipresent, and it’s far from confined to the lingerie drawer. Few fabrics have travelled so fluidly across fashion’s evolving vocabulary: from the formality of the Victorian era to the bohemian drift of the ‘70s, the slip-dress minimalism of the ‘90s, early-Noughties rom-com wardrobes, and the indie-sleaze whimsy of the mid-2010s. Now, as we navigate the ‘boho erasure’ of 2026, the fabric has returned with a newfound, architectural conviction. While we’ve seen it reworked across eveningwear by the likes of Zoë Kravitz, Taylor Swift, Selena Gomez and Daisy Edgar–Jones, the most compelling expression right now isn’t the gown or the slip, but the humble lace blouse.
Much of this renewed focus can be traced to Chemena Kamali’s direction at Chloé, where lace has been reintroduced with a distinctly modern lightness. Since her arrival, the house has leaned fully into its romantic DNA, with the diaphanous blouse emerging as a definitive favourite. Dua Lipa, Kendall Jenner, Elle Fanning, Addison Rae, and Alexandra Saint Mleux have all been spotted in variations of the look, typically styled with minimal interference to allow the fabric’s intricacy to carry the outfit.
But Kamali isn’t the only designer fascinated by the textile. The spring/summer ‘26 and pre-fall ‘26 runways have showcased a kaleidoscopic range of interpretations. At Alberta Ferretti, Lorenzo Serafini leaned into airy romanticism, while Valentino’s Alessandro Michele framed lace within his signature, historically informed maximalism. Saint Laurent, under Anthony Vaccarello, delivered a sculpted, more nocturnal version, styled with tailoring that edged the fabric away from overt femininity.
Matthieu Blazy’s take for Chanel nodded to the house’s long-standing relationship with decorative textiles. At the same time, labels including Blumarine, Anna Sui, Dolce & Gabbana, Dilara Fındıkoğlu and Sandy Liang have all contributed a distinct proposition, spanning overt romanticism to deliberate dishevelment.
A lace blouse works best when the styling feels uncomplicated. Take a page from Karlie Kloss’s book and anchor a classic white lace top with bootcut black denim, allowing the texture of the blouse to speak for itself. For the festival circuit, a sheer lace style paired with denim shorts remains a reliable formula.
If a spring getaway or a date night is on the cards, opt for a flounced lace blouse paired with linen trousers or a satin column skirt, finished with a chunky leather belt to ground the ethereal fabric. Even a co-ord lace set can feel fresh and modern when kept strictly monochromatic with minimal accessories.
Geo Moriarty and Louise Wright, co-founders and creative directors of CIN CIN, agree: “A Seventies jet-set-inspired lace moment is always iconic, à la Jane Birkin. It’s all about texture and the sheer factor; we love contrasting lace with suede or silk to create a look with dimension that appears effortless and eclectic.”
They continue: “Whether it’s an indulgent night with friends or a romantic dinner, we love any excuse to embrace an ultra-femme aesthetic — think pinks, shimmering sequins, or kitsch bows. For us, personal style is about expressing different facets of your personality. Choosing a design you’re instinctively drawn to means you’ll wear it year after year. Throw out the rule book and invest in high-quality fabric that lights you up when you wear it. It’s that simple.”
