EDITOR PICKS
WANT AN ALTERNATIVE TO SEQUINS? THIS ELEVATED TREND IS IT
By Sarah Waldron, 9 November 2026
I have a confession: I’m just not a party-season gal. Don’t get me wrong – I love a sparkly accessory, carefully deployed for maximum impact. But for the most part, I am not into sequins, flounces or super-bright colours – and that’s ok. We are the few, the proud, the pared-back. So, what are women like me to do when the calendar is groaning with social occasions to RSVP to? We turn to lace.
Lace doesn’t have the immediate flash that a sequin does. It’s more of a slow burn: the more you look at it, the more you fall in love with it. It’s sheer but still elegant, restrained and easy to wear but still high-impact. No wonder it’s one of the most trending fabrics right now. If you’re more aesthetically inclined towards an elevated lacy look this festive season, these three variations should give you plenty of outfit inspo.
#1 HEAD-TO-TOE LACE
You may notice the minimal colour palette on this page. For these three looks, I've leaned into black and burgundy with just a hint of white. Why? Well, these shades lean into lace’s natural goth-meets-glam tendencies, they look expensive, and while the word ‘chic’ may be terminally overused, it’s important to call something what it is. For example, this Topshop co-ord – it's chic. It's for the woman who wants to cultivate an air of mystery. The women who mainlined all of American Love Story in a day and came away with a new appreciation for Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s elegant separates. A slick-back bun and natural makeup is all she needs to finish it off.
GET THE LOOK:
Topshop flocked lace high neck top in black, £32
Topshop flocked lace wide leg trouser co-ord in black, £42
Public Desire Allegedly wide fit pointed toe court shoes in burgundy, £30
ASOS DESIGN earrings in natural shape in silver tone, £12
#2: LACE AND LEATHER
Leather is a natural pairing for lace. It’s all in the contrasts – it’s sheer against solid, elegant against tough. A funnel-neck leather jacket is also an excellent foil for sheer, unashamedly sexy lace looks like NA-KD’s burgundy top and pencil skirt. You don’t have to go completely see-through if you don’t want to, though. Just underpin it with a tonal camisole on top, and micro shorts or a second-skin mini skirt on the bottom. Lace and leather accessories will up the drama factor too.
GET THE LOOK:
NA-KD Jersey pencil lace midi skirt in burgundy, £34.95
NA-KD Short sleeve lace top in dark red, £34.95
Topshop faux leather funnel neck drawstring bomber in black, £70
Dune London Devinity slingbacks in black, £109
New Look croc buckle detail shoulder bag in burgundy, £22
#3: LINGERIE-INSPIRED LACE
Pictures: ASOS
Lace and lingerie-inspired styles also go hand-in-hand. This slip dress is ideal if you want all of the advantages of the fabric without having to mitigate the sheerness – it’s edged with delicate floral lace across the bust and hem. Again, it’s fun to play with contrasts in your styling but, instead of a toughened-up leather jacket, we’re going for ARRANGE’s meticulously-cut, cinched blazer. Monochrome mules and a simple gold chain are all you need, accessory-wise.
GET THE LOOK:
ASOS DESIGN Petite satin bias lace applique mini dress in mono, £42
ASOS DESIGN Hotline hair on real leather pointed heeled mules in zebra, £40
ARRANGE premium tailored blazer with cinched waist in black, £150
Lost Souls molton pendant necklace in 18k gold plated stainless steel, £12
