Lace Through the Seasons: SS25 Slip Dresses to Resort ’26 Lace Revival
- pilarmacchione
- Jun 13
- 5 min read
Updated: Jun 14
This year, lace reemerges not as a fleeting embellishment but as the very thread weaving heritage and modernity together. Once confined to Renaissance collars and Victorian handkerchief trims, lace has reinvented itself through every major fashion moment—most recently in the bias-cut slip dresses of SS25 that brought 1990s minimal sensuality back to the runways. Now, as we approach Resort ’26, designers are layering lace over structured tailoring and integrating laser-cut guipure into utility silhouettes, proving that this most romantic of textiles can carry a fiercely contemporary edge.
“My goal is to create pieces that honor traditional lace-making techniques while embracing the possibilities of recycled and digital fabrication.”
– Gabriela Hearst
Why Lace, Why Now?
In an era hungry for authenticity, lace satisfies our craving for craft. Gabriela Hearst’s SS25 collection showcased sheer cashmere-lace tanks under powerful blazers, while her upcoming Pre-Fall ’25 pieces continue to balance romance with rigor. Recycled silk-wool blends and zero-waste digital patterning underline sustainability as much as style. And it isn’t just runways that are singing lace’s praises: resale searches for “lace” are up over 40 percent this year, a testament to the fabric’s enduring allure.
Handmade Heritage
The driving force behind lace’s luxury resurgence isn’t H&M collaborations or runway buzz alone—it’s the ateliers keeping centuries-old handwork alive. As The Business of Fashion reports, Magda Butrym’s Polish label adorns even pop-up door handles with crochet, paying homage to a culture “where all Polish grandmothers could crochet.” Creative producer Ofri Weintraub calls these meticulous techniques “soft resistance,” a deliberate stand against fast-fashion’s noise. Brands like Chylak employ retired female artisans who devote sixty hours to a single collar, underscoring lace’s unequivocal female authorship in a design world still dominated by men. This Slavic-inspired slow-made craft is the very heartbeat of luxury lace today.
4 Lace Moments to Invest In
Dinah Slip Midi Dress in Black Metallic Silk Twill: Hearst’s modern take on the classic slip dress, crafted in a lustrous black metallic silk twill with delicate guipure-lace edging. The bias-cut silhouette skims the body, while adjustable straps ensure a flawless fit.
Styling note: Keep the focus on that lace peek—pair it with a slim quilted YSL camera bag, select a rosy glow from Chanel Rouge Coco Baume, and finish with lace-edged ballerina flats for a cohesion of texture.
The Dinah Slip Midi in lustrous black metallic silk twill, styled with a slim YSL camera bag, rosy Chanel lip oil, and lace-edged flats for a modern boudoir-meets-street moment.
Shop The Look: Dinah Slip Midi with Saint Laurent & Chanel
Pollyx Lace Bralette in Raspberry Silk Georgette & Brenn Wide-Leg Jean in Medium-Blue Recycled Cotton-Linen: This silk-georgette bralette is edged in Chantilly-inspired lace and drenched in a vivid raspberry hue, paired with high-rise, wide-leg Brenn jeans crafted from a slubby recycled-cotton-linen blend that skims the floor.
Styling note: Tuck the bralette into the jeans, carry a soft denim-suede demi clutch, slip on braided white leather flats, top with oversized Tom Ford butterfly sunglasses, and finish with a swipe of YSL Rouge Pur Couture Satin Lipstick for a refined street-to-summer ensemble.
A modern nod to lingerie dressing: raspberry-lace silk georgette meets relaxed wide-leg denim—styled with a suede denim clutch, braided flats, statement sunnies, and a swipe of YSL lipstick.
Shop the Look: Raspberry Lace Meets Denim Blues
Heath Shirt in Black Cashmere Lace & Florence Maxi Skirt in Black Cashmere Lace: A head-to-toe lace moment cut from sumptuous cashmere yarn—the shirt’s pointed collar and cuffed sleeves balance the skirt’s flared, paneled hem for an elegantly sculptural silhouette.
Styling note: Tuck the shirt into the skirt to accentuate the waistline, then layer on the Obsidian stone cuff for a bold contrast. Carry the Leonora flap bag in smooth black leather and slide into the Circe leather sandals to keep the look modern. Finish with a swipe of Yves Saint Laurent’s Loveshine Lip Oil for a built-in glow.
Dark romance: opulent cashmere lace meets sculptural accents in obsidian and onyx, paired with a structured leather flap bag and slide sandals for an effortlessly edgy luxe ensemble. Shop the Look: Black Cashmere Lace & Sculptural Accents
-Heath Shirt in Black Cashmere Lace
-Florence Maxi Skirt in Black Cashmere Lace
-Large Leonora Flap Bag in Black Leather
Kurt Knit Pleated Maxi Dress in Ivory Merino Wool: A sculpted boat-neck silhouette meets a dramatic knife-pleated skirt—each fold revealing subtle lace-trim insets for an unexpected peek of texture.
Styling note: Emphasize the dress’s streamlined shape by leaving its delicate belt in place, then tuck a soft olive Intrecciato clutch under your arm for a tonal contrast. Sweep on Yves Saint Laurent’s Make Me Blush Bold Powder in a rosy hue, slide into ivory leather ballerina flats, and let the interplay of knit, lace, and leather carry you effortlessly from day to evening.
Effortless elegance: an ivory merino knit dress meets rich olive accents and soft leather flats, with a touch of rosy glow for a refined pre-fall statement.
Shop the Look: Ivory Knit & Olive Accents
From Filigree Lace Collars to Slip-Dress Cool
Lace’s story begins in Renaissance Europe, where skilled artisans transformed thread into opulent trims for collars, cuffs and bridal veils. The Victorian era mechanized guipure and handkerchief lace, democratizing minute floral and geometric patterns once reserved for royalty. The 1990s revived bias-cut silk slips edged in lace as a symbol of downtown cool—lingerie for the street. Today, lace returns under a sustainability lens, with recycled fibers, zero-waste digital patterning and laser-cut motifs honoring craft responsibly.
Closing Thoughts
As we move from SS25’s filigree collars through Resort ’26’s heirloom-meets-utility revival, lace proves its timeless versatility—and its capacity for reinvention. Whether it’s a cashmere-lace tank or a slip-dress silhouette, investing in lace today means embracing craftsmanship, sustainability and the rich narrative each stitch carries. Ready to weave a little history into your wardrobe?
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