Lace tops you can wear to the meeting
Lace belongs in daylight, under a blazer, in the room where the decisions get made.
made to measureSomebody decided lace belongs in a drawer. We disagree, loudly.
Lace is just fabric. Gorgeous, complicated, slightly dangerous fabric, and it looks its best in daylight, under a blazer, in a room full of people about to hear your idea. The trick isn’t hiding it. The trick is pairing it with something that means business: sharp trousers, a boxy jacket, a pencil skirt, a good bag.
So here are seven lace tops built to be worn out. Camis with lace trim that sit under a suit. A corset top that stretches like a tank. A cotton lace button-down with an actual collar. A long-sleeve Chantilly lace bodysuit. They run from $48 to $195, and every one of them works on a Tuesday.
Nothing here needs permission. Wear it to the meeting. Wear it to lunch after the meeting. If anyone raises an eyebrow, raise yours back.
The picks
Prices at time of writingLoved You First Lace Cami
Scalloped lace, a plunging V-neckline and an open back with a hook closure, lined in mesh. It comes in more than a dozen colours, black and a red called Luxe Red included. Tuck it into wide-leg trousers and let the blazer do the negotiating.
Lace Trim Sweetheart Neck Corset Top
A corset shape with the stretch of a tank, finished with a sweetheart neckline, lace trim and tiny covered buttons. It’s white and it’s machine washable. Wear it under a cropped cardigan until five, then lose the cardigan.
Lace trim satiny cami
Flowy satin, tone-on-tone lace trim, side slits and a loose fit, designed in Canada with half its polyester recycled from plastic bottles. Comes in black, off-white and khaki. Wear it under a boxy blazer with just the lace showing.
Yes, it's lace. Yes, it's a Tuesday.
Sam Lace Button Down Top
A collared, button-front shirt made entirely of semi-sheer cotton lace, cut relaxed but tailored. It reads like a work shirt until someone looks twice. Layer a cami underneath and tuck it into black trousers.
Ellie Long Sleeve Lace Bodysuit
Corded Chantilly lace with a bateau neckline and split cuffs, lined in powermesh, and a Nordstrom exclusive. A bodysuit stays tucked no matter how many times you raise your hand. Pair it with a high-waisted pencil skirt and do not tone it down.
Gilded Lace Bustier
Victorian garden-inspired floral lace, boning at the centre front and billowy chiffon bows along the back. It’s the piece on this list that wants a jacket over it, and that’s the fun. Oversized blazer, shoulders out, let them wonder.
Racer Charmeuse Camisole
Silk sandwash charmeuse, a racerback, and French lace trim along the V-neck. Unlined, and made for layering or wearing on its own. Under a suit at 10 a.m., on its own at 10 p.m.
How to wear lace to work without asking anyone’s opinion:
- Anchor it. Lace plus tailoring is the whole formula. Wide-leg trousers, a straight blazer, a midi pencil skirt.
- Plan the layer underneath. Under semi-sheer pieces, wear a smooth cami or bra in black or close to your skin tone, on purpose.
- Keep one thing sharp. A pointed flat, a structured bag, a slick bun. The lace gets to be the soft part.
- Let it peek. A lace-trim cami under a buttoned blazer shows an inch of edge. An inch is plenty.
Lace was never the risk. Staying quiet was.
Photos via Unsplash
