Five ways to wear lace without looking costumed

Lace tips into costume the moment it competes. The Phantom Lace Skirt is designed to be the loudest thing in an outfit, which means everything else should be doing very little.

One: pair it with a plain heavy knit and flat leather. The weight contrast does all the work. Two: wear it under a long sculpted coat so only the hem shows as you move. Three: tonal layering — an ink slip beneath ink lace reads as texture rather than transparency.

Four: break the formality with something honestly casual. A fine cotton tank, no jewellery, hair unstyled. Five: for evening, add one metallic point — a champagne cuff or a shoe — and stop there.

The rule underneath all five: lace is a texture, not an occasion. Treat it like a cable knit that happens to be see-through and you will wear it far more often.