How to Add a Touch of Romance with Lace & Crochet

I had no idea that when I went to the Michigan International Women’s Show for the first time, I would end up in a wonderland of romantic fashion. Since I did, I’m going to share with you the magic of lace and crochet! They trend every Spring and Summer (which means they are classics reinterpreted every year.) Therefore, you can be sure they will be lasting basics in your wardrobe. Age doesn’t matter when you wear something this classy.

This is an update of my original post reorganized with more outfit ideas.

First, Let’s Enter the Doors of the Show:

The Women’s Show is quite established by now; I have a friend who has been going since it began.  In fact, she didn’t want to go this year because she said it doesn’t have the vendors she loved in the past.  She is a makeup enthusiast.  I’m more into fashion and I was thrilled at what I found when I went…namely, Ocean Threads and other Indian and bohemian boutiques from around the country.

There were about 200 exhibitors.  Many of them offered samples, demonstrations and information.  Besides fashion, gems and jewelry, there were points of interest in beauty, health, career, cooking, travel, and of course shopping.  My friend, Kathy, and I had lots of food samples and even samples of alcoholic drinks at the Expo.  There was a mystic and sales of  the new sensations:  keto and CBD.  There was on-the-spot teeth whitening and quotes being offered for home improvement.  Kathy is a nurse and was interested in the free health screenings where she was also given a free pen that dispenses hand sanitizer.  There was also a custom swimwear shop that I wrote about previously that you can read about HERE.

There were three demonstration stages:  Culinary; Fashion and Entertainment; and DIY.  Sunday was Mother-Daughter Day so there were lots of activities for kids, including sparkles and face painting.

Girls from two to 92 were there, it seemed.  So obviously age doesn’t matter.  There was something for everyone in any stage of life.

What kept drawing me back, though, was the Ocean Threads boutique.  It was that wonderland of lace and crochet that made me feel like I was in fashion heaven.

Next, How to Style Lace & Crochet

When I got home that evening, I pulled out all of my lace and crochet pieces and came up with hundreds of outfit ideas.  I’m not kidding you!  When I was at the boutique, I couldn’t think of hardly anything I had that compared to what they had.  But when I was at home looking through my clothes, I found similar pieces that I hadn’t been thinking of.  So you might want to take a look and see if you come up with any ideas of your own that might end up resembling this romantic look.  It doesn’t have to be an exact match.

In my outfit ideas, I combined crochet or lace with velvet, burnout velvet, ruffles, draped and sheer pieces.

So Kathy convinced me that I should write a blog post about crochet and lace and share my outfit ideas with you.  And voila!  Here it is.  😀

As you can see in the photo above, Ocean Threads puts together lacy, crocheted and draped tops with layered pearls and beads.  They also accessorized with a long tassel pendant, a long medallion, or layered gold necklaces as well as pearl and beaded bracelets.  The effect is lavish and luscious.

They also used a lot of top extenders and dress extenders (also called slips or slip dresses) layered under shorter tops.  Extenders usually have lace or chiffon hems that are meant to be seen.  Sometimes a dress extender can be worn on its own as a dress.  For more about extenders, see my post on Skirt Extenders/Dress Extenders HERE and my post on Top Extenders HERE.

If you just add one sheer or lacy piece, such as the vest above, to a casual outfit you’ve suddenly made it special.

One saleswoman at Ocean Threads wore jeans with her layers and the other saleswoman wore a lacy maxi skirt.

Caftan from Soft Surroundings made of crocheted lace

And Now, Here Are Some Lace & Crochet Outfit Ideas

Below are various ways you can wear lace and crochet in your outfits.  I hope that you will be inspired to find even more ways to do this!

With all of these, you can add jeans, skinnies (leggings, jeggings, straight-leg pants, etc.), a slim skirt, a lacy or crochet skirt. 

In all of these outfits add pearls, tassel pendants, long pendants, long strings of beads, etc. 

These are just suggestions to inspire you with ideas on how to use what you have.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Vests

1. A lacy vest +a tunic in a matching or contrasting color + skinny jeans.
2. A lacy vest + a crochet-front or chiffon-front t-shirt.
3. A lacy vest + a lace or sheer top over a camisole.
4. A lacy vest + an embroidered mesh top.
5. A lace or crochet top + a lace or crochet vest or cardigan (insets count).
   

   Nora from Jacket Society in Rosemary Lace Vest over a column of white for summer

6. An ivory draped and/or lace vest + a tunic with a chiffon or lace hem.
7. A draped and/or lace vest + a sheer blouse or shirt over a camisole or tank, lacy or not.
8. A draped and/or lace vest or cardigan + a slip dress.  You might want to add a top with lace or sheer sleeves to the vest.
9. A draped and/or lace vest + a lace or crochet or embroidered mesh top.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Cardigans

Crocheted cardigan and a pointelle camisole with lace edge

1. A cami, tank or tee with blue jeans and a crochet cardigan. Belt the jeans and add jewelry such as a statement necklace, hoop earrings and rings.
2. A lace cardigan + a silk tank top loosely tucked into bootcut jeans. Add peep-toe booties + a long gold delicate medallion + a silver cuff bracelet + colorful bead earrings. 
3. Top a maxi dress with a lace cardigan.
4. A crochet cardigan in a color that matches a floral or solid maxi skirt or dress.
5. For Evening:  A white slip dress + a lace cardigan in a shade of white + a pale-color camisole or dress extender. Layer pearls (small and big, short and long) with a sparkly pendant.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Kimonos and Dusters

1. A lacy kimono + cargo pants + a camisole, tank or tee. You might like to add a long gold necklace + Birkenstock sandals.
2. Wear a lacy, crochet or sheer kimono over a top extender with skinny jeans or leggings. You might like to add a long pendant.
3. A crochet top + jeans + a kimono. You might like to belt the jeans. Add ankle boots.
4. A crochet top + distressed jeans + a duster. Add flat ankle boots.
5. A lacy or crochet kimono or duster + a lacy or crochet dress.
   

   A duster cardigan with lace-pocket shorts

6. Cover up a tank or t-shirt & shorts with a crochet duster. Layer a couple of necklaces and some bead bracelets. Then add ethnic earrings & an extra ring.
7. A gray crochet duster + a gray or ivory t-shirt bloused (loosely tucked) inside ivory shorts. Belt in tan or brown. Add tan sandals + a tan or brown cross-body bag + ethnic earrings + a tan bangle or brown leather cord bracelet on one wrist + a silver & turquoise cuff on the other wrist. Layer a long string of turquoise beads with a short turquoise pendant. 
8. A burnout velvet, chiffon, or sheer kimono, or one with lace insets + a lace top, lace dress, slip dress or dress extender.
9. Match a lace duster to a lacey skirt or dress.
   

   Ivory Cotton Crochet Duster Cardigan from Just Style LA in a monochrome outfit

10. A lace duster or kimono + a matching-color camisole or tank top + jeans.
11. A lacy kimono + a top extender or dress extender.
12. A lacy or crochet kimono or duster + a lace or crochet top.
13. Wear a sheer kimono over a lace top.
14. A lace top + a kimono.

Ways to Wear Lacy Jackets

1. A lace jacket + a lacy top or dress.
2. Pair a lace jacket with a slip dress.
3. A lace jacket + a burnout velvet top or dress.
4. Layer a champagne lace jacket over an ivory top extender & blue jeans. Add a long pendant & sandals.
5. A lace jacket + a dress extender.
   

   Alluring Romance Jacket by Jaded Gypsy at Etsy

6. Wear a lace jacket over a ruffled or sheer or lace top & a maxi skirt. Layer gold and/or silver bangles. Add a pearl pendant & maybe a fedora or hat.
7. A lace jacket + a tulle skirt.
8. Pair a lace jacket with a matching-color sequin top.
9. Monochrome:  A lace jacket, a top & pants or jeans all in one color.

Ways to Wear a Lacy Slip Dress or Dress Extender

1. If cool weather, wear a faux leather jacket over a lacy slip dress or dress extender and blue jeans. Add statement earrings and sneakers for day or night.
2. A slip dress or dress extender + a long-sleeve lacy or embroidered mesh tunic over it.
3. A lace-hem slip dress or dress extender + a chiffon-front tunic t-shirt over it.
4. A slip dress + a long-sleeve lace top under it.
5. A lacy-hem slip dress or dress extender + a sheer shirt over it.

   

6. Add a dress extender under a shirt dress, tunic or tunic shirt.
7. A lace-hem slip dress or dress extender + a tunic with a chiffon or lace hem over it.
8. A top or tunic of lace, crochet, chiffon, embroidered mesh or sheer material over a slip dress. 
9.  
10. A slip dress + a lace or crochet top, cardigan, jacket or duster.
11. A short caftan + a dress extender. You might like to belt it for shape.
12. A dress that’s too short + a dress extender.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Dresses

1. A lace or crochet dress + a draped vest or cardigan.
2. Top a crochet dress with a jean jacket or denim vest.
3. A long-sleeve lace top under a lace or crochet or ruffled dress.
4. Top a crochet dress with a utility jacket. Add a brown belt + gold chains at neck and wrist + a leopard-print bag + brown sandals. If sunny, wear brown sunglasses.
   

   Love Letters Baroque Lace Duster from Three Bird Nest over a lace dress

5. A lace or crochet dress + a duster.
6. A lace dress + a velvet duster.
7. A lace or crochet dress + a lace vest.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Tank Tops

Tia Tank from Soft Surroundings with trousers, statement earrings and a bracelet

1. Pair a lace or crochet tank top with trousers.
2. A lace or crochet tank + linen pants or skirt.
3. A lace or embroidered mesh tank + a duster.
4. Dress down a lace or crochet tank top with jeans. Add gold hoop earrings and a bracelet.
5. A lace or embroidered mesh tank + a draped and/or lacy cardigan.

   

6. Cover a lace top & jeans with a duster. Add small gold hoop earrings & flat brown sandals.
7. A lace or embroidered mesh tank + a lacy jacket.
8. A lace top + a sheer kimono.

Ways to Wear Lace & Crochet Tops

1. A lace top with any color jeans. Dress it up or down with accessories.
2. A black crochet sweater + a black camisole + blue or black jeans or jean skirt. Add black heels & opaque stockings + a black choker.
3. Pair a black crochet sweater with black or charcoal gray pants. You might like to sling a belt over the sweater.
4. A black crochet sweater + black pinstriped pants.
5. Pair a crochet top with linen pants (whether striped, printed or solid.) Add a short necklace or big earrings & a fedora hat in a color toned to your outfit.
   

   Aly Blouse in ecru lace from Sezane with white trousers

6. An ivory crochet top + white pants. Add espadrilles & earrings.
7. Pair an embellished crochet top with chinos.
8. A crochet top + a crochet cardigan + a pair of pants. Add a bead necklace + a cuff bracelet.
9. A short-sleeve ivory lace top + tan trousers. Add a gold necklace, earrings & bracelet. Wear nude pumps.
10. Match a crochet or lace top to the same color pants or skirt.

    

11. Here are some ideas inspired by Shelbee in her post “Style Imitating Art…” (see photo above). With a crochet top and crochet skirt, add:  lace, beads, sequins, feathers, bird or owl jewelry, flowers, bright color and/or natural hues such as browns and greens. You might also like to add a straw or crochet hat and/or embellished shoes.
12. A lace or crochet top + a sequined skirt. Feel free to accessorize with any of the suggestions above in #7.
13. Try a crochet top with a short skirt, a pencil skirt or a full skirt.
14. A black crochet top + a black velvet skirt.
15. An ivory crochet or lace top over an ivory chiffon skirt, printed or solid. Layer gold & silver bead bracelets on each wrist. Add a short pendant in the neckline and tan, sand, ivory or white booties.

    

16. A crochet top + a floral skirt in a color toned to your top. You might like to wear espadrilles.
17. Pair a crochet top with a matching-color tulle skirt. Add tassel earrings + flat slides/sandals + straw hat.
18. Layer a crochet or lace top over a tank top & a simple skirt. Add ballet flats.
19. A crochet sweater over a long slim, draped skirt, such as matte jersey or a lacy skirt. Accessorize with a chain belt or a belt trimmed with charms and/or pearls. Then add vintage boots or feminine footwear.
20. A white lace top + a white lacey skirt. Dress it down a bit with gold bangles and chunky boots.
21. Pair a white tee with a white lace skirt. Add a tan belt over + a long delicate gold pendant.
    

    From Peruvian Connection

22. Layer a lace tunic over a camisole & printed leggings. Add a bead necklace.
23. Pair a navy lace tunic with black leggings (or choose your own colors.) Add dangle earrings toned to a color that you are wearing.
24. A long-sleeve lace top under a sheer blouse or sheer tank top. You might like to wear with a lace skirt.
25. Wear an embellished ivory crochet top with ivory shorts or jean shorts. Add bracelets & rings.
26. A crochet top, embellished or not + jean shorts. Add booties or sneakers. You might like to front tuck your top and belt it in brown.
    

    Lady Lux Layering Top from Free People under a slip dress

27. Layer a long-sleeve lace top under a slip dress.
28. A long-sleeve lace top under a lace, crochet, embroidered or burnout velvet tank top.
29. A sheer tank or tunic + a lace top under it.
30. Wear a bright color underneath a black crochet sweater or cardigan.
31. A lace top under or over a top extender.
32. Urban Safari Style:  A crochet top + an animal-print skirt or pants. If the top has no sleeves, you might like to add a sheer blouse.

Ways to Wear Lace-Hem Top Extenders

A top extender is a tunic with a lace or chiffon or ruffled hem meant to show below a shorter top worn over it.

1. Layer a crochet sweater over a top extender and skinny jeans. Add a chain necklace or two + booties.
2. A sheer blouse or shirt over a top extender.

   

3. Toss a draped vest over a top extender and skinny jeans. Add a long pendant and bangles.
4. A crochet or open-knit cardigan + a top extender or a lacy, crochet, embellished mesh, or sheer top.
5. A top extender + a lacy vest, jacket or cardigan.

How to Wear a Lacy or Crochet Skirt

Dutton Skirt and Anemone Crop Cardigan from Krista Larson Designs with beads and straw hat

1. A sheer top + a camisole + a lacy skirt. You might like to add a crochet topper or scarf.
2. A lace or crochet top + a lacy or crochet skirt.  Add long strands of beads or pearls or both. Or, add a statement necklace + turquoise cuffs + flat tan booties.
3. A crochet or open-knit cardigan + any top + a lacy skirt.
4. A sheer or lacy kimono belted over any top + a lacy skirt. You might like to add a crochet scarf.
   

   I. Magnin Poet Blouse Floral Print Ruffle by LadyBirdieVintage at Etsy with a lace skirt

5. A ruffled top + a lacy skirt. You might like to add a crochet topper or scarf.
6. A jean jacket or denim vest with a lacy skirt + any top, crochet or not.
7. Pair a plaid shirt over a lace or crochet skirt in a toned color. Sling a special belt over the shirt. Add gold ballet flats.

How to Wear Lace & Crochet Scarves

• Add a lace or crochet scarf to a crochet top & crochet skirt.
• A long lace or lace-edged scarf over a chunky knit or crochet sweater.

From Bonnie Strauss Clothing and Jewelry

Those Are Some Ways to Add a Touch of Romance to Lace & Crochet

To create your own outfits with lace and crochet, start by looking through your closet for vests, cardigans, kimonos, dusters, jackets, dresses, slip dresses, dress extenders, tops, top extenders, skirts, ponchos, scarves and shawls.

Then put together lacy, crocheted and draped tops with layered pearls and beads over it.  You might also accessorize with a long tassel pendant, a long medallion, or layered gold necklaces as well as pearl and beaded bracelets.

Combine crochet or lace with velvet, burnout velvet, ruffles, draped and sheer pieces as well as tulle skirts.

Layer top extenders and dress extenders under shorter tops.

Adding just one sheer, lacy or crochet piece such as a vest, poncho or shawl can transform a casual outfit into something special.

It doesn’t matter if you wear jeans with your romantic layers or a lacy maxi skirt. Lace and crochet work their magic any way you put them together!

Let’s Connect!

Is this helpful to you?  Do you have lace or crochet pieces that you can style together and layer pearls, beads or pendants over?  I hope I have inspired some new ideas.  Let us know! Please leave a reply in the comments below.

Like this post?  You might also like to read more in my Lace Series HERE. Also, feel free to browse some of the following titles:

• “Over 25 Outfit Ideas to Give You the Greatest Enjoyment Wearing a Crochet Skirt”
• “What in the World is a Skirt Extender?”
• “How to Give New Life to Tops That Are Too Short”
• “How to Layer a Slip Dress Like a Pro”

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This post is linked up with:

• Your Own Twist Link Up #44 at Shelbee on the Edge
• Fabulous Friday’s Linkup Party at LucyBertoldi.com
• Fancy Friday at Nancy’s Fashion
• Tell Us About:  Festivals! at Marsha in the Middle

Thank you for visiting Your True Self Blog!

Angie

Related posts:

How to Layer a Slip Dress Like a Pro What Are Dress & Skirt Extenders and What’s So Good About Them? Does a Slip Dress Really Have to be Sexy?

Lace Series, Outfit Combinations, Ways to Wear It

Lace & Crochet, Layering, Necklaces, Outfit Ideas, Romantic Style, Slip Dress