The Niche Fashion Trend That's About to Blow Up
You’re probably no stranger to the lace-up trend. Throughout the decades we’ve watched this slightly sensual detail make its way onto dresses, jackets, and the like with nods to ’70s influences as well as punk rock and goth culture. We first spotted its arrival back onto the style scene in 2014 when brands were putting laces onto blouses and bodysuits. And though this hasn’t completely vanished, there’s a new iteration we’ve spotted in recent months that we suspect is about to take hold. It’s somewhere between whipstitch and corsetry laces, but whatever you want to call it, it’s doing it for us—big time.
For the F/W 16 runways, Proenza Schouler definitely led the charge with its beautifully constructed dresses and sweaters held together by thick laces. However, Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez weren’t alone. Labels like DKNY, Fendi, and 3.1 Phillip Lim also debuted the detail on the catwalk. And as goes most trend’s life cycle, it’s now bubbling up in street style and on the market.
See below to check out the trend, and then shop it if you want to test it out.
X marks the spot.
This orange 3.1 Phillip Lim coat has us embracing our autumnal color palettes.
Canadian model Winnie Harlow stepped out during New York Fashion Week in this bright red DKNY dress.
We’d layer a tissue turtleneck underneath this F/W 16 Fendi dress.
A coat worth doing a double take for.
Tome’s take on this trend felt more literal on this curve-hugging bustier.
An outerwear item with flowing laces looks magical when you whisk around.
Rihanna’s Fenty by Puma collection unveiled the coolest sweatshirt with subtle lace detailing on front.
Wear this silky skirt with a denim jacket worn as a shirt and moto boots.
The perfect party pants, if you ask us.
Wear now with blue jeans and later with a turtleneck underneath and roomy wool trousers.
Subtle, stylish, and seasonless.
A slight shoulder detail to make your dress extra special.
Love trends like this? Check out more of our favorites in our fashion trends section.
Nicole Kliest is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City who focuses on fashion, travel, food, wine, and pretty much anything else that's amusing to write about. After graduating from Pepperdine University with a bachelor's in journalism and creative writing, she started her career back in 2010 as Who What Wear's photo editor and throughout the last decade has contributed to publications including Fashionista, Harper's Bazaar, Elle, The Zoe Report, PopSugar, Fodor's Travel, and several others. She also copywrites and has worked with clients such as Frame, Sea, 3x1, Intelligentsia, and others to develop brand voices through storytelling and creative marketing. She's very passionate about the ways we can improve our sustainability efforts in the fashion industry as well as cultivating content that's diverse and inclusive of all people. When she's not checking out the latest restaurant opening in her West Village neighborhood or riding her bicycle along the West Side Highway, she can be found scheming her next trip somewhere around the world. (Up next is Vienna.)