Hollywood legend and Charlie's Angels star Lucy Liu brought a dose of breezy elegance to the 78th Locarno Film Festival red carpet, wearing a stunning white lace dress by Paolo Sebastian and patent platforms from affordable footwear brand Aldo.
On the list of best summer dresses, a classic white lace number sits firmly at the top. It's timeless, effortlessly chic, always looks expensive no matter the cost, and most importantly, it's versatile.
As summer comes to a close, it feels a shame to pack them away for another year. With white acting as a neutral and lace being a naturally transitional fabric, it only takes a few clever additions to make your favorite white lace dress fall-ready.
HOW TO WEAR WHITE LACE FOR Fall
A dress like Lucy's is deserving of a spot in any capsule closet. White lace may be synonymous with summer, but it's a fabric that has real staying power beyond the warmer months. White, as a neutral, works with everything, and lace adds texture that layers beautifully with seasonal staples like knitwear, leather and denim.
The key is in the layering. While Lucy kept her look light and simple for the red carpet, you can give lace a fall-ready feel with a thin cardigan, a tailored blazer or even a leather jacket for contrast. These additions bring warmth but also add structure, striking a chic balance against the softness of the lace while offering up plenty of smart casual outfit ideas.
Footwear and accessories will also help you transform the look. Swap Lucy's patent platforms for cowboy boots, chunky loafers or the best white sneakers, and introduce richer textures such as a suede bag - one of the key fall/winter handbag trends 2025, a trench coat or a statement belt. Together, these updates prove that a lace dress isn't just a fleeting summer fling - it's a transitional staple worth keeping on rotation.
Shop similar lace dresses and upgrade them for fall
Lucy's square neckline is perfect for a minimalist approach, but as we enter the cooler months and look to layering, a halter neckline with collar detail acts like a shirt and can be layered as such with blazers and jackets. Make the most of that V-neck and add a statement necklace.
We love the lace hem of this dress. Lean into the prairie vibes and add a pair of cowboy boots, or for an edgy twist pair with some chunky biker boots.
A shirt dress is the hardest-working style in any woman's closet. Layer over a thin rollneck and straight leg jeans, undoing some of the buttons at the hem to show them off. For a modern nod to the 90s, pair with some ballet flats.
The cowboy boot trend isn't going anywhere, so if you don't have a pair by now, New Look have a range of styles that include cushioned and flexible soles for a comfier wear.
The 90s revival shows no sign of slowing, and jeans under dresses is the latest look to return to the runway. This time, though, the styling feels less thrown together and more considered. The trick is to keep both pieces minimal: pair a simple lace dress with a rigid straight-leg like these, to contrast with the fluidity of the dress.
Next always deliver timeless tailoring. This blazer will elevate your white lace dresses for the office, with its khaki green tone bridges the gap nicely between summer and fall. Pairing with other neutral hues, you could slip this jacket on with chocolate browns, over black or even wear it as part of a white jeans outfit for chic transitional style.
Lucy Liu's outfit was a perfect example of just how impactful a white lace dress can be. Worn with pared-back accessories, it felt light and summery, but the very same dress could just as easily be reimagined for cooler days.
Layered with tailoring, paired with boots or grounded with seasonal textures, it becomes less of a once-a-year choice and more of a capsule closet hero.
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