Lace has long has been loaded with ultra-feminine connotations that bounce between conservative and coquettish, but this binary view of the decorative fabric is fast becoming a thing of the past. The new mood when it comes to wearing lace is one of ladylike louche, with designers turning out laid-back silhouettes that strike a balance between stitched up and unabashedly sexy.

A focus on airy shades furthers the reach of today’s languid lace shapes. Brights can skew twee, while black tends to imply after dark, but a pale palette bridges the day-night divide, looking effortlessly elevated in the process.

As for allure, elegant guipure-weaved pieces deliver in spades—just consider the quiet sexiness a covered up yet subtly sheer dress evokes by simply hinting at what lies beneath. It’s by blurring these traditional lines that new-wave lace hits its point home: the modern woman is multidimensional and her clothes should be too.