The Whites of Lost Summertimes

Broderie Anglaise white and summer whites in crusty lace dominated the Dolce & Gabbana Spring Summer 2011 shows. There were also matching crunchy white guipure lace bags. White lace featured hugely not just in apparel, but also in accessories such as bags, which you can in the pictures below.

Dolce & Gabbana excelled at producing a new take on white lace where the sweetness and innocence meant that such luscious crunchy crusty lace fabrics needed little more than a simple shape to show off the designs to perfection. This makes the simple tunic a great choice for lace placement.

Above - 2011 Summer Whites Women's Apparel From Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Show.

Left - M&Co Boutique Broderie Tunic £40 - M&Co SS11 Womenswear.
Right - French Connection Ladies SS'11 - White Cotton Dress £82, Jenae Stiletto £100 - French Connection Womenswear Stockist Number: 020 7036 7200.  You are reading an original article on white lace dresses for the summer of 2011 by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©.

Above Left - Monsoon Ivory Lace Tunic £250 S/S 2011- Monsoon Stockist Number: 08448110068.
This white lace tunic dress garment is perfect relaxed occasion wear for the bride at a beach wedding.
Centre - New Look Crochet Trim White Kaftan Tunic Top £24.99/€32.99, White Rose Necklace £3.99/€4.99.

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Summer Whites - Broderie Anglaise Underwear As Outerwear

Here are a gaggle of girls each wearing a different design of white lace underwear as outerwear.  Above - Summer Whites From Dolce & Gabbana Catwalk Show.

Above left and centre left illustrate the Dolce&Gabbana underwear outerwear approach to some summer white pieces.
Centre Right - New Look Cutwork Camisole £29.99/€39.99, Cutwork Shorts £32.99/€44.99
Left - New Look Lace Blouse Top With Lace Inserts £29.99/€39.99, Patchwork Boyfriend Shorts £25.99/€32.99, Sunglasses £4.99/€6.99, Gold Earring Hoops £0.99/€1.99. New Look Stockist: www.newlook.com.

White Lace Maxi Dresses
White Lace Dresses With Cutwork Insert Trims

Maxi-dress fashion has grown in strength in the summer of 2011. These summer white lace dresses are reminiscent of fine cotton dresses the Edwardians wore.  The advantage of buying a long lacy summer white maxi dress 100 years on is the more carefree attitude today.  No woman today is forced to wear an underslip petticoat when the temperature soars; if she wears one its her choice - same with tights or pantyhose - some loathe them others hate being bare legged.  Today we are fortunate to be able to buy open toe bare cooling tights.  Check out your local Marks and Spencer for this legwear.  Edwardians would certainly have approved of the hats the models are wearing, because they knew that a protective hat helped to keep the complexion unlined and the delicate dermis undamaged by the harsh sun.  So get yourself a 1970s floppy hat - help your skin and be on trend.

Above Left - White Lace Dress Dolce Gabbana Catwalk Show.
Centre Left - White Lace Dress Dolce Gabbana Catwalk Fashion.
Centre Right - New Look Lace Insert Maxi Dress £44.99/€59.99, Straw Hat £9.99/€12.99, Brown Lace-up Wedges £22.99/€29.99.
Right - Matalan SS11 Womens Papaya White Strappy Tiered Maxi Dress £18, Floppy Straw Sun Hat £8.

FABRICS

Texture - LACE - GUIPURE - BRODERIE ANGLAISE - CHIFFON

Lace was very popular last year especially over contrast linings.  Lace continues as a prominent fabric trend for 2011 however, the trend is for the surface to become crustier and crustier.  Think delicate, but the texture can range from Chantilly lace through to thick crunchy Guipure and Austrian lace.

Designers currently have a fascination with texture and contrast, smooth and shiny, rough and raised textiles.  Hems in particular get lots of focus through embellishment with appliqué and feathers, like this dress from Monsoon. Both Monsoon and River Island have had no difficulty tackling this hot fashion trend for white pieces with crusty raised surface texture.

Above Right - Monsoon Textural White Orchid Dress, £150/€254 - Monsoon Womenswear Clothing SS11 Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Left - A beautiful lace tunic dress from River Island. This lace creation is spot on in capturing the 1970s mood.

The one easy way to adopt this trend quickly and bring it to many outfits is with accessories.

Dolce & Gabbana featured lace in their bags for Summer 2011.

Get a bag or some shoes that utilise lace or lacy texture.  Macramé bags offer a heavier chunkier contrast than finer lace, yet shows openwork with a similar texture to lace.

These gorgeous guipure lace shoes are from River Island.
Right - Lace Platform Shoes - Jemima Platform £100 - River Island SS11 WW Accessories - Stockist Number: 0208 991 4904.

Dolce & Gabbana White Lace Bags & Shoes Summer 2011

The Dolce & Gabbana hard frame white handbag below has been softened up a little with the addition of guipure lace motif appliqué.  Guipure lace is thick and one of the strongest lace types, which makes it ideal for footwear too.  Those White lace platform sling back shoes might be all you need to lift a simple dress and of course they are great for weddings.

Guipure Lace

Guipure is a large patterned heavy lace usually of Swiss cotton or French made.  Thus guipure is a very textural lace as both the lace shoe and the bag above show.

Dolce and Gabbana may have shown an abundance of Broderie Anglaise and guipure lace in their summer whites, but Phoebe Philo at Céline gorged too on crusty lace and highlighted the importance of contrasting textures.  The inclusion of woven texturally interesting hand loomed pieces, knotting, feather and fringe adds further to this texture feast.

This rich lace dress below is an occasion shift ideal for a special occasion, the races, a wedding or a party. Celebrate with lace.  Read more about lace types here on my collecting vintage pages.

1970s White Lace Tunic Mini Dresses

 

Above Left - White Lace Dress Dolce Gabbana Catwalk Fashion.
Centre - Short Bridal Lace Dress From the High Street. Monsoon SS2011 - Emberton Lace & Sequin Sleeveless Shift Dress £160/€271 Monsoon Stockist Number: 08448110068.
Right - French Connection Ladies Spring/Summer'11 Lark Rise Lace Dress £165 - French Connection Ladies Clothing - Stockist Number: 020 7036 7200.

White - MINIMALIST WHITE

Early 90s minimalist white uses clean lines and crisp white lines that make a white shirt and white body a must have again in 2011. Hobbs always does minimal white garments really well, each year I buy a few linen pieces there and they never seem to go out of fashion enabling one to wear them on for several years.  Take my tip and you will have wear out of basic minimalist linen items for 5 years until 2016.

Above Left - Dolce&Gabbana Summer Whites Catwalk Fashion Summer Trends 2011.
Centre - Hobbs Spring Summer 2011 Albus Jacket, £169/€195. Albus Skirt, £99/€115. Greenham Bag, £149/€170, Orleton Belt, £49/€55, Cork T-Bar Wedges, £110/€125. Hobbs Stockist Number: 0845 313 3130.
Right - Dolce&Gabbana Summer Whites Catwalk Fashion Summer 2011.

White Trouser Suits

Left - Warehouse Trouser Suit. Jacket £85/€101 Trousers £55/€65 Hat £16/€21. Warehouse Spring Summer 2011 Warehouse Stockist Number: 0845 122 2251.
Centre - Matalan Ladies SS11 - Womens Papaya White Fitted Linen Waistcoat £14, White Wide Leg Linen Trouser £16 - Matalan Stockist Number: 0845 330 3330.

Trouser Silhouettes

Take your pick from white trouser styles in 2011. Choose from crop leg, 1970s wide leg flares, boot cut or narrow leg paper bag top trousers.  Add a white jacket of a different texture if you are unsure of going so far as the full on top to toe matching all one colour white trouser suit.

Above Left - New Look White Net V-neck Vest £16.99/€21.99, White Ribbed Vest £3.99/€4.99, White Hooded Summer Parka £34.99/€44.99, White Capri Jeans £24.99/€32.99, Black Shoes £29.99/€39.99 - Stockist www.newlook.com.
Centre - Marks & Spencer Fluid Form Jacket £89/€120, Trousers £59/€80, Shirt £35/€47.50, Shoes £55/€75.
Right - Warehouse Jumpsuit. Luxe by Warehouse Open Back Wide Leg Jumpsuit £160. Warehouse Luxe by Warehouse Stockist Number: 0845 122 2251.

Holiday Trousers

Cropped trousers and summery shorts with linen jackets or a blouse are good basics for many events.  These casual smart white clothes just need the addition of a well groomed woman.  They can all be easily adapted for holiday wear dependant on your own personal style.  Smarten them up with red and blue accessories to give them a nautical or Kate & Will 'Royal Wedding' touch.

Above Left - White Linen Jacket £249, Stripe Floral T-Shirt £69, White Cropped Linen Trousers £149, Red Wedges £159, Clutch £259, Trilby £25, Corsage £35 All available in sizes 10-22, Shoes available in sizes 3-8. Elégance Spring/Summer 2011 Stockist Number: 0844 557 5507.
Centre - Summer White Shorts by NEXT.
Right - M&Co Top £28, Cropped Trousers £25, Necklace £12, Bracelet £6, Sandals £15. M&Co SS11 Womenswear. M&Co Stockist Number: 0800 0317 200.

You are reading an original article on white lace dresses for the summer of 2011 by Pauline Weston Thomas only for publication on www.fashion-era.com ©.

Monochrome

A basic white blouse, shirt or dress can take on  another dimension when you add a black belt or a bright coloured belt. These white lace dresses come with their own belts, but you can easily change a belt for a wider or narrower one dependant on your figure.

Above Left - Phase Eight Shift Dress £99 - SS11 Stockist www.phase-eight.co.uk .
Centre - White Dress Black Waistband - Marks & Spencer.
Right - Debenhams Red Herring White Lace Prom Dress £45 €68 - Debenhams Women's Fashion Stockist Number: 08445616161.

When a black, white, navy or denim jacket is combined with a simple white summer dress it can double as great business wear when you need to look formal, but want to feel summery.

Indecisive Hemlines

Summer whites make great easy beach wear and can be as informal or formal as you like. In great sunshine you can get away with white. This white lace dress (centre) has a wavering hem which is always in fashion when the hemline is indecisive and about to fall dramatically or rise suddenly. Great for women who like to hedge their bets and can't cope with an ever imprecise hemline!

Above Left - Debenhams Lovely White Circle Pattern Broderie Anglaise Lace Dress - Perfect for the woman who wants to feel feminine, cool and pretty.
Centre - New Look Mix Match Broderie Dress £49.99/€64.99, White Sun Hat £7.99/€9.99.
Right - Casual and relaxed -  A long white gypsy skirt that would look wonderful with a peasant blouse top too.
Rocha John Rocha at Debenhams - Jumper £40, Skirt £45, Sandals £50 - Stockist Number: 08445616161.

Graphic Prints - Black and White Dresses

Many prints are graphic, focusing on bold looks and striking positive negative pattern repeats. Black and white fabric prints are timeless.

Calligraphic script patterns and doodle scribbles worked in black and white/ivory/cream have an abstract appearance.  So these dresses work really well in the city where flowers sometimes strike the wrong note.  This graphic fashion trend always hits the right spot for business wear and if too lively can be toned down with a black jacket or cover up.  In certain business environments the white element works well on a summer day, lightening up the wearer without sacrificing professional appearance over much.

The Versace collection used a Greek key motif to highlight bands on op-art red and white bags.  Search out intense digital patterns for this on trend fashion.  This classic look of black teamed with white in blocks or graphic black and white prints is always a winner. Everyone finds it easy to incorporate this neutral scheme into their existing wardrobe and use it trans-seasonally.

Left - J by Jasper Conran - Graphic Print Dress £60, Dame Bag £75 at Debenhams - Stockist Tel: 08445616161.
Near Centre - Newspaper Print Halter Neck Dress £65 - Graphic Fashion From Jasmine Guinness at Very.co.uk SS11.

The tuxedo jacket is a classic look that both Chanel and Jaeger have done really well for Spring fashions 2011. Look for lots of tuxedo variations and to update them team them with high waistline wide leg trousers or palazzo pants. Never throw away a black or white tuxedo jacket - sometime, sooner than you think it will sway back into mainstream fashion.

GRAPHIC PRINTS. Calligraphic script patterns and doodle scribbles worked in black and white/ivory/cream are abstract in nature and make a good buy now as the font form motif has been featured by designers for Fall/Winter 2011.

Right - Black and white monochrome below knee skirt that could become a classic winner for your wardrobe. Stripes and black and white colour schemes are never far from the catwalk and return season after season.
Right - Principles By Ben De Lisi - Monochrome Black & White Stripe Cotton Sateen Horizontal Stripe Skirt £40 - Debenhams.

Blouses - The New Latest Must-Have Is The White Blouse

MINIMALISM is relaxed chic which can be as casual or formal as you desire and plain white blouse or plain white shirt is one of the simplest ways to work the minimal trend.

The blouse is back and truly is one of the great new must-have pieces for Spring 2011.  With its long sleeves, the blouse is the ideal trans-seasonal piece and perfect on days where the temperature dips.  Look for batwing blouses and very full sleeve blouses. Wear your extra long and ruffled blouson sleeved blouse beneath a three quarter sleeved cropped jacket.

Collars and Cuffs - Big volume ballooning sleeves finished by bold cuffs from Viktor & Rolf brought fashion drama, all the more emphasised by the use of the crustiest of lace - guipure. The finest of permanent fine pleats and a raw look with raw rustic lace is typical decoration for an embellished blouse in 2011. Expect to see floral piping/ appliqué and ribbon trim on the newest blouses.

There were designers such as designer Riccardo Tisci at Givenchy who sent out crisp white shirts. Classic shirts are part of any glamorous woman's timeless capsule wardrobe. Variations include cropped silk shirts. Classic well cut shirts are forever fashion and the British master of shirt dressing is designer Paul Smith.

Above Left - Animal print toned down with a white shirt and blouse at Dolce&Gabbana SS2011.
Near Right - Marks & Spencer Blouse £49.50/€67, Shorts £39.50/€54, Shoes £55/€75.
Far Right - Marks & Spencer Shirt £39.50/€54, Shoes £55/€75.

What is the Difference Between a Blouse and a Shirt

Blouses and shirts are both hot fashion trend must-haves in 2011.
You may wonder what the difference is between a blouse and a shirt, here are my definitions.  The key features to look for are open front, back opening, looseness and neckline details.

Definition - A Blouse

Blouses can have back or front openings, or be without obvious opening if the width of the neckline is loose enough to slip the garment over the head. The buttons on a  blouse can be at the front, back or side of the garment.  There may also be an alternative zip, press stud or hook/eye closure or even no closure at all if the neck opening is big enough.  Mostly a blouse has some looseness and can be worn outside or tucked into a bottom garment.  The looseness flows and so blouses over when tucked into a skirt or pants.  A blouse can be semi-fitted too and in this form sometimes may double up as little jackets.  One specific style that lends itself to a blouse without any fastening involved, is the easier wider neckline provided by a cowl neckline.

Right - White Peasant Blouse With Broderie Anglaise Trim Hem.
Above Right - SM&Co S11 Womenswear Boutique Peasant Top £35, Denim Shorts £24, Necklaces Both £10, Clogs £35. All M&Co SS11 Womenswear Stockist Number: 0800 0317 200.
Right - M&Co Chiffon & Lace1970s Batwing Blouse £35 - SS11 Womenswear Stockist Number: 0800 0317 200. The chiffon kimono sleeve blouse and peasant top also nod back towards the 70s look, encompassing two hot trends this season in just one wearable item.

Definition - A Shirt

A shirt does not open in the back.  It always opens in the front either with buttons and a button band, or a simple fabric facing.  A shirt can also have a short faced front neck opening or side neck button opening with stand (Russian Cossack style). Unless it's tailored to the body contours, a shirt is usually loose-cut for comfort and ease of wearing.  It may also become looser and called oversized or be more closely fitted and darted or seamed according to the whims of fashion.  Shirts mostly have collars, stand granddad collars, but may also be collarless according to fashion trends.

Above Left - Great Plains Spring/Summer'11 Sky Linen Shirt Dress £66 - Great Plains SS11 Stockist - www.greatplains.co.uk .
Centre - Limited Collection Oversized Shirt £39.50 Marks & Spencer Clothing
Right - Marks & Spencer Limited Collection Women's White Shirt £35.

A poet shirt has a faced or bound open front neck and can have a more blouse like quality; often it has neckline front ruffle frills, Dandy bows and very voluminous sleeves. It fits the 1970s retro mould of fashion styles very well. Think of D'Arcy from Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice or Patrick Lichfield in his Dandy outfit shown right.

For classic shirts Paul Smith is the designer to beat

Oriental Decadence Kimogami Asian Influences

Kimogami is a slight nod to ethnic where East meets west. This look has Asian influences including obi belts, cheongsams and kimono sleeves. But some of the most defining features are origami like folds. This shirt is an excellent example of a Kimogami styling.

Left - SS2011 Yogo Ego Bell Sleeve Womens Fashion Hitch Up Origami Shirt £25 -Stockist www.Yogoego.com.

This page has been about the huge fashion trend for summer white women's fashion.

Build Your White Fashion Wardrobe for 2012 and 2013

Summer whites make great forever fashion pieces that will not date and will look just as good in your fashion wardrobe in 2012 and 2013. Summer white lace blouses, tops, dresses and maxi dresses are ideal for those on limited budgets as you can add items to you white collection every year. Fashion trends that really take off generally last 3 or 4 years, so buy into both the quirky and classic or basic white fashion trends now and you will get value from these clothes until the trend peaks in 2014.

Think forever fashion and buy eco friendly cotton and linen that will see you right through the twentens decade.

Read more about lace types her on my collecting vintage pages.

Putting it All Together

Red-y For Work

Earrings, Necklace, Shoes, Shirt, Shorts, Blazer

When it comes to dressing for the office, professionalism is always key. However  in the summer, it can also be tempting to grab more casual pieces that won’t make you melt in the heat.

If a heatwave hits or the air conditioning breaks, I would highly recommend wearing a blazer and knee-length shorts instead of pants. Since you’ll be showing some leg, button the sleeveless blouse all the way up to to balance out the outfit and keep it modest. Accessorize with a statement necklace, studs, and sleek heels.

Suited Up in Blue

Blazer, Shoes, Shirt, Pants, Earrings, Necklace

This outfit is super-easy to wear, since navy blue acts as a neutral. In the hot summer months, cropped pants are your best friend– you’d be surprised how much cooler they are than full-length trousers! These pants are also cotton, making them even more comfortable in the warmer months.

Pair the dark pants with a dark blazer and pumps to let the fun shape and texture of the shirt stand out. Complete the outfit with an interesting necklace and girly studs.

Business Lady in Lilac

Purse, Shoes, Earrings, Necklace, Shirt, Skirt, Blazer

One of the oft-forgotten suit options for ladies is the classic suit and skirt. While pencil skirts are very classy, I’d recommend an a-line skirt in the summer. Not only is it, well, breezier, but, in my opinion, the a-line creates a more interesting silhouette than the pencil skirt.

While very feminine, purple is surprisingly easy to style from head to toe because of its wide range of shades. I chose to work with mostly blue-toned purples, from the rich plum skirt all the way up the the lavender-grey tank top. (Swap out the tank for a blouse if your office is more formal.) Once again, finish the outfit off with a short statement necklace and floral-shaped earrings.

Night Out in Black and White

Dress, Blazer, Shoes, Earrings, Bag, Necklace

Let’s  not forget the original monochromatic shades: black and white. This combination will create a sleek and modern look, while still maintaining a formal vibe, perfect for a fun event.

I especially love this outfit because all of the pieces are super-versatile. To keep the outfit dynamic, I chose pieces with interesting details, such as this white blazer with a large black lapel, a striped dress, geometric earrings, and a glittery beaded necklace.

Thoughts?

What did you think of this post? Do you like the outfits? What do you think of Hillary’s style? Will you be working at an office this summer? Who should I cover next? Leave your thoughts below!