The Budget Babe | Affordable Fashion & Style Blog

I Dream of Fashion

You know you love fashion when you dream about it. As a child, I used to have recurring dreams where I would go into my closet or open my dresser drawers to discover a limitless supply of gorgeous clothes in all colors and shapes. However, they never came in my size, and so I would struggle to put together an outfit, tangled in a mess of lace and polyester and elastic, tugging on zippers, and fumbling with fasteners. A frightening scene, I know. What would Freud say...?

But last night was different. Last night, I dreamt I was wearing the dreamiest white, eyelet lace summer dress. Heart shape neckline, delicate spaghetti straps, fitted through the bodice and slightly flared skirt. And (promise you won't laugh) I was running effortlessly through a field of flowers, the wind blowing through my hair, the sun shining on my smiling face.

I'll take it as a sign. A sign that the fashion angst from my childhood has subsided, and that I should head immediately to the nearest mall to find this white dress I dreamt about last night. Finding such an item even five years ago would have been difficult, but now-a-days, I've seen eyelet lace popping up EVERYWHERE from the runways to Target. Is there some new technology that's making it easier than ever to produce? I'm curious to know why it's so readily accessible. And, so easy to wear. Take this breezy, floral lace headwrap from Forever21.com, $4.80, a simple way to integrate some lace into your outfit (and pull back those bangs you're trying to grow out). Or, check out this fabulous sleeveless "India tunic" with eyelet lace trim hem, $27.80. We find this salmon pink tunic, also from Forever21, to be just delicious, too, featuring crochet lace trim. Very Freepeople or Anthropologie, at a fraction of the cost ($22.80). Finally, this gorgeous Nicole® by Nicole Miller Eyelet Jacket might have just been yet another cropped jacket, but the lace transforms it into something special ($58.00).

Give it try. Today's lace options aren't overly girly and can be worn day or night—not just on Easter Sunday. Soon, you'll be dreaming of lace, too.