by Rosanna Carlucci
Her lover waits, rose in mouth. In the dark corners of a crowded nightclub her breath is heavy and he is teaching her his version of the tango. The cold, hard wall is their bed and they punish each other with every touch and kiss. In the background the music plays and the sharp beat mimics their pace and pulsates through every cell.

Yet time is not their friend and the song is ending. Her boyfriend will be looking for her and the flush in her cheeks will give her away. She fixes her hair, paints her lips and pulls down her dress. The black lace creeps around every curve, casting playful shadows upon her dewy skin. The lovers kiss one final time and pull away like the tide. They will always have the tango…

The origin of lace as a fabric dates back as early as the 15th century. Commonly used by royalty or the wealthy, this delicate and intricate fabric has come to adorn anything from lingerie to handbags. Available in many different designs and textures, lace has a certain antiquity associated with it. Its timeless patterns seem to tell a story and evoke feelings of restrained passion or seductive innocence. Used on everything from delicate underpinnings to seductive cocktail dresses, lace always raises the bar on glamour.

Going along with the fall trend of gothic romance lace has appeared on almost every major runway for the season. The most notable being Prada, whereby lace seems to dominate the collection in every aspect.

However, for those of us wanting to add the drama of lace without the Prada price tag, head over to your favourite vintage shop for that little lace slip or dress.

*Trivia: Many women actually went blind while fabricating lace during its earliest production due to the poor lighting and intricate work required.