Free People
Every Cool Girl is Wearing Lace Dresses for Festivals – This is What They Are Buying
Let me just start with a confession: I’ve planned entire outfits around lace dresses for festivals. Actually, I’ve done it more than once. There’s something about Lace—delicate yet unbothered, romantic yet completely down for some fun in cowboy boots. That’s why it always feels right when I’m standing in front of my closet, planning a festival outfit.
It might be the fact that lace, by nature, looks like it holds stories. Like it’s already lived through a few sets under the sun and danced through golden hour. And let’s be honest, festivals bring a weird combination of grit and whimsy. You need clothes that can do both—and lace dresses somehow get that assignment every time.
Last year at Solstice Sounds (yes, I somehow ended up there; don’t ask), I wore a long white lace dress and nearly walked away from because it looked “too bridal”. But on day two, with muddy boots, glitter on my cheeks, and a neon bandana wrapped in my hair, it felt like something out of a Sofia Coppola fever dream. Strangers complimented it. I felt weirdly ethereal, even as I stuffed my face with a soggy falafel wrap. That’s the thing about lace—it elevates you, even when you’re sitting cross-legged on questionable grass, holding a half-empty can of warm soda.
But beyond the aesthetic, lace has staying power. And I don’t just mean trend-wise (although, yes, designers are constantly reimagining it—from barely-there sheers at Chloé to vintage-inspired pieces). I mean literally. Good lace holds up. It breathes, it moves, it doesn’t cling when it’s 29 degrees in the shade, and you’re 10 minutes deep into a Lizzo dance set. In a world where festival fits often come in fast-fashion, one-wear formats, I like that my lace dresses are things I re-wear and restyle—year after year, event after event.
@lauravanessa_w
DOEN
How To Perfectly Style Lace Dresses For Festival Season
There’s a softness to lace that counteracts the hyper-performative, hyper-online nature of today’s festival fashion. Don’t get me wrong—I love a good rhinestone mesh moment as much as the next girl. But there’s something quietly powerful about showing up in something that doesn’t scream for attention but still manages to get compliments. Lace invites a pause. A double-take. A “where did you get that?”
For me, lace festival dresses are more than just a fashion choice. They’re a feeling—a kind of resistance to the overproduced, fast-paced chaos. They remind me to be soft and grounded, dreamy and conscious. They make space for contradiction. And honestly, isn’t that what festivals are all about?
Let’s be real: lace dresses for festivals can either look effortlessly magical or like you’ve wandered out of a Jane Austen adaptation and taken a wrong turn into a music festival. And I say that as someone who lives for a romantic moment, just not one that gets mistaken for a runaway bride at Coachella.
My go-to formula? A sheer lace slip dress over bike shorts and a bralette, finished with Doc Martens and a beat-up denim vest. Bonus points if the vest has quirky patches that I sewed on in 2017. It’s equal parts practical (read: breathable and secure) and just edgy enough to keep the look from looking too romantic and like it belongs elsewhere.
Accessories are where you can REALLY have fun. I love stacking up messy bangles and throwing on a wide-brim hat I’ll inevitably lose by day two. And then adding sunglasses that look like I stole them from a ‘70s cult leader (in the best way). Oh—and don’t underestimate the power of a well-worn bandana. You can wear it around the neck, in your hair, tied to your crossbody bag—whatever keeps the dust away and adds a little chaos to your look.
And speaking of bags: if your lace dress doesn’t have pockets (rude), go for a tiny crossbody or belt bag. This way you can dance without clinging to a tote like your life depends on it. I’ve also started pinning enamel buttons and patches to the hem of one of my go-to white lace dresses. It gives it a lived-in, layered feel that doesn’t make it look like I’m trying too hard.
What I’ve come to realise is that styling lace dresses for festivals isn’t about following a formula. It’s about knowing the vibe you want to channel—and then clashing it a little. You want to look like you, just with a little extra dust, sun, and stardust thrown in.
At the end of the day, the best accessory is confidence (I know it sounds too cliché, but it’s still true). Whether you’re in head-to-toe lace or just dipping a toe into delicate trims, the key is to wear it like you’ve already had the best day of your life in it—even if it’s only 11 a.m.
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ALESSANDRA RICH Sheer Cotton-blend Lace Gown
$3,320 -
NILI LOTAN Cotton Lace Maxi Dress
$820 -
GIAMBATTISTA VALLI Long-sleeve Lace Mini Dress
$1,990 -
RABANNE Lace Long Dress
$818 -
FREE-EST All You Need is Lace Midi
$128 -
MISSONI Open-back Lame Lace Maxi Dress
$1,120 -
RUNAWAY THE LABEL Ava Mini Dress
$116 -
SELF-PORTRAIT Lace Pearl-embellished Midi Dress
$546 -
DÔEN Victoria Dress
$478 -
FRANKIES BIKINIS Sunshine Crochet Mini Dress
$165 -
VIX PAULA HERMANNY Alice Chemise
$198 -
SELF-PORTRAIT Blue Fine Lace Mini Dress
$440
Lace Is Having a Festival Moment – These Celebs Just Proved It
I didn’t mean to make a mood board entirely out of lace dresses for festivals, but then Vanessa Hudgens showed up to Coachella looking like a desert nymph, and here we are. Lace is back—soft, sheer, and totally unapologetic. And if you’ve scrolled Instagram or TikTok anytime since April, you already know the celebs and influencers are fully in their ethereal era.
Let’s begin with the queen herself: Vanessa Hudgens, who practically invented the modern festival lookbook. I am obsessed with that white, ankle-length lace dress she wore, layered over a bikini top and briefs, paired with vintage cowboy boots and a cascade of pearls. It was romantic, yes, but still had that barefoot-in-the-desert chaos we’ve come to expect from her. Honestly, no one wears lace dresses for festivals like she does—she makes it look like she just floated in on a cloud of patchouli and glitter.
Then there’s Kendall Jenner, who took a different route. At a low-key after-hours set during a private festival party (because, of course), she was spotted in a black lace midi slip dress. With it she wore sleek sunglasses and loafers, because she’s a minimalist now. It felt less “boho fairy” and more “dark romance meets influencer cool”. Still lace. Still a moment.
Lace has become the ultimate blank canvas at festivals. And watching celebs put their own spin on it—whether it’s over a thong bikini, under a leather jacket, or paired with platform Crocs (hi, Doja Cat). This is exactly what makes fashion feel fun again. There’s a looseness to it. A little nostalgia. A lot of self-expression.
Styling My Top Favorite Festival Lace Dresses
If it isn’t obvious yet, I’ve been in my lace era lately. When it comes to lace dresses for festivals, it turns out there’s way more versatility than I ever gave them credit for. From dreamy floor-sweepers to punky, sheer minis, lace is officially not just for garden parties and grandmas. I scrolled through more lookbooks than I care to admit and found a few lace pieces that made me rethink my entire festival packing list. Here’s how I’d wear them—without looking like I wandered out of a bridal showroom.
Alice + Olivia – Lace Panel Maxi Dress
This is the lace maxi dress I’m currently daydreaming of: sheer panelling, bandeau lining, a mock neck, and a back slit that gives it movement. For festivals, I’d swap the heels for vintage cowboy boots and toss on a wide-brim straw hat. Maybe even swap the lining for a bold bralette to let the lace do the talking.
Philosophy Di Lorenzo Serafini – Draped Nylon Lace Dress
A sculptural ivory piece that reads modern meets romantic, complete with sculptural draping and ethereal lace textures. I would ideally pair it with chunky combat boots and a distressed denim jacket slung over my shoulders. Add a wide belt and tinted aviators to anchor the look—and yes, it absolutely works in a dusty festival field.
For Love & Lemons – Corinne Maxi Dress
This romantic maxi dress merges lace with puff sleeves and bow accents. I would turn it into a perfect festival pièce by layering it over biker shorts, adding platform sneakers, and topping it with a cropped utility vest for an unexpected edge.
Lace dresses for festivals aren’t just pretty—they’re powerful. They carry this unexpected duality: soft but bold, nostalgic yet fresh, and romantic with a rebellious edge. Every time I wear one, I feel like I’m rewriting the rule book on what festival fashion should be. It’s not about fitting into a trend—it’s about taking something delicate and making it loud, lived-in, and completely yours. Because honestly, if you’re not showing up in a look that feels a little magical and a lot like you, what’s the point?
Lace Dresses
Patbo
DOEN
