The Eyelet Trend Brings Boho Sweetness to Our Summer Looks

The chicest outfit formula of the summer? Texture on texture on texture. As the nostalgic bohemian aesthetic takes center stage and the structured minimalism of “quiet luxury” fades, fabrics with a bit of extra character—from crochet to raffia—are now dominating the fashion cycle.

As we enter the slow, sweltering days of late summer and the dreamy escapism that accompanies it, one of the most prominent textural fabrics is eyelet lace, a delicate needlework design that combines the best of knits and embroidery. It’s dainty and airy in nature, yet popping up in unexpectedly subversive ways, becoming a must-have fabric for the ethereal cool girl. Ahead, discover the eyelet trend’s history and our favorite ways to refresh it for 2025.

The History of Eyelet

Eyelet—also known as broderie anglaise—is a delicate embroidery style that consists of fabrics adorned with lightweight, often floral-inspired lace cutouts. Historically, it’s been a popular choice for meticulously crafted household linens. (Think curtains, tablecloths, bedding, and the like.) For those with a taste for vintage underclothes, this delicate lace might grace the edge of pieces like petticoats and bloomers.

Modern fabric manufacturing has made the once-painstaking process of creating eyelet a little more accessible, allowing the material to take on new aesthetics. This lace texture began reappearing on peasant blouses in the ’70s, as well as similarly free-spirited dresses. You’d usually spot it as a trim or ruffle accent, rather than an all-over eyelet design.

On the runways, Ralph Lauren’s spring 1998 collection toyed with allover eyelet patterns as part of a seasonal shift toward Western aesthetics. The following year in London, Alexander McQueen went all-in on ‘70s-inspired silhouettes, with eyelet details on pants, skirts, and belted trapeze dresses.

Across collections and decades, eyelet lace has traditionally paired with thick white fabrics and loose, nature-inspired concepts. Sometimes, the designs have also been sewn into sheer fabric (in the case of Solange’s front-row look at the Chloé fall 2017 show), or the thick, starchy cotton of beloved It girl brand Dôen’s signature look. While eyelet has shown hints of its range over the years, this time around, it’s getting a playful, vibrant twist.

The Eyelet Trend in 2025

Just like Addison Rae’s recent lean into her romantic Libra energy, 2025 trends are decidedly dreamy. That’s especially true for eyelet lace, which has taken a departure from the Little House in the Prairie in favor of more ethereal, gothic-adjacent ensembles. (Of course, there’s still room for a milkmaid-inspired gown or two.) Silhouettes from the ’60s and ’70s dominate today’s applications, including Clairo’s stage outfit for Lollapalooza this summer.

We’ve been shopping for loosely structured blouses and A-line minidresses all summer, particularly minis in a ’60s-inspired babydoll style. This year’s designs land as a chic crossover between minimalistic Copenhagen style and the uninhibited bounds of bohemianism, succinctly reborn for the elevated eclecticism of 2025. 

Accessories-wise, the kerchief trend is an easy mark for the eyelet revival. (You might see sheer lace pieces and crochet bandanas in this category, too.) Totes and delicate bags, including painstaking recreations of Chloé’s latest mermaid-like designs, also continue to dominate. Searching for a one-of-a-kind DIY spin? A simple strip of eyelet trim makes for a delightfully unexpected pussybow tie. 

Styling Eyelet Textures

This easy-breezy lace has been around for decades, so without a clear vision and approach, eyelet runs the risk of appearing a bit dated. (Just like those classic boho-chic blouses of the early 2000s.) Bring this texture decidedly into 2025 by way of a vibrant wash of color or allover eyelet. You might also consider a head-to-toe coquette look by matching the eyelet’s hyper-feminine vibe with other ruffled, embellished fabric. 

Aesthetically, eyelet lace is in the same family as crochet and distressed knits—so consider pairing it accordingly. The fabric’s floaty aesthetic might not traditionally fit into indie sleaze, but you might reconsider the potential for edge with a sheer top and grungy, chunky footwear.

While broderie anglaise is traditionally a summer design, you can also transition it into the cooler months with a high-contrast styling approach. As gothic influences slowly creep into our mood boards and Pinterest scrolls, we’ve spotted more fantastical, whimsigoth approaches to lace. Of course, an aesthetically mismatched finish is key: Layering with high-contrast fabric, like distressed leather, adds an unexpected depth to the summery fabric.

Game-Changing Modern Eyelet Pieces to Shop

Ready to use breezy eyelet lace textures to refresh your late-summer wardrobe? The below roundup caters to fanciful and tougher tastes alike, unlocking a whole new world of delicate sartorial possibilities.