How to Style a Lace Bodysuit: 5 Ways to Wear It Day and Night
The bodysuit might be the most versatile piece in modern lingerie, yet it's often treated as an occasion-only buy that comes out from under a coat and goes straight back in the drawer. That's a shame, because a well-made lace bodysuit works just as hard as your favourite top or your favourite piece of lingerie, and it can move between the two several times in the same week. It nips in at the waist, does away with the untucking and adjusting that comes with separates, and switches from daytime layering piece to eveningwear to sleepwear without you ever needing to buy a different garment. If yours has only ever seen the inside of a bedroom, here are five ways to get more wear out of it, plus how to get the fit and the fabric care right.
What Is a Bodysuit, and Why Is It Everywhere Right Now?
A bodysuit is a one-piece garment that combines a top (or bra) and a brief in a single fitted shape, usually fastened with poppers or snaps at the gusset so it stays smooth and doesn't ride up. That one-piece construction is exactly what makes it so useful: there's no shirt escaping from a waistband, no bra strap slipping out from under a vest, and no bulk at the hips from tucking in fabric. Lace and mesh bodysuits in particular have become a wardrobe staple rather than a special-occasion piece, precisely because designers now treat them as a base layer as much as a lingerie style — which means they're built to be seen as well as worn underneath things. At Laven & Ivory, lace bodysuits and teddies are one of our most popular categories, and the five looks below are the ones our customers tell us they reach for again and again.
1. Under a Blazer, for Effortless Smart-Casual
A plunge or scoop-neck lace bodysuit under a tailored blazer is one of the easiest ways to dress up a plain outfit without adding bulk. Because the bodysuit snaps closed at the gusset, it stays smooth and tucked all evening, so you get the polished look of a fitted top with none of the fidgeting. Wear the blazer buttoned for the office, or open with the sleeves pushed up for after-work drinks. Black or nude lace keeps things subtle under a structured jacket, while a contrast colour peeking out at the neckline adds a bit of personality without shouting about it.
2. Tucked Into Jeans as a Going-Out Top
Swap your usual top for a lace bodysuit and high-waisted jeans and you've solved the going-out uniform for good. Because it's fastened rather than tucked, it won't come loose after a trip to the dance floor or the third round of drinks, which is the whole reason bodysuits became a going-out staple in the first place. Choose a style with a scalloped edge or a delicate trim at the neckline so there's something to see above the jeans, keep jewellery simple and gold-toned, and you have a finished outfit in under five minutes.
3. Layered Under a Sheer or Open-Knit Top
Use a lace bodysuit as your base layer under something sheer or open-knit and you get texture, colour and a bit of intrigue without ever exposing more than you intend to. A matching tone keeps it subtle and lets the lace pattern read as texture rather than as lingerie; a contrasting colour turns it into a deliberate style statement. This works equally well for the office under a sheer blouse and blazer, or for evening under an open-knit or off-the-shoulder jumper.
4. With a Midi Skirt for Evening Glamour
Pair a plunge or bandeau bodysuit with a satin, sequinned or simply well-cut midi skirt and you have a complete evening outfit with none of the bulk a blouse would add at the waist. Because the bodysuit is fitted through the body, the skirt sits cleanly at the natural waistline rather than bunching under a tucked-in top. It's a reliable formula for party season, birthdays, or any evening that calls for something a little more done-up than your everyday wardrobe.
5. Alone as Sleepwear or Loungewear, with a Duster Robe
Not every bodysuit needs to leave the house. A soft stretch lace bodysuit doubles beautifully as sleepwear or loungewear on its own, and layering it under a lightweight duster robe turns it into a boudoir-inspired loungewear look for evenings at home — ideal for a lazy Sunday, a spa-day-in, or simply feeling put-together while you unwind. This is also the easiest way to try a bodysuit for the first time if you're not yet ready to wear one out: there's no audience to worry about, just the fit and the fabric against your skin.
Getting the Fit Right
Bodysuits sit close to the body, so fit matters more than it does with looser lingerie styles. Always check the garment's own size chart against your bust, waist and hip measurements rather than assuming your usual dress size will carry across, since cut and stretch vary between styles. Most of our bodysuits are cut with a stretch lace or mesh, which is forgiving, but if you're between sizes or prefer a more relaxed fit through the body, size up rather than down — a bodysuit that's slightly loose still looks intentional, while one that's too tight can pull at the seams and dig in at the gusset. If you're not sure of your bust measurement, our guide to measuring your bra size at home walks through exactly how to take an accurate reading with a tape measure.
Caring for Your Lace Bodysuit
Lace and mesh are delicate fabrics, and a bodysuit typically works hardest of any lace piece in your drawer, so it's worth treating it properly. Hand wash in cool water with a gentle detergent, never wring, and always dry flat rather than on a hanger or in the tumble dryer — heat and friction are what cause lace to lose its shape and its stretch. For the full step-by-step method, including how to store bodysuits so the mesh doesn't snag, see our complete lace lingerie care guide.
Explore the Collection
Ready to add one to your wardrobe? Our Lace Bodysuits & Teddy Lingerie collection includes styles like our Red Lace Bodysuit and our White Lace Bodysuit, both cut for exactly the kind of day-to-night versatility above. Browse the full range and find the one that becomes your new everyday layer.
Laven & Ivory is a UK-based lingerie and nightwear brand offering elegant, affordable pieces in UK sizes, shipped from our Lancashire warehouse with free UK delivery and discreet packaging as standard.