How to Wear Sheer Fabrics in Winter: Tips, Tricks & Hacks

Here are some of my favorite ways to bring sheer fabrics like lace and mesh into your Autumn/Winter closet:

• Play with colors – Use sheerness to your advantage. If you want to experiment with color in a subtle way, you can layer a bright mesh or lace top over a neutral top, for example. Or you can pair a lace item with a patterned one to create a mixed-print moment.
• Peek-a-boo – Add small but surprising elements to a simple look. Maybe it’s as simple as wearing a mesh top under a T-shirt. Or it can be a bigger statement like wearing a lace skirt over pants.
• Layer, layer, layer – Make your sheer items winter-friendly by layering them with your favorite long-sleeve tops, sweaters, and cozy items.
• Cozy it up – Make use of your cozier accessories and shoes to bring the breezier fabrics into colder weather.

Sheer Fabrics in Winter: Outfit Ideas

Outfit #1: Lace Top + Maxi Skirt + Jacket (Easy)

Let’s start with an easy one: a white, floral lace top. Almost all of us have a pretty lace blouse that is perfect for any given event in summer. It’s the top that dresses up all our looks and makes our jeans brunch-ready.

To bring my lace top into the coldest months, I made a couple of switches and paired it with autumnal fabrics and colors.

First, I wore my white floral lace top. It has long sleeves and a mock neck, so it’s easier to style than a lace tank would be. Then, instead of my usual light-wash jeans or white cotton skirt, I opted for a long, black velvet skirt.

Finally, to add warmth and some color, I layered on a red faux leather blazer and finished with a pair of black booties.

This outfit, as it is, is for a warmer Autumn day. I used light layers here, but it would be easy to add more layers or choose warmer items. For example, you could wear a thermal top under the lace top, a pair of tights under the skirt, or even add a sweater over the lace top.

The sweater + lace top pairing could be especially cool if you also have a mock neck lace top and just have that little bit of detail poking out of the collar of a sweater.

Outfit #2: Mesh Top + Sweater Tank + Jeans (Easy)

Now, let’s tackle mesh. Mesh comes in every color and pattern imaginable. The great thing about mesh is that it’s so thin that it won’t bulk you up when you layer with it.

To create this look, I started with a brown, long-sleeved mesh top and layered under with a brown, sleeveless turtleneck top. Then, I wore a pair of medium-wash blue jeans. To layer a bit more, I added a tan suede jacket. Finally, I accessorized with a tan belt and opted for brown Converse sneakers.  

This is one of my favorite ways to wear mesh. This knit top is difficult to style since it is a very thick knit, so I cannot wear it much during spring and summer. However, it’s cropped and sleeveless, so it’s also difficult to wear during winter. But if I add the mesh top underneath, it makes it easier to layer without losing mobility.

I also love that the mesh adds contrast between the textures, and while both the knit and mesh tops are the same shade of chocolate brown, the sheerness of the mesh adds dimension to the pairing.

Outfit #3: Lace Top + Thermal Layer + Trousers (Medium)

The easiest way to bring a summery lace item into winter is to layer it with thermals or warm underlayers.

For this outfit, I wanted to use an item in one of the most popular colors of the summer: butter yellow.

First, I put on a white, long-sleeved top. Then, I layered on a butter yellow lace t-shirt and tucked it into a pair of blue cobalt pants. To add an extra layer of warmth and a heavier fabric, I put on a white leather blazer. To finish my look, I used a pair of off-white platform sneakers.

I like this sort of look with lace since it allows the pattern on the lace to shine through. The white underlayer also helps the subtle yellow of the lace to actually take center stage instead of being overwhelmed by the blue of the pants.

Outfit #4: Rhinestone Net Top + Long-Sleeve + Jeans (Medium)

Rhinestone net items are a staple of festival season and concerts. They’re the best way to layer, add shine, and be comfortable while dancing and enjoying a show.

But what if you want to wear these pieces casually? Or during the coldest months?

Let’s start with a lime green turtleneck top. This one is cropped, so I wore it with a pair of dark-wash tailored jeans. This is a perfectly fine look as-is, but I want to add a bit of shine. So, I layered a rhinestone net top over the turtleneck. I chose this top because the rhinestones have a green tone to go with the turtleneck. Finally, I added some square-toe, off-white booties.

I think this is one of the best ways to keep wearing your festival items through Autumn and Winter. They’re usually stretchy, versatile, and eye-catching enough that just adding them as a top layer to a basic, cozy look can immediately make them look more fashion-forward or put-together.

Outfit #5: Lace Skirt + Pants + Sweater (Difficult)

One of my favorite styling trends this past summer was layering skirts with pants, especially lace skirts with pants. How do I bring this to a Holiday party? Or for Thanksgiving dinner?

I started with my favorite ‘Rory Gilmore’ sweater: an off-white, chunky knit, oversized sweater. Then, I put on a pair of high-waisted, tailored jeans that are almost the exact same shade as the sweater. Now, for the most important piece: I put a butter-yellow lace skirt on top of the pants. Finally, I wore the same squared-toe, off-white booties I used for the last look.

The key to layering a lace skirt over pants is to pay attention to the colors. You can either use contrasting colors so that the pattern of the lace can really take center stage and it is obvious you’re wearing lace, or you can try to match the color of the lace to the pants for a subtle look.

For this outfit, I decided to go subtle and cozy. This way, the monochromatic look is the point of the outfit, and the lace just helps me add more texture and points of interest.

Outfit #6: Thermal Layer + Lace Set (Difficult)

Now, let’s go all the way in with contrast and lace. The butter yellow lace T-shirt and skirt are a set and one of my favorite purchases this year. I don’t want to stop wearing them as a set anytime soon.

So, instead of going the subtle route like I did above, let’s tackle the contrasting way.

To create the base for this look, I put on a pair of black thermal leggings and a thermal mock neck top. Then, I layered on the butter yellow lace t-shirt and skirt set. I didn’t tuck in the t-shirt since it blends into the skirt. Then, to make the outfit more cold-weather friendly, I threw on a black leather coat and a pair of black platform booties.

This is by far my most worn lace outfit; I just change the base and color of the jacket and shoes depending on what I want that day. Here, I opted for black to maximize the contrast and make the look more autumn/winter-friendly.

Obviously, the amount of layers you choose and how warm they are will depend on the weather where you live, but I live in a place with no real winter weather, so this works for me.

This is also a very practical look since it basically involves layering two sets to create it. It’s cute and comfortable, and it makes me feel dressed up without thinking about my outfit too much.

What Do You Think?

Would you wear any of the outfits? Do you wear lace and mesh during winter? Do you have any styling questions? Let us know in the comments below!