Femme fatale Elizabeth Taylor, primed to snatch Eddie Fisher from the innocently lacy Debbie Reynolds
More than one scandal has wound its way through Las Vegas over the last century, but few have captured worldwide attention like that which made a brief stop on the Strip in 1958: the infamous triangle of Elizabeth Taylor, crooner Eddie Fisher, and his wife at the time, Debbie Reynolds. In June of that year, Fisher was premiering his show at the Tropicana, and joining him with Reynolds on opening night was Taylor, who had lost her husband, film producer Mike Todd, in a plane crash three months earlier. Fisher, who had been one of Todd’s best friends, instantly transitioned into the role of Taylor’s protector, consoler, and confidante.
When Fisher left Reynolds for Taylor just months after that June evening (later marrying La Liz in Las Vegas on the day his divorce became final in 1959), the famed photo of the threesome not only became the calling card for 20th-century scandal, it also spoke volumes about the language of style. Taylor looks every inch the femme fatale in a curve-hugging gown with a plunging V-neck, while Reynolds, widely portrayed in the tabloids of the day as America’s sweetheart, is wearing a decidedly more conservative dress crafted of—what else?—white lace.
Perhaps more than any other fabric, lace works fantastically well at conveying a fashion message. In white, it’s virginal; in black, quite the opposite. And no matter whether that message is sweet or seductive, lace also makes an effortless statement of instant luxe. Such an unbeatable combination is doubtless among the reasons it’s such a hot fabric this season. “I think it’s also tied to the ladylike trend you see throughout fashion, a continued reaction to the impact of Mad Men,” observes Patty Barba, owner of the Las Vegas boutique chain Patty’s Closet. “Lace is the perfect way to feel feminine and girly, and yet you’re still expressing your style.”
The Modern Lace-Clad Lady
Designers have discovered myriad ways to imbue the fabric with a modern take for fall. Marc Jacobs opted for one of lace’s key design details of the season, the prim high neck, and yet his see-through silhouettes and slim hobble skirts add a dose of dominatrix flair, resulting in a great juxtaposition: prude, meet party girl. Dolce & Gabbana likewise amped up the sex appeal, opting for long-sleeve tees in sheer lace over retro-inspired bras in black satin. Lanvin’s Alber Elbaz, Prabal Gurung, and Jason Wu also used lace to great effect, with a strong emphasis on the ladylike side of the equation.
