How to Style a Lace Bodysuit: Fit, Tucking and Outfits

A lace bodysuit is a fitted lace top with a built in brief that fastens between the legs, sometimes set with opaque panels, so it stays smooth and tucked under whatever you wear below. Style it with a high waisted skirt, tailored trousers and jeans, and finish under a jacket. Choose the size by the torso length as much as the bust, and let one textured piece carry the outfit. The new black lace style from Zimmermann at Coveti is our worked example throughout.

By Coveti Editorial. How we research and write: our editorial and AI policy.

That example is the Zimmermann Clash Lace Spliced Bodysuit in black. The house describes sheer stretch lace with opaque panelling through the silhouette, long fitted sleeves, a round neckline and a body contouring fit, with a nude mesh lining for coverage beneath the lace, an invisible centre back zip and a double snap closure. It is 90% polyamide and 10% elastane, and Zimmermann says it fits true to size. If the evening ends in heels, read our guide on how to wear platform heels next, since a black lace top half and a satin platform are natural partners.

Key facts

• A bodysuit is a top joined to a brief, fastened at the gusset, usually with snaps.
• Because it cannot ride up, a bodysuit gives a cleaner line under high waisted skirts and trousers than a loose top.
• Stretch lace needs a lining, a modesty layer underneath, to be worn without a visible bra; the Zimmermann Clash Lace Spliced Bodysuit has a nude mesh lining.
• Fit is checked at the torso: the shoulders should sit flat and the snaps should close without pulling.
• Zimmermann sizes 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 correspond to UK 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16.

What is a lace bodysuit?

A lace bodysuit is a close fitting top that continues into a brief and fastens under the body, made partly in lace and worn as outerwear. It sits between lingerie and a blouse: the construction comes from the leotard, the material from the lingerie drawer, yet the purpose is daywear and evening dressing. The advantage over a lace top is practical. Nothing untucks, nothing bunches at the waistband and the line under a fitted skirt stays smooth from rib cage to hip.

Lace bodysuits come in three broad builds. Fully lace styles are the most sheer and need a layer underneath, usually a camisole; some women choose a bra designed to be seen. Spliced styles, like the Clash bodysuit, alternate lace with opaque panels so coverage is designed into the garment. Lined styles back the lace with mesh, often in a skin tone, so the lace pattern shows clearly without exposing skin. Knowing which build you have tells you how much you need to add underneath. For lace names in plain terms, our guide what is Chantilly lace explains one of the finest types.

How should a lace bodysuit fit?

A lace bodysuit should fit closely without stretching the lace open: the pattern should lie flat on the body, the shoulders should not lift when you raise your arms, and the snaps should close with no pull through the torso. Stretch lace is forgiving in width but not in length, so torso length is where most fit problems begin.

Run through these checks in the fitting room, wearing the bra you plan to wear with it:

1. Sit down. A bodysuit that is too short in the torso pulls at the shoulders and the gusset when you sit, and it will be uncomfortable by the end of the evening.
2. Raise both arms. Long fitted sleeves should stay at the wrist and the neckline should not drop.
3. Look at the lace pattern in a mirror. If the motifs stretch wide over the bust and hips, the size is too small; the lace should look the way it does on the hanger.
4. Check the back. On a zip fastened style the zip should run straight down the spine without rippling.
5. Close the snaps and walk. They should sit flat and stay closed.

Zimmermann gives body measurements on its size chart: size 0 suits a bust of 84cm, size 1 a bust of 89cm and size 2 a bust of 94cm, rising by 5cm per size. If you sit between two sizes and have a long torso, take the larger one. Our Zimmermann size guide sets out the full chart with US and EU equivalents.

How do you tuck a bodysuit without bunching?

You tuck a bodysuit without bunching by fastening it first, then pulling the waistband of the skirt and trousers up over it and smoothing the fabric down toward the hips before you close the zip. Because the bodysuit is anchored at the gusset, it cannot gather at the waist the way a loose hem does; most bunching comes from the waistband being closed over creased fabric.

• Choose a high rise waist. It covers the seam where the lace meets the brief and gives a cleaner line.
• Avoid pulling the bodysuit tight before you tuck. Let it sit naturally, then dress over it.
• With a fluid skirt, smooth the lace flat at the side seams, where creases tend to collect.
• With an elasticated waistband, settle the band at your natural waist before you sit down.

For more on bodysuits in general, our wider guide on how to style a bodysuit covers necklines and cotton jersey styles too.

What do you wear with a lace bodysuit?

Wear a lace bodysuit with a fabric that contrasts the lace: wool, velvet, denim and dense knit all work, because they give the lace a plain field to stand out against. The table below sets out the main pairings with worked examples from the same Zimmermann collection.

How do you wear a lace bodysuit with a skirt?

Wear it with a midi skirt that sits at the natural waist, so the waistband covers the join and the lace reads as a blouse. Midi lengths keep the look grown up and work from lunch to dinner.

The Clash Wool Utility Skirt in black is a heavyweight wool blend rib knit with a mid rise elasticated waistband, a close fitting shape and an asymmetric hem. Black on black makes the lace the only pattern in the outfit, and the rib adds a second texture without a second colour. For something softer, the Clash Draped Midi Skirt in a wool and silk blend has soft draping, an asymmetric cut and a fluid high low hem, with a side seam invisible zip that keeps the waist smooth. Add a fine heel and one bracelet and the look is ready for dinner. Our guide to how to wear a lace skirt covers the reverse balance, lace below and plain above.

How do you wear a lace bodysuit with trousers and jeans?

With trousers, choose a high rise and a contrasting texture, so the lace stays the detail and the trousers supply the structure. Velvet is the evening answer: the Clash Flare Cropped Pant is plush velvet with a mid rise waist, an elasticated back waistband and a removable embroidered waist tie with tassel ends, and its soft flare hem shows off a strappy shoe. Tie the tassel belt over the bodysuit to mark the waist.

Jeans make the same bodysuit work in daylight. The Vintage Velvet Denim Flare has a fitted high rise waist with a fixed belt, a slim flared leg and gold branded buttons and hardware in heavyweight rigid cotton. The fixed belt does the work of a waistband accessory, so keep the rest plain: flat shoes by day, a heel by night.

Can you wear a lace bodysuit under a jacket?

Yes, and tailoring is where a lace bodysuit earns its place in a working wardrobe, because the jacket covers the sheerest areas and leaves a glimpse of lace at the neck, sleeves and waist. For evening, wear the jacket open, fastened at the top button at most.

The Clash Wool Cropped Jacket in bottle green has a high stand collar with bar tabs, gold tone buttons, lightly padded shoulders and front flap pockets, and it is fully lined. Cropped, it ends near the waist, so the lace shows between the jacket and the skirt. For a softer shoulder, the Clash Boucle Peplum Jacket in ivory has a flared peplum waist, blouson sleeves and antique brass buttons in a boucle wool blend; ivory over black lace is a crisp contrast. Our sibling guide on how to style a peplum jacket goes further on proportion.

How do you layer a lace bodysuit for winter?

Layer a lace bodysuit for winter by using it as the fine first layer under knits and coats, where its fitted sleeves slide under a sweater without bulk. Long sleeves are an advantage here: they give warmth at the arm and a line of lace at the cuff when you push up a knit.

• Under a V neck sweater, the lace shows at the neckline and the cuffs.
• Under a cardigan worn open, the lace shows down the centre front.
• Under a wool coat, keep the rest of the outfit in one colour so the lace reads at the collar.
• With opaque tights and knee boots, a lace bodysuit and a knit skirt make a warm day look.

How do you care for a lace bodysuit?

Care for a lace bodysuit gently: follow the label, fasten the zip and snaps before washing, keep it away from rough fabrics and dry it flat. Lace snags on hooks, velcro and jewellery, so treat it as the most delicate thing in the load. As general practice for stretch lace, wash cool by hand in a mild detergent, press the water out in a towel instead of wringing, and keep it out of the dryer, since heat weakens elastane. Store it folded, not hung, so the shoulders do not stretch. For house specific advice, see our Zimmermann care and authenticity guide, and for more of the collection, our guide to Zimmermann tops, skirts and sets.

The pieces at a glance

How we measured: prices are read from the Coveti catalogue and compositions from the house composition on each Zimmermann product page. Sizes are the sizes Zimmermann showed in stock on 6 November 2026, given in UK sizes (Zimmermann 0 is a UK 8) and in EU sizes for shoes. Stock moves daily, so the product page is the final word.

Lace bodysuits around the world

United States. Coveti prices every piece in US dollars. Zimmermann runs boutiques on Madison Avenue, in the Meatpacking District and in SoHo in New York.

United Kingdom. Coveti lists every piece in UK sizes. In London the house has boutiques on Bruton Street and Sloane Street.

Europe. In Paris Zimmermann sells from rue François 1er, the Faubourg Saint-Honoré and Galeries Lafayette. Sizes convert directly: a UK 10 is an EU 36.

Gulf. The first Middle East boutique opened at Mall of the Emirates in Dubai in 2024, followed by Atlantis The Royal, The Galleria Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi, Kingdom Centre in Riyadh, The Avenues in Kuwait and Marassi Galleria in Bahrain. Our Zimmermann guide for the UAE and Saudi Arabia covers the region.

Boutique locations are from the house and trade press, checked October 2026. Shipping terms are in the Coveti logistics and returns protocol.

Frequently asked questions

What do you wear under a lace bodysuit?

It depends on the build. A lined bodysuit, such as the Zimmermann Clash Lace Spliced Bodysuit with its nude mesh lining, needs little underneath, while a fully sheer style needs a camisole beneath it.

How should a lace bodysuit fit?

It should sit close without stretching the lace open, with flat shoulders and snaps that close without pulling. Sit down in the fitting room, since a short torso shows up when you sit.

Can you wear a lace bodysuit to the office?

Yes, under a jacket. A lined, long sleeved lace bodysuit with a cropped wool jacket and a midi skirt shows only a little lace at the neck and cuffs.

Does the Zimmermann Clash Lace Spliced Bodysuit fit true to size?

Zimmermann says it fits true to size and is designed to be fitted on the body. It is a lightweight stretch fabric of 90% polyamide and 10% elastane.

How do you stop a bodysuit bunching at the waist?

Fasten the bodysuit first, smooth it toward the hips, then close a high rise waistband over it. Most bunching comes from closing a waistband over creased fabric.

How do you wash a lace bodysuit?

Follow the care label first. As general practice, fasten the zip and snaps, wash stretch lace cool by hand, press out water in a towel and dry it flat away from heat.

Curated by the Coveti Studio.