Lace is featured on the Métropolis jacket for a bold back-to-school look

Lace is one of my favourite fabrics. It brings a refined, couture touch to any garment, no matter the pattern. Even a simple camisole becomes a statement piece when made in beautiful lace. With its embroidered effect, delicate openwork, and the subtle texture of monochrome designs, lace is timeless - a fabric that never goes out of style.

While creating the presentation wardrobe for the Fauve Parade back-to-school New Season capsule, I was in a daring mood. The navy, white, and red colour palette and the “uniform” inspiration of this mini-collection sparked an idea: to reinterpret our iconic Métropolis Jacket in a striking new way - in Coquillage lace.

After winning hearts in its chic wool and jacquard versions, the Métropolis jacket now reveals itself in lace: a delicate, feminine piece, perfectly in tune with the fiery reds of the autumn season.

Scroll to the end for product links + useful tips!

Sewing the Metropolis lace jacket

The Métropolis Jacket is a structured design full of character, created to bring a fresh twist to your wardrobe. Inspired by the hunting jackets made iconic by Chanel - garments that merge clean lines with androgynous elegance - it reinterprets those classic codes in a contemporary way.

• A trompe-l’œil double-breasted effect gives the jacket a tailored look without the rigidity of traditional suiting.
• The absence of a collar sets it apart from classic blazers, adding a modern edge to the cut.
• Thoughtfully placed construction lines with princess seams both flatter the figure and conceal discreet pockets.
• Optional bands can be added to accentuate the cut and bring a bold, graphic touch.
• Its structured yet relaxed volume makes it just as chic with jeans as with high-waisted trousers. And in Coquillage lace, the jacket transforms into a sophisticated, glamorous piece - a complete reinterpretation of this timeless wardrobe essential.

Why choose Shell lace?

This lace is a true gem:

• Embroidered with shell motifs, it creates a delicate, unique textured effect.
• Supple and pleasant to sew, it’s easy to handle and holds its shape without distortion.
• Non-stretch, it ensures a flawless fit for jackets, blouses, or dresses.

Sewing tip: Be careful when working with this lace: the shell motifs are embroidered horizontally. For my own makes, including the Métropolis jacket, I chose to position the shells vertically. To achieve this, you’ll need to rotate your fabric so the design is respected.

What does this mean for you? For projects requiring 140 cm of fabric or less, nothing changes. However, if your projects use more than 140 cm of fabric, you’ll have to adjust your cutting layout by placing pieces within this 140 cm height. The cutting plan will need to be revised accordingly.

How to sew your Metropolis in lace

The sewing process follows the same steps as those outlined in your pattern booklet and step-by-step video. However, working with lace does require a few adjustments.

• Because lace is openwork, a lining is essential. Luckily, the Métropolis Jacket is already a lined pattern, with everything clearly explained in the tutorial. To maintain the lightness of the garment, choose a lining in the same colour as your lace. At Maison Fauve, we offer matching cotton voile in perfectly coordinated shades: Sulfide Yellow, Ecru, Romance Rose, and Passion Red.

For my own lace jacket, I imagined it as a cardigan-style piece, so a cotton voile lining works beautifully. However, if you plan to wear yours over sweaters or long-sleeved tops, -opt for a slippery lining (like our cupro fabrics) - at least for the sleeves - to make layering easier

• Avoiding fusible interfacing : Do not apply fusible interfacing to lace - it will show through. For my version, I skipped interfacing entirely: the Coquillage lace has enough body to hold its shape and presses cleanly, giving crisp lines.
  I also chose to omit the decorative strips, as without interfacing they tend to warp. To stabilise the jacket hem, if you’re concerned about movement, use discreet hand stitches along existing seams instead.

• We kept the shoulder pads but skip the sleeve heads :  we made a small "bag" in the lining fabric, to the template of the shoulder pad, and slipped them inside. The assembly of the shoulder pads places them between the main fabric and the lining, this camouflages them and we do not see them through the lace. The assembly remains the same, the shoulder pad is just covered with its small cotton voile bag.

Why we love it!

Because it perfectly embodies Fauve elegance - that creative twist that turns a classic into a unique couture piece. For the shoot, I had fun styling my new Rouge Passion lace Métropolis jacket with the blouse version of the Cuba Libre pattern in navy polka-dot Lunares poplin, paired with the Grand Bain shorts in tartan tweed.

 

Lace + polka dots + checks — an unexpected mix. So why does it work? Because the colour palette is harmonious, tying each piece of the outfit together. Fashion should be playful, and of course I can wear these garments separately in everyday life… but sometimes it’s fun to be daring!

Everything you need to achieve this look 

• The Métropolis Jacket

• The Grand Bain Shorts

• The Cuba Libre Top

• The Coquillage Lace

• The Lunares Poplin

• The Tartan Tweed