Although lace, like leopard print, is eternal and classic, it seems to be picking up steam as a trend for fall and winter. Because it’s more traditionally used in clothing instead of accessories, seeing lace shoes crop up for pre-order in the past month or so has been a joy. Non-leather shoes may not be a viable everyday choice for most people because of durability issues, but they’re a great “fun” shoe to have around for casual wear.

When you combine lace with booties, you get a shoe that’s loaded with visual interest, looks great with tights and still functions as a neutral against an ensemble with a more varied color palette – in short, a great shoe for a night out or even something more casual. We’ve already told you about the Dolce & Gabbana Lace Ankle Boots (left), but if you want a similar look for substantially less money, consider the House of Harlow Lace Ankle Boots (right) as well.

The superior level of detail on the Dolce bootie is clear – the overlay on the ankle and ruching at the vamp are particularly pretty, and the lace-covered peep toe will look great when the shoe is actually on a foot. The Dolce bootie is not fully lined with leather, however, potentially creating the previously mentioned durability problems, which is not the case with the fully lined House of Harlow boots. Who would have guessed back in the Simple Life days that Nicole Richie’s name would ever be attached to a legitimate fashion venture?

Buy the Dolce & Gabbana boots through Saks for $745.
Buy the House of Harlow boots through Saks for $245.