STAR TRENDS

Black Beauties

Lace in black is back

Cate Blanchett dons a flowing black lace dress at a screening of her film The Shipping News at the 52nd Berlinale in Berlin, Germany. To see more Star Trends visit PEOPLE.COM

(PEOPLE) -- Want to cast a fashion spell? Then join celebrities like Debra Messing and Ashley and Mary-Kate Olsen in weaving a web of black lace.

"It's the ultra-feminine fabric," says Manhattan designer Mark Montano. "We use it to seduce."

And just like seduction is always in style, black lace "doesn't go away," says Rebecca Romijn-Stamos. "There is nothing sexier."

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Fortunately, says "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" costume designer Cynthia Bergstrom, even an understated woman can tap lace's magic powers "by going for something with a neutral-colored underlay."

As for accessories, celebrity stylist Danna Weiss advises pairing modern jewelry with vintage lace, and vice versa, because a faux pas is sure to be noticed. "Lace is a striking fabric," Weiss says, "so being overlooked is just not going to happen!"

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