By Elizabeth Stitt
The lace attached to the top and bottom of the camisole may look a little too much like lingerie to some people, and many are concerned that what should be worn as underclothing is used as outer clothing.
Nationwide, the fashion trend of layering with camisoles has introduced a line of lacy undershirts. Utah camisole companies said they are not trying to push their lace camisoles as a single shirt. Rather, the camisoles are meant for layering to keep women modest.
Troy Slade, owner of The Mod Bod, said he hasn''t heard of lace camisoles being considered as lingerie.
'We just think it''s cute,' Slade said. 'It has a feminine touch and a lot of people have liked it because it dresses up a plain outfit.'
Many start-up camisole companies in Utah have camisole styles with or without lace, but companies say lace is the more popular style. Other companies have recently added lace because it is in high demand.
'There was a huge demand for it and people were begging me for it,' said Shauna Peterson, owner of Apricot Apparel. 'Every home party I did with plain shirts, people would say, ''Can you do lace?'''
Peterson said people have many opinions about the lace.
'I have heard some people say the lace looks like a personal undergarment,' Peterson said. 'I certainly think they''re entitled to their opinions, but I think it''s a pretty craze.'
Others said the lacy camisoles are a sensitive issue.
'There is a fashion trend in the U.S. where layering camisoles have edged toward lingerie,' said Scott Askew, owner of Knee Shorts. 'You see on television shows and in magazine ads these Hollywood types wearing shirts that look like teddies and that''s it. There is a concern that a little bit of lace here and there is okay, but if it looks more appropriate for the bedroom, it''s not OK.'
The BYU Bookstore carried lacy camisoles last year, pulled them for a short while and they are now back in the bookstore.
'There was a misunderstanding and it''s been resolved,' said David Smith, manager of the bookstore''s general merchandise.
Neither The Mod Bod nor Apricot Apparel carries camisoles with lace on top, which Peterson said might be why people feel the lace is inappropriate.
'The camisoles in the bookstore had lace on the top and that lace was so thick you could see undergarments right through it,' Peterson said. 'That''s what I believe the controversy is ? the lace up top is the issue.'