The cut out is one of my all time favorite adornments. It is such a subtle addition to garment or accessory, but it can alter a look dramatically depending upon their shapes and placement. Side cutouts have an incredibly slimming look which is never a bad thing, and laser cut designs are adding a sophisticated-mod look to fabrication from leather to lace.

Cut outs are refreshingly versatile and can easily take on a harder or softer look depending upon what you pair it with. I scored this cut-out dress on sale a couple of weeks ago and cannot believe how much milage I have already got out of it. It was the perfect dress to toss on last minute along with my chucks for a lazy brunch with friends, then worked double duty for a night on the town when I upgraded to my nude wedges and a sleek up-do.

Make sure you find cut outs that suit your shape, and remember just because you have tried one doesn’t mean you have tried them all! It took me a while to find cut-outs that suited my shape and my style so be patient, to get you started I found a few options below!

Photos by Henry Young