Agreed: either alpha map it, or if you must have the detail in high poly use something like illustrator to create the flat lace shape. Import the curves into maya and create one or more nurbs trim surfaces, then deform those surfaces with an FFD or other deformer to match to the body shape.
I don't know the exact steps of what Vailias is saying, but I do know the it can be done by creating the shapes in illustrator, then, pressing some buttons and hocus pocus, the vector shape is exported as a compatible file for maya to have imported in the scene. That's about it there. I would strongly urge just making an…