Design of lace gave a degree of separation (8)
I believe the answer is:
cleavage
'separation' is the definition.
(I know that cleavage is a type of division)
'design of lace gave' is the wordplay.
'design of' is an anagram indicator (I've seen this in other clues).
'lace'+'gave'='lacegave'
'lacegave' with letters rearranged gives 'CLEAVAGE'.
'a degree of' is the link.
I am not very happy about this link. Some or all of it may be part of another bit of the clue.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for cleavage that I've seen before include "bit of a bust-up" , "Splitting of crystals" , "Line formed by a groove between two parts" , "Bust split" , "Split (visible when wearing a low-cut dress)" .)