The Enchanting Web of Lace:
Lace is the one of the most beautiful ethereal fabric in the world.
Lace is a gorgeous, delicate and an intricate creation that can add elegance and grace to anything. It can make the most dull fabrics look gorgeous with it’s feminine touch.
Oh yes! I would fancy my mother’s Chantilly Lace dresses, sarees and shawls ever since I saw them. The lacy fabric is so dreamy and creative that it makes you feel wondrous. It has a vintage vibe and I feel there is always a story attached to Lace…..like I related it always with Princess in the fairy tales. 🙂 And how can I not mention about my grandmother’s lace sarees, gorgeous lacy cushions and stunning lace table linen. I am getting completely nostalgic as I write this piece. 🙂 This is what the legacy of fashion does, it always takes you back to where it came from……. I love that!!
Remember the famous song “Chantilly Lace” by The Big Bopper sung in the 1958’s – This song was a clear sign of how popular Chantilly lace had become. Every one wanted it!!
When I see women in graceful lace outfits, it poignantly reflects their flair with their prepossessing feminine energy. It is powerful and captivating at the same time. Can we ever forget Kate Middleton walking down the Isle in her gorgeous Lace gown? No we cannot and nor can we forget the stunning Amal Clooney walking to be in the arms of her charismatic man!!
Lace has been around from the 16th Century and was created with two tools – Bobbin and the Needle. Creating lace was a craft and required great skill that made it exquisite, rare and expensive. It was available only to the elite of that time. Lace enjoyed accelerating popularity during the 17th and the 18th Century and it became an essential element of wealthy clothing and home decor.
Genoa and Venice were the first lace capitals. Belgium, France and Holland provided Italian Lacemakers with finest linen.
Italy was the main producer of expensive and high quality laces during the 17th Century. From there it spread to all of Europe. In the 17th century in France, lace was worn in abundance by the French Aristocracy on hats, collars and sleeves. The social status was measured by the detailed work and quality of laces worn.
The French Government was spending a lot of money on the import of lace from Italy and that was the beginning of manufacturing of Lace in France.
Lace thread was first made from Linen, which later was replaced by the gold and silver threads followed by cotton in the 19th Century.
The famous silk laces were introduced in the 18th Century called the Chantilly Lace. Chantilly lace got its name from a place called Chantilly in France. Its abundant detail and skillfull work with threads of gold and silver made it extremely desirable. It was mostly made in silk. Chantilly lace is my favourite among others and has been forever popular. Even now women love to possess something exotic made with this lace.
The growing demand continually lead to the invention of new techniques and finally in the 19th Century, machines were introduced to produce large amounts of the gorgeous fabric.
But with the Industrial Revolution in the 18th Century, production of lace in large quantities made it loose its exclusivity. It became inexpensive and was being produced like any other fabric. From then on there has been no derth of lace added to styles and brands which gave access to women across the world.
From dresses, lace suits, lingerie, home linen no matter how you use it, it gives you a sense of belonging to an era of creativity.
I love the green and beige lace suit I am wearing. The colour combination is festive and rich. Green is a progressive colour and it brings a flow of positive energy with its vibrance. Beige is a neutral colour that adds softness to the outfit and my personality. I am wearing a satin soft creme shirt which accentuates the suit beautifully.
Some of my favourite lace outfits are from Sandro, DVF, Twin-Set, Kooples, Calaudie Pierlot, Maje, D&G, Bardot, Valentino, Stella Mc Cartney, etc
With the festive season right here, lets wrap ourselves in abundance of happiness, goodness, love, light and grace and shine on in that stunning Lace!!
Outfit – Twin- Set , Heels – L.K Bennett , Earings – Symetree , Shirt – COS, Bag – MOS
