As a true fashion fanatic, lace fabrics are one of my most cherished favorites to wear! As much as my style eye is drawn to all things jeweled and bedazzled, I also have a hard time passing up clothing items that contain lace. Whether the entire garment is made of lace, or I am merely wearing a blouse with ruffled, lace sleeves, lace clothing appears elegant, sophisticated and well-designed!
All outfits look lusciously lovely when made with lace!
Lace is an openwork fabric, patterned with open holes in the work, made by machine or by hand. The holes can be formed by removing threads or cloth from previously woven fabric, but more often open spaces are created as a part of the original fabric.
There is no denying that lace cloth exudes a feminine, graceful appearance.
Lace-making is an ancient craft. True lace wasn’t made until the late 15th and early 16th centuries. A true lace is created when thread is looped, twisted or braided to other threads independently from a backing fabric. Originally, linen, silk, gold or silver threads were used when making lace. Today, lace is often made with cotton thread, while manufactured lace may be made of synthetic fibers.
Lace is pleasing to the eye and pleasing to fashion! Lace wets the appetite of both the wearer and the observer. Lace fabrics flirt all on their own, so let lace do your love matchmaking work for you!
Lace clothing speaks dainty, girly and soft.
I particularly like the lacey fashion look when a lace top, blouse or jacket is worn with jean pants or skirts. I feel that the prettiness and soothing look of the lace is a great contrast to the heavy, casual material that is denim. Dress the outfit up even more with a necklace of pearls or any type of rhinestone jewelry and the mixture of both hard and soft materials is knock-out gorgeous!
Quite lovely!
There are many types of lace, classified by how they are made:
- Needle Lace: Â The lace is made using a needle and thread.
- Cutwork: Â The lace is constructed by removing threads from a woven background.
- Bobbin Lace: Â The lace is made with bobbins and a pillow.
- Tape Lace: Â A machine or handmade textile strips are formed into a design, and then joined and embellished with needle or bobbin lace.
- Knotted Lace: Â Macrame and tatting. Tatted lace is made with a shuttle or a tatting needle.
- Crocheted Lace: Â An appearance of being knitted.
- Knitted Lace: Â The lace is extremely fine.
- Machine Made: Â This can be any style of lace created or replicated using mechanical means.
- Chemical Lace: Â The stitching area is stitched with embroidery threads that form a continuous motif. When the stitching is removed, the embroidery remains.
Regardless of what lace your garments consist of, or what colors of lace are worn, in my fashion book, lace fabrics are ace!
Fashion Fun Fact: Â The word lace is from Middle English, from Old French las, noose, string, from Latin laqueus, noose; related to lacere, to entice, ensnare.
Lace clothes do entice our sensual senses, and lace garments can be found from lingerie, to evening gowns, to sexy, feminine shoes. There is no stopping the array of glamorous fashion items that can be made of lusciously lovely lace materials.
If I was to run a foot race, I would want my feet adorned in sneakers made of lace!
Wearing lace shows that you have exquisite clothing taste!
In the late 16th century, there was a rapid development in the field of lace. Objects resembling lace bobbins have been found in Roman remains. Lace was used by the clergy of the early Catholic Church as part of vestments in religious ceremonies. In 19th century North America, lace making was spread to the Native American tribes through missionaries.
In addition to clothing, we are all familiar with lace tablecloths and lace doilies, adding class and elegance to any meal festivity. Many times these lace items are handmade!
The Industrial Revolution was the downfall of the handmade lace industry. In 1768, John Heathcoat invented the bobbin net machine, and this machine made the production of complex lace designs more quickly than handmade lace makers could produce the dainty product. As a result, the teaching of handmade lace making disappeared in schools. Handmade lace making is today more of a hobby rather than a business.
Whether the lace that your fabulous bodies are wrapped up in is handmade or machine made, the final look is exquisite!
When walking in lace clothing, one gives off a graceful, regal style vibration!
Sequins and lace materials will never go to waste, the chic garments will always be in demand!
Black body lace is sexy!
Show off your grand fashion taste covered in luscious lace!
Soothe your inner vixen with a dash of mellow lace! A perfect, pleasing mixture of leather and lace!
Lace = breathtakingly beautiful!
Author Nancy Mangano is the author of two novels, A Passion for Prying and Murder Can Be Messy. Nancy has blended her love of investigatory work with her lifelong love of fashion into her books. Visit Nancy on her author website www.nancymangano.com, her author/fashion/style blog www.passionforprying.wordpress.com, Twitter @nancymangano and her author “like” Facebook fan page Nancy Mangano.
