History of Lace

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha

Photo by Good Housekeeping

An adventurous Bride came into the Studio last week preparing to elope in a beautiful Lace Gown.  As I was studying the lace placement on the gown & started to work on the alterations, I pondered on the history of this beautiful lace.  

Lace was first created in the 15th Century and was held in high esteem due to its handcrafted nature.  It was costly to make and thus was available only to the clergy and nobility. Lacemaking has a long association with convents and by the 16^th Century, lacemaking had spread beyond its origins in Belgium/Flanders and Italy. As demand grew beyond the Catholic Church, the art of lacemaking was established in virtually every European nation.  Lace was desperately craved by the nobility during the Renaissance as a way to showcase their immense wealth, appreciation for beauty, and their sense of style.

The wedding of Queen Victoria in 1840 to Prince Albert sealed the place of lace in history. She created a lasting tradition when she chose to wear a white satin wedding gown rather than a typical royal silver one. Queen Victoria's bridal gown was trimmed in exquisite Honiton lace and she wore a breathtaking veil of Honiton lace adorned with orange blossoms. In fact it is said that the reason the Queen chose a white wedding gown over a silver one was because she was enamored with the rich lace and wanted it on her bridal attire. As with many of her wedding customs, once the world got a look at the engravings of Queen Victoria in her lace veil, it instantly became the standard to which all future brides would adhere.  To read more on the history of lace, visit History of Lace Making by Seabastian.  

  

1. Carefully studying the placement of lace, beadwork, & intricate details

2. Slowly & carefully removing the lace for alterations

3. Hand-sewing the lace & hand-beading it back onto the dress

Although all this takes hours of patience & handwork, it is quite meditative & allows us to truly appreciate the art of Lace & Beadwork.  Thank you for visiting!