Women's Lace Dresses
For dresses, lace fabric uses yarn or thread typically made of cotton or synthetic materials that can hold up to casual wear and washing. Because lace patterns feature a webbed and open stitch, dresses are often lined with opaque fabrics to avoid being fully sheer. Designers can choose to leave certain parts of a dress unlined, such as sleeves, shoulders, and parts of the neck, to create an additional visual appeal that highlights the details of the lace itself. Lace dresses can come in a variety of sizes and styles, including midi and maxi dresses, mini dresses, backless dresses, and those with either long or short sleeves. You can also find a variety of colors, including black, white, or skin-tones.
How is lace made for womenÍs dresses?
Historically, the threads used were often made of linen or silk, but also gold and silver threads. In more modern manufacturing, a variety of cloth, synthetic, or metallic threads can be used for lacework on a womanÍs dress. Handmade lace fabrics involve several types of needles and stitching designs and tools, while others can be made by a carefully sequenced set of knots. Making crocheted or knitted lacework are popular folk traditions in many countries, such as Ireland and France.
These fabrics can be used as appliques for accent work or as whole cloth pieces for the entire dress form. Long sleeves of lacework paired with opaque silk or cotton bodies in neutral colors like black or white is a common way to mix the delicate, web-like fabric with sturdier fabrics and styles. Lacy details across the bodice and skirt of dresses can lend casual dresses a more formal appearance. Wedding gowns are also known for utilizing formal lacework, especially for featured pieces like the veil, train, and gloves.
What are popular lace types for dresses?
While not all lace fabrics are suitable for clothing, there are many designs that have become popular choices for womenÍs dresses over the decades. Fashion trends often fluctuate, but industry favorites include a variety of traditional and modern designs for lace dresses.
- Knitted. Known for its design made by leaving carefully arranged patterns of holes between knitted threads, lacework like this will often need sturdy lining to help keep its shape. While it is not as delicate as other forms, it is considered one of the softest and fastest to produce.
- Venetian. While this design is worked on a backing fabric, the details are so tightly woven and enriched, the backing seems to disappear and the lacework is often firm and holds shape well. The most common designs made with this method include scrollwork and heavy, floral patterns.
- Embroidered. Versatile for use with a variety of fabrics, lacy details are stitched directly onto the layers of a dress, often using tulle to create a visual illusion of depth.
- Chantilly. Using a bobbin and pillow method of needlework, Chantilly lacework stands out due to the incredible amount of detail and the outline usually made of a patterned, untwisted strand commonly called cordonnet.
- Brocade. Shuttle-woven and known for decorative flourish, brocade pieces are popular choices for metallic or jewel-toned threads and fabric backings that often has the same look as embroidered threads though it is woven. This creates a very thick and rich texture for dresses.
- Needlepoint. Typically worked on to a mesh background, needlepoint is often used for applique work or accent pieces that give the illusion of sheer wear depending on how fine the netting is where the lacework has been sewn.