Antique Lace Bridesmaid Dresses

In 1840, Queen Victoria picked a white lace trimmed gown when she married Prince Albert of Germany. Victoria’s dress was an original design specifically made for her which she had ordered to be destroyed so as not to have any duplicates made by other designers. The dress took over 100 lace designers more than six months to complete along with a train and veil. The queen wanted a one of a kind dress and which was the reason for her ordering the handmade garment. During this time lace makers were quickly going out of business as the industrial revolution ushered in machines that could make lace dresses at a fraction of the cost and less time. [Continue reading..]

Bridesmaid Dress Style 1253

Style 1253

The queens’ choice of the color white for her gown set a trend, as did the design of the lace dress. Throughout the years, a large list of core wedding items has been created and continue to be created using lace. These items include, corsets, veils, aisle runners, handkerchiefs, invitations, decorations, and even lingerie. While lace is a beautiful fabric, its use in wedding staples was not just for its decorative qualities but for practical applications also. An example of this is with the aisle runner, which when made in lace would ensure that the dirt tracked into the church by the guests at the wedding would not dirty the gown of the bride as she made her way down the aisle. On a side note, it was rumored to be a superstition that the lace aisle runner would keep the bride safe from harm of any dark spirits that may have been lurking underneath the floorboards.

Even the most primitive society made use of netted fabrics, such using fishnets for example. Archeologists have found decorative mesh fabrics from 2500 B.C., however it was the Sumerians who were first to use lace in their garment making around 4000 B.C. The ornamental lace designs that are familiar to most people today began to first appear in Europe in the 1400’s. Several countries such as Belgium have a museum dedicated to lace making, as well as other countries such as France and England. Lace is also showcased in design center and museum exhibitions across many other countries in Europe including, Ireland, Hungary, Finland, and Germany.

Lace became a highly influential and prominent part of fashion, mainly for its extraordinary workmanship used in its production. During the Renaissance, highly sought after lace designers were considered artists and would spend months working on only several inches of the fabric. Another allure of lace was the fact that it was a see-thru fabric and appealed from a sensuality aspect, showing and hiding all at the same time.

After lace was mass produced on machines the demand for lace artisans grew and people paid enormous amounts for handmade lace. Even the uber-wealthy such as the Rothschild’s and Vanderbilt’s purchased antique lace and incorporated them on different garments.

Lace is also very popular amongst celebrities. From Elizabeth Taylor to Nicky Hilton, antique lace wedding dresses are never going to go out of style. With all of the different types of lace, the combinations are practically limitless for creating a one of a kind wedding gown for a memory that will last a lifetime. If you’re looking for something sensual and romantic lace might be what exactly for you. Lace is a classic material that is exquisite and makes one of the most beautiful brides dresses.

Follow Us

Retailer Log In:

Forgot Password? Request Reset