Handmade Lace--a dead art?

The incredibly intricate and ancient process of making lace by hand began to gain popularity in the 1700's for the royal court. 

Since only a handful of people knew the craft, lace was a luxury that only the wealthy could afford.

Girls went to school as young as five years old to learn the craft of lace making that would become their career for the rest of their lives.

Lace was created to replace embroidery to create a greater variety of fashion looks.

Unlike embroidery, lace can be taken off one garment and sewn on another.

Lace making by hand is considered to be on its way to becoming a dead art.  Mainly due to the machines that have been invented to replace the need to learn the craft of lace making.

Bobbin Lace and Needle Lace are the oldest forms of lace making.

Above is a picture of Bobbin Lace making where all the bobbins are used to braid and twist the thread.

So next time you wear that sexy lace bra/top/dress thank modern machinery for allowing you to feel feminine and great!

1960's-- Fashion Revolts!

60’s fashion is absolutely one of my favorite decades that I find to be incredibly inspiring, fun and full of life.

The free-spirit energy in a time of bright hope and optimism was translated into fashion trends that broke many traditions just like the social movements that defined this era.

How I wish that I could be a flower child in the 60’s dressed in imaginative and comfortable clothes--wide wale corduroy bell bottoms, loads of jewelry, velvet tops, fringed leather vests and bare feet.

 I want making daisy crowns to be part of my daily routine instead of going on facebook!

I would have loved to be part of a time where all you had to do was display a peace sign and say “Groovy” to let someone know you dug their threads.

Janis Joplin was one of the most influential style icons of the 60’s who is still a fashion inspiration today. Most people don’t know that Janis loved clothes, but indeed she did. Here is a great Janis fashion quote:

"FASHION NEWS: I went out & bought myself a $35 pair of boots. Oh they are so groovey!! They're old-fashioned in their style-tight w/buttons up the front. Black. FANTASTIC! When I get back, I'm going to rent a sewing machine & make myself some sort of beautiful/outlandish dress to go w/them."

- Janis Joplin, September 1966

And we can't forget about the sexiest man of the 60's...Mr. Jimi Hendrix. 

His style was impecable, always sporting a "look" that was creative and bold.

Band posters from the 60's are so inspiring since they were done by hand--take THAT Photoshop!

Take me to Woodstock please!

1897--Railroads and Corsets.

After visiting Rail Town in Jamestown (near Yosemite) I couldn’t stop imagining how women might have walked around this train station before the turn of the 20^th century.

In 1897 the railway to Jamestown was complete, while fashion was still evolving at the end of the Victorian era.

In the late 1800’s skirts and sleeves bloomed to their fullest.  

In the early 1900's the S-bend corset was created to create the illusion of an even slimmer waist by forcing the torso forward. By forcing the hips back and the bust forward, it was believed that this took pressure off the abdomen and provided better posture.

Thank goodness I don't have to lace up a corset when I get dressed everyday!

These hats are fabulous! 

These highly decorated French late Victorian hats are to die for. 

Next time I go on a train I would love to wear a hat like this!