Edwardian dress? What kind of lace?
- Thread starter zannew
- Start date
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
A close up will help but they're usually made of broderie anglais, each hole will be stitched around in satin stitch. Older types are often hand stitched but I think yours is from the 'teens when they're usually machined (which is good, it's a lot of work to sew all that embroidery!).
I've just finished watching Parade's End (love!) and the character of Valentine, who is a young unmarried woman, wears dresses like these.
This scene is from about 1913 I think, not long before the War.
I've just finished watching Parade's End (love!) and the character of Valentine, who is a young unmarried woman, wears dresses like these.
This scene is from about 1913 I think, not long before the War.
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
Well that surprised me! I wasn't expecting it to look like that on close up: you're right, it's not embroidered, it's a type of woven lace or perhaps drawn thread work. Interesting!
I loved Parade's End, but I think it's suffered from comparisons to Downton Abbey, which is essentially a soap opera set in period style. Parade's End is a literary adaptation and if you stick through the earlier episodes, which aren't light and fluffy, you will be rewarded. The costumes and sets were exceptional but so is the script and performances. You can see my blog post here.
I loved Parade's End, but I think it's suffered from comparisons to Downton Abbey, which is essentially a soap opera set in period style. Parade's End is a literary adaptation and if you stick through the earlier episodes, which aren't light and fluffy, you will be rewarded. The costumes and sets were exceptional but so is the script and performances. You can see my blog post here.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
Hi,
That is pretty. It looks to be a bit later than Edwardian, maybe 1913 to 1914. But I cannot tell much from the photos. It is not a tea dress, although one could certainly wear it to tea I suppose, and some sellers today use that term (although incorrectly in my opinion). As a matter of fact, the term "tea dress" was not a common phrase back then. You might be thinking of "tea gown" which this definitely is not. The fabric, to me, is more of a lace fabric, than a true lace. I know, I am splitting hairs! It has the look of drawn work, but I cannot imagine it is hand done. Hand drawn work would not be done in such a large, all over pattern that just repeats over and over, and the rest of the dress is so very plain and simply made, so pairing it with hand work seems like a mis-match to me. I suspect this was made at home by a thrifty sewer, using machine made fabrics that were purchased at a dry goods store, or cut from another garment. You might call it a lingerie dress (but that might confuse some inexperienced buyers) or call it a garden party dress or lawn party dress. It might also be a graduation dress.
Pretty whatever you decide to call it.
That is pretty. It looks to be a bit later than Edwardian, maybe 1913 to 1914. But I cannot tell much from the photos. It is not a tea dress, although one could certainly wear it to tea I suppose, and some sellers today use that term (although incorrectly in my opinion). As a matter of fact, the term "tea dress" was not a common phrase back then. You might be thinking of "tea gown" which this definitely is not. The fabric, to me, is more of a lace fabric, than a true lace. I know, I am splitting hairs! It has the look of drawn work, but I cannot imagine it is hand done. Hand drawn work would not be done in such a large, all over pattern that just repeats over and over, and the rest of the dress is so very plain and simply made, so pairing it with hand work seems like a mis-match to me. I suspect this was made at home by a thrifty sewer, using machine made fabrics that were purchased at a dry goods store, or cut from another garment. You might call it a lingerie dress (but that might confuse some inexperienced buyers) or call it a garden party dress or lawn party dress. It might also be a graduation dress.
Pretty whatever you decide to call it.
Rue_de_la_Paix
VFG Member
It is pretty, and I might suggest when you show it, wrap the waist in a blue or pink sash to dress it up, and it probably had a belt or sash originally.
Circa Vintage Clothing
Alumni
If you soak this in an Oxy cleaner, the yellowing will probably come out - when I said "woven lace", that's what I meant too, not a lace but a fabric. I agree with Barbara that it is unlikely to be drawn thread work, just that it has that look about it.