Hi all, What is the terminology for the technique or style of the bodice overlay of this dress? All that came to mind is rope lace but I know that's not a thing. Thank you Victoria
I am not a lace expert, Victoria, but I would call this a woven crochet overlay. You may want to hear from some others who might pipe in.
This appears to guipure medallions. Guipure is a lace made like a burn-out with two different fibers. The design is stitched onto one "fabric" the entire piece is treated with a material to dissolve the base fabric. They appear to be individual medallions sewn together, not a wide lace. Rayon is often used for the base fabric since it can be dissolved with an acetone -type product.
It is a chemical lace - embroidered chemical lace - as Claire describes. This is now called guipure lace, but guipure was originally a bobbin lace. not chemical. It is not crochet lace, though it does have something of the style of crochet lace. I would probably describe it as an embroidered guipure lace overlay.
