Laced with Love

Chantilly:
Originally made in France, this bridal favorite has a wispy weight, floral design, and scalloped edges.
Photo by Bill Tyler

Alençon:
First developed in Alençon, France, this variety is favored for its intricate lace designs of flowers and swags made sturdy by outlining in heavy cording.
Photo by Bill Tyler

Venetian Point:
A heavy needlepoint type of lace originally made in Venice, this features a raised, almost three-dimensional floral or geometric pattern.
Photo by Bill Tyler

Valenciennes:
First manufactured during the reign of Louis XIV, this lace remains popular for its small floral or bow patterns.
Photo by Bill Tyler

The Legacy of Lace

Lace making is a time-intensive craft that involves looping, braiding, and interlacing thread to form a pattern. The art has existed for centuries, but we can credit Queen Victoria with making lace a mainstay in bridal couture. For her wedding to Prince Albert of Germany in 1840, she commissioned a lace train and veil that took more than 100 workers six months to complete. The photos were so widely published that she inspired the lace trend and brought the white wedding dress into vogue.

By the Victorian era, few brides marched down the aisle without a touch of frilly threadwork on their gowns. In 1956, Grace Kelly inspired brides of her era to embrace lace again when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in an antique Valenciennes rose-point lace gown.

Lace still reigns, and whether fashioned into a full gown or used as an accent, the subtle romance and historical significance of this fabric will never go out of style. Many designers, including Lela Rose and Elizabeth Fillmore, use lace in a modern way that includes oversized, almost crotchet-inspired patterns. If your tastes tend toward the traditional, however, options abound. A chantilly gown has a light and ethereal look, while classic Alençon is better for more fitted styles.