10th Commandment: June 13
Jun 13, 2013
Summer lovin’, happened so fast…
My fling with all things broderie continues. Crisp, white and feminine, I just can’t get enough.
This obsession with broderie began thanks to this amazing dress from Burberry. I also adore this stunning black dress from Victoria Beckham. But in a more affordable price point, I like the simpler fabric on this French Connection dress and this cap sleeve sundress with a wealth of texture.
Petite? I like this strapless shift dress. Plus size? This shirt dress is fantastic.
Like broderie but not crazy about the dresses? I found this gorgeous blouse with an elbow-length sleeve and this simpler short sleeve blouse. And Dorothy Perkins is selling the loveliest full skirt in white broderie.
For those of you tired of my white dress addiction, I’m trying to find a treatment program. But the jones is strong.
The correct term for this type of whitework is “Broderie Anglaise”, “English embroidery”. “Broderie” just means embroidery, which is meaningless in this context.
I used broderie because the stores did. I wasn’t sure if that was because the retailers are British, so maybe the Anglaise was a given, or because it was somehow different.
I think the retailers are lazy/ignorant. Broderie Anglaise is a technical term dating from when all lace was handmade, whether bobbin, needle, embroidered, and sadly now machine. Unless you follow the history of needlework, as I do, it is easy to get sloppy and use abbreviated terminology, but that doesnt make it correct. Im English and I have never seen this type of lace, even the machine made, referred to as just Broderie so my guess is the retailers are forgetting what these terms mean and just using something “pretty”. Like “Lingerie” mispronounced, for underwear, when it actually me ands dishclouts and such…..
I am also obsessed with white summer dresses, and last summer I bought this one from Bloomingdales. It’s really cute on and fairly cheap (but doesn’t look cheap!). It’s a bit on the short side for me (I’m 5’7), but just perfect with flats!
https://www1.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/aqua-party-dress-knit-eyelet-short-sleeves?ID=704708&CategoryID=8961&LinkType=&color=White#fn=COLOR%3DWhite%26WOMENS_APPAREL_TYPE%3DDresses%26spp%3D7%26ppp%3D96%26sp%3D1%26rid%3D99%26spc%3D15