Here is my donation for the day. It is one that many could have written: North Americans may have watched "Live with Kelly" on TV this morning. A guest was Tricia Yearwood, the country music singer. Yearwood is a mature woman, with a full figure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZg4nnXUH6EHere Be sure to look at the back of her dress when she walks in. Here is my description: Tight-fitting black sheath with dropped shoulders to which are added black set-in sleeves to elbows, V neck, hem stops above knees, trimmed with white lace. Separate narrow lace-colored belt. Two long bands of very pretty white lace (probably 8" wide and probably machine-made) were added to the basic dress. The lace went from front hem, straight up over the shoulders and straight down the back to the hem, on each side. This had the effect of making Yearwood look much heavier. When she sat for the interview portion, the dress rode up at the hem. Having studied fashion design and made all my adult clothes before age 30, I thought about how this dress and lace could be more becoming. Narrower lace, so that a bit more black showed at the sides, would have created an optical illusion that made her look slimmer. An A-line skirt, when one knows she will be seated in front of a camera or in a chair on a stage, would have covered her knees when sitting, instead of "riding up". The basic design idea is very good, and one many of you might consider wearing to a public event or celebration. My suggestion would be to put a dress (not skin tight on you) on a mannequin (or even a padded hanger) and then experiment with the width and placement of lace. The lace and dress should be colors that work with your complexion. Lace can be fragile. Choose a sturdy one that will not be stress-damaged when you sit, or end the wide lace strips at waist in back. Omit the belt. Also, be sure to have a wrap of some kind to cover the lace when using a car's (or plane's) seatbelt. Suddenly, a memory of the late Radmilla Zuman came to me. I remember a simple black dress to which she added a long strip of lace in a most complimentary diagonal placement. The dress fit properly, and she wore it at a lace event. This brought up another memory of a class she taught in a NYC museum on how to make a collar pattern for a specific dress. This is a valuable skill to learn - she laid a dress on the table and traced around the neckline and the slope of the shoulder. She cut out a paper pattern and made a few adjustments to that so it would lay flat on the dress when worn. She offered lace options for making a lace collar in various shapes. If I had been at home, I would have cut out the pattern from a scrap of fabric approximately the weight of lace, put on the dress, and made sure it really sat right. Then, I'd make allowance for threads that might retract when a collar is lifted off the lace pillow, before making a pricking. If this seems too much work, consider making a very long somewhat narrow scarf (one that is a fashion statement and not to be used for warmth). A scarf can be worn with various clothes, is easy to store, and packs well in a suitcase. To determine length/width, tear up a worn-out bed sheet in strips and drape around your neck. Antique narrow scarves exist. This is a traditional accessory. For a long useful life, never use pins to secure a scarf. To prevent damage, hand carry the scarf to events where you plan to wear it. Be wary of car doors, theater seats, stairs and the like. Wear lace. Experiment with how it will be presented to enhance your personality. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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