Altered Couture Lace Bolero Vest Reconstructed Vintage, Bridal Shrug

Altered Couture, Lace Bolero Vest, Reconstructed Vintage Wedding Shrug

Lace Bolero vest, altered couture from vintage laces and fabric by ResurrectionRags

I like to tell the stories of the clothes that I create, especially when I use handmade vintage linens and laces. I started this piece years ago and got stumped and buried it among the rest of my unfinished projects hoping someday to have that Eureka! moment that would bring it to life.



 It started out to be a little cropped top made from crepe rayon left over from a reconstruct of an 80's grunge dress, remember the big floral Maxi length dresses with the empire waist and tiered skirts?  This was the bodice, what was left of it, after using the copious ruffles in several other projects.  The front panel is a vintage hanky made of fine Irish linen with very intricate hand embroidery using a technique called Dresden Work, drawn thread embroidery.  

For me it was a little too plain and seemed too delicate to wear. I stashed it away and mostly forgot it.

Fast forward to when I recently moved back to Miami Florida, my home town and had to organize my stash of vintage fabrics into a much smaller place and sorted all of my unfinished projects and decided I needed to finish them. Unfinished business is not good for the soul and it's really not good for creativity. 

I auditioned a few possibilities before the aha pieces fit together for me.  part of a Battenburg lace collar (above) on the right side and a very delicate handmade tatted doily on the left side. I liked the doily but the Battenburg lace was too bold and a little stiff for the backing.

This (above) was a piece from a vintage peasant top which was made of patchwork vintage laces and handkerchiefs. It was beautiful but way too delicate, for wearing. 

This was a corner of a vintage table runner, it was strong enough and fit perfectly. The floral lace trim along the top was leftovers from a wedding dress I made a few years ago. All of the elements were sewn on by hand, beads were added and VOILA!

                                              

Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoyed the story. I use to sell at a farmer's market and I miss telling the stories and the interaction with the new owners of my pieces.

Enjoy!!  

Feel free to visit my etsy shop to see more altered couture designs, vintage jewelry, reconstructed jewelry, handmade flowers and accessories, and much more...  
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