Beautiful ribbons are a lightweight, easily transportable treasure. Long before integrating ribbon into clothing you could find me in the local fabric store gazing into glass cabinets filled with ribbon and lace or leaning into the bin piled with leftover ribbon still on the cardboard spools.
In an article by Olivia Allen on January 27th, British Vogue predicts “Spring 2026 Will Be Defined by the ‘Bonkers’ Skirt”. Unique skirts are a way to “…spark joy” and as noted by senior sustainability and features editor Emily Chan, “Paired with a simple black roll neck (turtleneck), it’s an easy way to inject some fun without having to try too hard.”
Flowers inspire me and are the subject of much of my creative work but when it comes to clothing my choice is usually a solid color and most often black, cream, tan, or navy. However, in the past few years designers have been using floral fabric in ways that could tempt even a a stark minimalist.
My journal is, among other things, a place to remember, record, and refine ideas in the works. When thinking about making or redesigning apparel it often helps to sketch out the idea and think about how to proceed. Fashion designers typically create sketches and/or drape fabric on mannequins or models before creating the final design. in this case, we begin with three webbed belts and a classic blazer from my skirt suit days.
Ribbons tied around a swanlike neck, ribbons encircling a waist, grazing a shoulder, wound around a head of hair, trailing from a sleeve, or fluttering on a skirt; ribbons have been an aspect of fashion since the Egyptians wrapped metal, leather, or ribbon around their heads to hold their hair in place.
A recent article in British Vogue (‘Tis the Season to Invest in a Vintage Party Bag’ by Alice Cary) sparked a train of thought.
When an occasion is on the horizon do you rush out to buy something new to wear? This was my customary process in the past. Now, with online articles and images featuring upcycled garments, you, like me, might be interested in the process of creative reuse of fabric, decorative trim and lace, or the garments themselves.
One morning while having coffee and reading with my husband I said, more to myself than anyone else, “Can’t remember which design house has just hired Peter Copping as its artistic director…” My brilliant husband who is constantly building his knowledge base replied, “Lanvin…”
While your first thought of crochet in the past might have been of doilies on chair backs there has been a resurgence of interest in crochet lace and innovators such as Roisin Pierce and Magda Butrym are reinventing the art and creating storied and breathtaking clothing.
While waiting at the cutting table at a fabric store in downtown San Antonio my attention was drawn to this pale griege rose covered lace. A closer look revealed scalloped edges; it had to come with me. The man cutting the lace remarked on its beauty and said he could see it as a full skirt in the style of the fifties – think Dior bar suit skirt.