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I consider lace feminine because of the intricate patterns and delicate materials used. Lace can be made from cotton, silk, flax, or synthetic fibers. Before mass production, all lace was handmade. An experienced lacer will spend up to two hours just to make one inch of lace. The process was incredibly tedious and time consuming which made lace that much more valuable. Only those who were wealthy would be able to afford lace. Women who made their own lace, were highly respected because of the skill and patience involved. I feel that understanding the process and production adds to the femininity because of the time and skill it took to create something so luxurious.
Today, lace is often used on lingerie and undergarments as the fabric or as a design detail. For many people, this could be the main reason why we associate lace with femininity. However, lace isn’t only used for undergarments, designers such as Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen, and Valentino all used lace as outerwear for Spring 2011 ready to wear. Many of these garments are sheer and reveals the outline and shape of a women’s body.