Simple Refinement with Broderie Anglaise and Lace Trims

Now, think of your plain T-shirt or a staple skirt you have. They are nice and constant in your outfit choices - call them dependable. But are they basic ?

How can you make them, well, less basic ? 

Add a trim! Specifically a broderie anglaise or lace trim. Think a classic broderie anglaise trim in a complementary colour, stitched along the hem of your top or a Chantilly lace trim attached to the bottom of your skirt. Instantly better.

You can add trims in so many ways - to the neckline of tops, hem of jeans, skirt body, waistline. Your imagination is the limit, truly.

These trims give such an elevated, feminine look.

I recently designed a pencil skirt and top set using some leftover cotton slub Japanese fabric, lined with polka dot Indian cotton and finished with a navy broderie anglaise trim and pearl buttons I found in Kyoto. My fantastic dressmaker, brought my vision to life and it absolutely exceeded my expectations.

I'll share some photos of it below. The best part of this set is that it can be worn together or as separates.

Now I want to add trims to more of my clothes!

I had a plain black dress in stretch linen from Massimo Dutti. It’s nice but, plain. 

So, I decided to give it a lift. I machine-stitched a cream-coloured velvet ribbon to the neckline and back. Then, I hand-stitched a black lace trim over the ribbon by holding it in place with pearl and copper beads.