I have explored in a previous post last year the ruff/jewellery connection mentioning 3D textile designer Katherine Wardropper who seems to be able to create amazing and timeless ruff-like pieces to wear as necklaces, brooches and hairdresses.
I actually love ruffs, it’s a passion I have developed as a child at Carnival time when detachable tulle ruffs were often used to complete various costumes for the masks of the Commedia dell'Arte of for quite a few Shakesperean characters.
Originally ruffs were just small frills drawn up at the neck of a shirt, it was only later on that they grew up in size and became detachable.
The classic Elizabethan ruff is the cartwheel ruff, with its closed pleats encircling the wearer’s neck and producing that distinctive head on a plate look.
I still have old bits and pieces of Carnival costumes from when I was a child and the ruffs are actually the part I like to wear the most. I often use them as if they were extravagant pieces of jewellery.
My interest in neckwear and ruffs was rekindled a few days ago when I saw some ruffs by Stefano Nicolao at his atelier in Venice. All the ruffs were handmade pleating white fabric in elaborate figure-of-eight folds and were decorated with black, white or golden lace.
Prices vary according to the lace used (white and black lace is less expensive, coming up at €120 while a golden lace ruff can set you back €150), yet they all offer interesting possibilities, especially when worn with everyday clothes rather than as pieces of costumes. My favourite ruff is the one with white lace as I think it would work better with different clothes and looks and it could offer more possibilities than black or gold, especially if decorated with pearls or crystals.
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Could you post pictures of you wearing your ruffs, my dear?
Posted by: Nicole | March 06, 2013 at 02:53 AM