Even centuries ago, people desired fashion that was more than just functional, but beautiful as well. While a dress can cover up a person and keep them warm, there’s a difference between a plain dress and one that’s truly stunning.

In the past, designs were taken from boring to beautiful through the use of trimming. Things such as ribbons, lace, braids, even tassels are all examples of trimming that were placed on high fashion back in the 1800s-compare this to today, where such decorations are often considered to be gaudy on our modern clothing. This change in fashion is because the evolution of sewing and trimming in the last century are linked closely.

Trimming as High Fashion

Skilled sewing and trimming that was elaborate were once signs of status, particularly in Victorian fashion, where one had to look just right in order to be accepted as a member of high society. The was before the rise of the sewing machine, so all these embellishments to clothing were done by hand; paying by the hour for a seamstress to do all the sewing and trimming for a garment would be very expensive. So a dress with a lot of trim became a status symbol, because it represented someone that could easily afford to have such a garment made.

Enter the Sewing Machine

Sewing machines such as those made by the Singer Company grew in popularity at the turn of the century, made sewing a much easier task than it once was. The simple, easy to use design of the sewing machine made sewing and trimming more elaborate garments at home a snap. Of course, once such things became popular with the masses, they declined in popularity with the upper classes. This means that the popularity of home sewing and trimming as fashion were inversely proportional; that is, as one rose in popularity, the other fell.

To the Modern Era

Since the 1930s, trimming has remained fairly low in popularity. Some notable exceptions include items like fringed vests, made in imitation of country styles, which has been popular in the 1990s and in a popularity of elaborately trimmed home fashions in the 1980s.

But given the time since its decline, trimming has started to show in expensive fashions again, including the prestigious clothing made by the House of Chanel and other fashion houses, which have created a market based on haute couture, which consists of high-fashion and custom clothing, bringing us full-circle back to the traditions of Victorian times, with dresses made from hand-sewing and trimming that is elaborate. It seems as long as there is a market for quality, handcrafted clothing, there will be a place for trimming somewhere in the fashion world.