Red Spanish

The saturated red silk of this bodice shows tremendous wear and tear from years of use. The telltale sewing tracks that follow the seams speak of various dancers and fittings. The repeated repairs on the buttonholes, that move from very well done to a nonchalant repair in yellow thread, show the lack of care toward the end of the life of the garments use.

That kind of detail, along with the final shredding silk, are all features of vintage pieces that are just so beautiful to me. The black velvet top piece is trimmed out in a traditional lace pattern that has been rendered in metallic thread and tied with a lowly simple black string that was no doubt added over time. Gold sequined balls trim the sleeve edges to add glittery light and movement to the garment and thus the performance.