What is Broderie Anglaise?

Known for its distinctive round patterned cut-outs in fabrics for a delicate effect, Broderie Anglaise – or ‘English embroidery’ in French – is an embroidery technique combined with cutwork that often takes inspiration from nature and is typically made up of floral shapes using cotton or linen fabric. Although its origins trace back to Austria in the 16th century, Broderie Anglaise did not reach popularity en masse until the 19th century in England. Today, it remains on trend and has been incorporated into several genres of apparel by major fashion labels over the decades.

The History and Emergency of Broderie Anglaise in Mainstream Fashion

The intricate style of Broderie Anglaise is widely known for its traditional white finish and became first popular in the 1840s during the Victorian era, where it was heavily featured in underwear, babies’ clothes, and nightwear. The aesthetic was associated with luxury and heralded for creating items using open worked spaces in various shapes and sizes. In the beginning, transfers were used to layout designs on the materials with some holes punched out with embroidery stilettos before finishing the edges. By the start of the 1870s, Broderie Anglaise designs and techniques had become so popular that it was copied by hand-embroidery machines from Switzerland, which has now become the standard way to create the style.

Fashion Resurgence of Broderie Anglaise

In the 20th century, the look again came to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s via fashion icons of the silver screen. From supermodel Twiggy to movie star Brigitte Bardot, who featured the look in her wedding dress in 1959, broderie anglaise struck a chord. 

Formerly only seen on white cotton or linen, Broderie Anglaise now began to show up in a myriad of rainbow hues in apparel. The style has been revamped with more statement silhouettes, intricate patterns, and irregular embroidery, and can be seen on the runways of brands such as Kate Spade, Oscar De La Renta, and Lela Rose during Fashion Week. The lightweight fabric and stitching have made the style a staple in beachwear. It is become popular in the athleisure market as well and continues to trend with people both young and old.  In the 21st century, it is viewed as a more practical fashion item for daytime and casual events during the spring and summer seasons.

Consider the Classic Appeal of Broderie Anglaise

With its slightly heavier nature, broderie anglaise is perfect for warmer months, and is easily paired with fitted jeans, an oversized cardigan or with boots and sandals. The delicate, intricate look is the perfect casual relaxed outfit that works for a variety of occasions effortlessly.