THROWIN’ IT BACK TO RICRAC

As notions go for sewing, few can compare to the undulating wave of rickrack, or in the south - “ricrac.” Growing up, most of my homespun ensembles were embellished with ricrac, so it is no surprise that I am loving it in my adult dresses, as well. With summer around the corner, my annual obsession with the perfect sun dress resumes. This year, I am seeing all sorts of old school notions adorning some of my favorite labels.

This Juliet Dunn dress is one of many this season that I am coveting…cannot think of anything more perfect than this tiny flower print and GLITTER RICRAC - be still my heart.

*Juliet Dunn - Pleated Floral-Print Cotton-Twill Dress*

Lisa Marie Fernandez must have also grown up in the 70’s because her vibe is all old school (per usual) with this timeless maxi.

*Lisa Marie Fernandez - Rickrack-Trimmed Broderie-Anglaise Cotton Dress*

Boden is offering full-on Grecian, euphoric vibes with this summer essential.

You know it is a good thing when even J.Crew is getting into the game with this spunky thing - notice they spell it “rickrack.”

*J.Crew - Ruffle One-Shoulder One-Piece Swimsuit in Seersucker with RickRack*

It may surprise you to learn that ricrac is a somewhat new advent in the passementerie (that’s a fancy word for trim) world. An American invention around the 1880s, ricrac, which is the gradational reduplication of rack, was used to hide the edges of fabric before sewing machines were as common as coffee makers. The ricrac held up better in repeated washings versus a lace edge (plus, oooh the itch factor of lace). I love thinking about the cotton bloomers and edges of aprons all being adorned with this soft staple. And the fancy neighbor who decided why have one row of ricrac, when you can have many?

*Some 1950s vibes adorning aprons with…of course…RICRAC!*

If you still aren’t convinced about the sheer power and influence of ricrac, look no further than footwear designers, such as Loeffler Randall and Boden, who are utilizing it while simultaneously changing the shoe game. Kudos to the diva sporting these by the pool this summer!

*Loeffler Randall - Olive Ruffle Pool Slide*

Seriously? Golden Goose is laying brown eggs compared to these amazing leather and suede specimens. Perfect for summer.

*Loeffler Randall - Elliot Rickrack-Trimmed Leather and Suede Sneakers*

A Boden collab with ricrac perfecting a flawless espadrille.

*Boden - Violette Espadrilles: Chambray and Red Pop Ric Rac*

And did you know that there is a ricrac plant? Actually it is a cactus…but stumbling upon this specimen has me blissing out today.

From a die-hard ricrac fan herself, here’s a life hack that ups your ante…Amen!

About

Contact

INSTAGRAM FEED

When your seamstress texts you that today’s install is in their top 5 you naturally love the day even more. I can’t think of any combination I love more than the corals, blues and greens. Never miss an opportunity to line your drapes with something exceptional. #scwinteriors #lifeofshaz #delightinginthedetails #drapery #dressingwindows #draperydesign #customdrapery #coral #silk

Illuminating how travel impacts the creative process. If you’ve ever wondered what designers “see” when they are exploring the world this might sum it up. A camera full of delighting in the details. And while this is probably boring to many it provides me with mountains of things to consider. Patterns, ratios, color play, profiles, symmetry, undulation, hinges, and so much more. When my daughter asks me “mom, what are you thinking about?” The answer is simple. I am thinking about math and execution and materials and the discipline, time and patience required to bring these details into existence. I am also thinking how grateful I am to the people who for centuries had the brilliance to share these gifts. C’est la vie: this is life… #scwinteriors #traveldiaries #delightinginthedetails #frenchtravel #interiorinspo #interiordesign

Loving something so deeply apparently makes us hostage to fortune. The great impediment to other pursuits. Joan Didion describes having children as being terrifying and says if you’ve ever been fearful of losing a dog you’re pre disposed to this terror as a parent. 🙋‍♀️Loving my little Lulu was a gift. She was my shadow and constant companion so when she was not in the room I knew something was amiss. What an incredible gamble it is to love. We subconsciously know that there will be a window in which we will be separated and yet we roll the dice and double down to love harder thinking it is stronger than fate and we can somehow will the other to stay forever. …. Alas, we are here with one gaping, soul crushing crater of memories…. wishing we could hold, kiss and smell her just one more time. Eternity is promised and I intend to collect. Until then I’ll be whispering your name on the breeze my forever little Lulu.

It took some convincing but we finally have a love match. A few years of joking about the models drawn for scale in our drawings and wha-lah. We finally have an equitable situation. Notice how nice his calves look with those heels 🤣🤣🤣. I love nothing more than laughing and I hope this makes you laugh too. #scwinteriors #lifeofshaz #scwinteriordesign #letsallwearheels #livingtolaugh

I remember the first time I read “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” I had more questions about his spiritual after life than I did about the meaning of his time on earth. Shocking. The book is about an ordinary seagull who is not interested in the mundane rituals of the other seagulls but of a bird who pushes against the flock by pursuing his passion for extraordinary flight. The book is part divinity and mostly a spiritual search to find meaning and ultimately acceptance as an outlier. This week 30 years ago I graduated from college. And this week my daughter graduates from the same college, in the same city, in the same week. If I am honest, this has been an unanticipated time of introspection. The beauty of getting older is being able to see clearly how your life has unfolded and the realization that there was a master plan that you never could have dreamed up in your wildest imagination. To all the graduates out there…be an outlier. Don’t be afraid that not joining the flock will be lonely, because some days it will. The purest joy I can conceive is knowing that following your passion might make you the leader of the pack but more importantly it will make you the leader of YOUR life. Tomorrow at this table I will raise a glass to all the graduates with a prayer that their wing span will know no limits. #collegegrad #hookem #celebration #jonathanlivingstonseagull #scwinteriors #lifeofshaz

It’s a dry lay Friday in honor of all the mom’s who lay their hearts on the line for their children everyday. Shoutout to the moms who have moved to different cities to make covid or the commute easier. To the stepmom who spent painstaking hours redoing two rooms for her new step children and then bought a new home to create bigger spaces for them to roam. To the mother in law who wants to redo her son’s room to make her daughter in law feel like it is hers too. To the moms who request special linings for their light sensitive kids. To the mom who brought her adult daughter to preview the selections for a room in her mom’s new home and pulled her in by the waist to give her a reassuring hug. To the mom who turned 80 this year and let us roll through her house like thunder readying for her impromptu party. To the mom who nursed her daughter back to health surrounded by new bed linens and squishy pillows. To all the moms. I see you. I feel you. I hear you. There is no love as great as the love of a mom. Wishing you all the most special weekend celebrating our best role in life. #scwinteriors#lifeofshaz #momsrock #momlife #celebratemom #deligthinginthedetails

Life of Shaz Life Hacks

THROWIN’ IT BACK TO RICRAC