Samples of 20th century lace fashion are on exhibit through Feb. 28 at the Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection at NDSU.

An example of the items being displayed is an early 20th century detachable lace collar gifted to the collection by Charles and Cora Corwin.

Lace is an openwork fabric formed by fine threads in which the spaces are as important as the designed areas. It was called punto in aria, or “stiches in air,” and at one time held greater value than gold.

In the 1600s, lace communicated the high status of men and women in society. “It was the ultimate status symbol,” said Ann W. Braaten, assistant professor of practice and curator of the Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection. “Wearing lace was so important that men sold their farms and mills in order to pay for the lace in one of their outfits.”

By the 1800s, the popularity of lace changed as men rejected flamboyant, show-stopping, lace-decorated garments in favor of somber-colored business suits. Lace became tied to femininity. Handmade lace was greatly valued and the rising middle classes created a growing demand for it. Industrialists mechanized lace production and machine-made lace is popular today. The exhibit shows both machine-made and handmade lace.

The Emily Reynolds Historic Costume Collection is located on the fourth floor of the Katherine Kilbourne Burgum Family Life Center, 1400 Centennial Blvd. It is a repository of material culture focusing on clothing, textiles and related items. The collection, which includes more than 5,000 items, works to reveal how such objects serve as a record of life through collection, preservation and study.

For more information, visit www.ndsu.edu/erhcc or contact Braaten at 701-231-7367.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.