falbala

A dress has a delicate falbala along its hem.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A decorative trimming: "falbala" refers to a flounce or ruffle, typically made of lace or fabric, used as an ornamental border on clothing, especially women's garments.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The dress was adorned with a delicate falbala along the hem. (A decorative ruffle of lace trimmed the bottom edge of the dress.)
  • She added a falbala to the sleeves of the blouse for a more elegant look. (She attached a flounce to the sleeve cuffs as ornamentation.)

Advanced Usage

• "Falbala" in historical contexts: In 18th-century fashion, a "falbala" was a specific type of flounce sewn onto petticoats or gowns, often made of silk or lace, to create a layered, frilly appearance.
  • The court gown featured multiple falbalas, each trimmed with gold thread. (The formal dress had several layered ruffles embellished with gold.)

Variants and Related Words

• Falbala (plural: falbalas): The word can be used in its plural form to refer to multiple decorative trims.

  • The seamstress sewed several falbalas onto the skirt. (She attached multiple flounces to the garment.)

• Falbalaed (adj): decorated with a falbala or falbalas.

  • The falbalaed collar added a touch of extravagance to the coat. (The collar was trimmed with a ruffle.)

Synonyms

• Flounce: a strip of fabric gathered or pleated and attached at one edge, used as a decorative trim.
• Ruffle: a frill of gathered or pleated fabric, often used on clothing edges.
• Frill: a decorative trim, typically gathered or pleated, on a garment.

Related Idioms

• "To trim with falbalas": a historical phrase meaning to decorate elaborately with frills or ruffles.
  • The dress was trimmed with falbalas, giving it a lavish, baroque style. (The garment was adorned with multiple decorative flounces.)