What is Mantilla?

Mantilla is a lady lace scarf that is worn above the head like a veil. This type of clothing is most often worn in Spain. In fact, the word "Mantilla" is Spanish for "Little Mantle". Although Mantilka was once quite popular, it is usually worn only for special occasions and religious celebrations in modern times. Spanish Muslim women traditionally wore veils to cover their faces. Later, women from the lower classes began to wear the cloaks, although they were made of heavier fabric and worn more like a coat or cape. At the end of the 16th century, the upper class ladies were light, lace cloaks. During the 17th century, Queen Isabel II further popularized these decorative lace. In modern times, they are worn mainly at weddings, bull matches and during the week before Easter or Holy Week. In accordance with the tradition of some Catholic women, they still wear Mantil to the church. It is also traditional to dress one of these lace scarves for a meeting with the Pope.

There are three types of mantile, each of which is characterized by a different type of lace fabric or motif. The blonde Lace variety is made of two types of silk, usually with a floral motif. Chantilly lace shells are heavily embroidered with fruit, flowers and even vegetable patterns. They take their name from the city in France, where lace was originally made. The brides tend to wear tulled sheaths that are embroidered with lace motifs.

Only two colors are easily available: white and black. White is reserved for free women while black wears married women. The bride usually wear white on her wedding day.

Mantilly are large, oval pieces Fabric. To wear one, the woman covers the fabric over her head and fixes her to the hair with a pin. The resulting silhouette is elegant and straight.

Often Romla is worn with a peinet or a decorative ridge that holds a lace fabric and gives the woman an extremely height. Although they were once made from a turtle, Peineta are usually plastic or other synthetic materials. This style of the ridge is most often worn during wedding, dances and parades. Flamenco flamenco dancers traditionally wear Peineta to keep their cloaks in place. Peineta is also part of folk costumes in Andalusia and Valencia.