Fringe Is Back & I’m as Surprised as You Are
Okay, look, let me be perfectly honest: this post wasn’t my idea. When Arlyn, our Design Editor, suggested that I write about fringe as a new design trend, my initial reaction was, well, skeptical. My associations with fringe are few, and unflattering: that leg lamp from “A Christmas Story”, cheap costumes from low-budget Wild West saloon scenes, heavy tassels hanging from overdone 1980s window treatments. But, gamely, I dived into a little Pinterest research. My first search yielded only pictures of bangs, but my second search, where I appended the word “interiors,” was unexpectedly fruitful. Arlyn was right—fringe is back.
Follow Topics for more like this
Follow for more stories like this
It’s the same, really, as with any other trend. Fringe hasn’t changed (that much): we have. Our appetite for the luxe, the textured, the weird, has increased lately, and with that I think we’re realizing something that’s been true all along, which is that fringe doesn’t have to be part of something that’s floofy and overdone. It’s actually a really beautiful accent in a modern interior, adding a bit of Art Deco flair while still feeling light and fun.
The ornate fringed chandelier in this room from Around the Houses was based on a DIY from Justina Blakeney.
This lamp, in a photo from The Apartment (via Lauren Conrad), looks a lot like the one above. But it’s not a DIY at all: it’s a vintage ceiling light by Hans-Agne Jakobsson, a midcentury Swedish designer who also created lots of similar fixtures. Everything old, as they say, is new again.
Munna’s Fringes Armchair looks like something from an Art Deco lounge, in the best possible way.
This deliciously monochromatic interior from French by Design shakes things up with a bit of texture, in the form of a velvet banquette, with accompanying fringe.
This elegant fringed chair is available in the online shop at SF Girl by Bay, for $749. In a subtle, no-frills room, it’s the star.
Upholstered furniture in the bathroom always feels like a bit of a luxury, and a fringed velvet ottoman particularly so. This luxurious space was spotted on French by Design.
This interior from Soho House, the club for well-heeled creatives, was spotted on Soho Home. The fringe definitely feels very fancy, although my sympathy goes out to anyone who has to clean the floor.
In addition to this luxury cheese grater, designer Lorenza Bozzoli is really doing interesting things with fringe. In this stool design, spotted on Present & Correct, different lengths and colors of fringe form a delightfully touchable pattern.
The contrasting fringe takes this sofa from Editions Milano from a typical midcentury-esque design to a truly unique offering.
This Brooklyn loft, spotted on Front + Main, features Ben & Aja Blanc’s fringed Half Moon Mirror (which is also seen in the lead of this post). The fringe here is a bit shaggier than what you would normally see, almost messy, which adds texture and gives the piece an intriguing, modern vibe.
When trends combine: Mooi’s new Amami sofa has fringe that’s dyed in an ombre pattern.
Fringe on lighting is weird but unexpectedly good. This design, by VI + M Studio, also comes in a mauve + mint colorway that I’m a little in love with.
What do you think of fringe being back? Eager to try it at home yourself, or hoping it stays planted, forgotten, in the past?