Mirror work

Shisha, or mirror work, is bold at a distance and fussy up close, and it is held in place by thread rather than glue.

How it is actually done

Each mirror sits inside a ring of worked thread that grips its edge. That ring is the whole craft of it: too loose and the mirror turns or falls out, too tight and it cracks. Glued mirrors are quicker and they come off, and once one has gone the gap is obvious because the eye notices a missing point of light immediately.

What it does in a room

Mirror work is the design that reads from furthest away. Under hall lighting it catches and moves as the wearer does, which no amount of stone achieves. That makes it strong for a reception, a sangeet or any function in a large room.

Where to use it and where not to

A waist band, a sleeve edge or a back yoke suits it. All over a blouse it becomes a great deal at once and quite heavy. Round mirrors read traditional, square ones read modern, and mixing sizes within one design usually looks accidental rather than deliberate.

It combines well with bead and thread and badly with heavy stone, which competes with it for the same attention.