Current Issue
Devotion
August2026
Somewhere, someone is still hard at work after everyone else has gone home. A performer rehearses the same movement until it feels effortless. Another stitch disappears into antique lace beneath the glow of an artist's desk lamp. A designer pulls an old sketch from a drawer, discovering the right time has finally caught up with the right idea.
It is easy to admire the finished work. The standing ovation. The beautifully restored piece. The thriving business. The wedding day. Whatever your cathedral looks like in practice.
What we see considerably less of is the private acts of faith and stewardship that makes these things possible. The willingness to keep believing when the outcome remained uncertain. The conviction that something divine was taking shape.
That is the thread woven through this issue.
We explore devotion in all its forms: to craft, to authentic self, to the people we carry with us and to the relationships that shape our lives. These stories remind us that the things we hold most sacred are shaped by what we're willing to give of ourselves.
For free, subscribe below and/or read the full issue digitally here.
With devotion,
Amanda
Cover: courtesy of Emma Vauxdevil of Cobweb Cabaret shot by @rachel.z.photography.
Feature Articles
Cover Story: In the Dressing Room with The Devil Herself: Emma Vauxdevil on Creating Cobweb Cabaret
As gothic burlesque's most distinctive production captivates audiences, Emma Vauxdevil reflects on the conviction that transformed an improbable idea into an alt fever dream
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
If you'd asked someone to predict where a Texas-born cheerleader would end up, gothic burlesque provocateur probably wouldn't have topped the list.
Then again, Emma Vauxdevil has always known how to make an entrance.
Like any accomplished burlesque performer, Emma understood the power of the slow reveal. Years of practice, careful refinement and unwavering devotion to her vision preceded the moment audiences met "The Devil Herself."
What began as dress-up in front of a childhood mirror eventually became Cobweb Cabaret, a gothic burlesque production built with uncompromising artistic direction. It stands as proof that some dreams aren't found; they're built so boldly that other people eventually discover what they were searching for all along.
Ahead, Emma reflects on the winding road from growing up in Texas to taking centre stage on the West Coast, reflecting on the perseverance that helped forge her dream into the career she couldn't imagine living without.
The Unmentionables: 13 Dark Feminine Lingerie Brands to Shop for National Underwear Day
Whether you're building your first collection or refreshing an old favourite, these beautifully crafted brands belong beneath every wardrobe
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Intimates are aptly named. They're the pieces we wear closest, often for our eyes only.
They're the garments we choose for ourselves first, not because anyone else will see them, but because of how they make us feel. Whether your confidence comes wrapped in delicate lace or your favourite cotton essentials, the right pair becomes the underpinning of the day ahead.
In celebration of National Underwear Day (August 5), we've rounded up 13 dark feminine lingerie brands that make the first layer every bit as considered as the last.
(K)night Moves: Dark Medieval Dressing for the Modern Wardrobe
Where battlefield dressing meets everyday armour
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Beneath every fairytale is a story about survival. If medieval style calls to you, perhaps it’s because there is a survivor in your bloodline? Someone that crossed an ocean. Survived a plague. Returned from a war.
These silhouettes and symbols call back to a hard-won victory, at a time when we could all use a win.
This darker interpretation of medieval dressing draws from that not-so-distant history, favouring pieces feel like homage to brave knights and the community they served, acknowledging what has come before and carrying forward its aesthetic of protection.
Love at First Site (Visit): Inside Toronto's Vegas-Style Elopement Chapel, Two of Hearts Chapel
Hannah Stein reflects on building a love letter to Toronto, creating a space where couples can celebrate with authenticity and pizzaz
By: The Lace Ledger Staff
Most often, we think of weddings as celebrations of the devotion between two people. Yet, before we can devote ourselves to a partner, we first have to remain devoted to the life we want to build.
For Two of Hearts Chapel founder Hannah Stein, that meant refusing to accept a version of a wedding that was aesthetically basic and boring, not to mention egregiously overpriced. Overwhelmed and underwhelmed by lacklustre "big wedding" options, she imagined something more fun. A place where couples could celebrate on their own terms, leaving with treasured memories instead of years of debt.
So, she created a space where couples are invited to begin the next chapter of their lives surrounded by whimsy, leaving behind the pressure of a traditional wedding in favour of the simple luxury of enjoy the moment.
One year after opening its doors, we connected with Hannah to reflect on her journey into the wedding industry, the joy of building a business unlike anything else in Toronto, why the most meaningful ceremonies are often the least complicated and what witnessing dozens of love stories has taught her about devotion—to one another and to ourselves.
Past Issues
About Us
The Lace Ledger is a gothic-inspired digital magazine for romantics, misfits and dark-femmes who live just outside the lines.
It’s a space for style, culture, decor, discourse, the arts, wellness, travel, intentional living and beyond — created for those who never fully saw themselves in mainstream media.
For those seeking a publication that values elegance with attitude, this is for you.
Founded by writer and poet Amanda Albert, The Lace Ledger blends fashion, literature and cultural curation into a digital anthology where depth meets decadence and personal style becomes its own form of storytelling.
Whether you come for the fashion, the poetry or the watch lists, we cordially invite you into a world shaped by dark feminine aesthetic with a splash of defiance.
Here you’ll find:
Style — fashion, accessories, beauty and the gothic archetypes that inspire them.
Literature + the Arts — original and beloved poetry, reading lists, gallery and bookstore recommendations, artist and author features and more.
Culture — music, film, television and fun for the romantic and the restless.
House & Haunt — moody interiors, darkly refined entertaining and decor.
Gift Guides — curated for every occasion and recipient.
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