Start looking for tripped GFCI outlets.
If there is no power to the switch and the breaker didn’t trip there is likely a switch with GFCI on the mix.
Another possibility could be a bad breaker (assuming you don’t have actual fuses), check this by flipping the breaker off and back on. This could also help to identify other lights/outlets on the circuit. If there is a wiring problem, knowing what other devices are on the circuit could help you track the problem.
While not impossible, it is unlikely that a wire has been severed. It is possible that a wire came loose at another outlet or fixture in the circuit.
If there was a true short, the breaker would be tripped out fuse blown and it would continue to trip.
Problem exists between breaker and wall switch.
I also suck at this. There is a lazy way though you’ll have to accept a certain look. My great grandmother had doilies everywhere. Every surface was covered. Most nearly completely, a few of the bigger tables just had a small one. Once a week she would collect them all and wash them. I didn’t realize till much later in life that the purpose they served was to collect dust to keep it off your surfaces.
I wonder if something more aesthetically passing to the modern eye would be as effective or if the intricate lace is important to the function.