fabric
Chiffon
Chiffon is a lightweight, sheer fabric with a slightly rough feel, woven from silk or synthetic fibers, that floats and moves with the body.
Queen of Victoria
Dress for the occasion.
Glossary
Fabrics: the glossary
Dress fabrics defined one by one, with line drawings, when to wear each fabric and what to pair it with.
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Lace
Lace is an openwork fabric of threads looped, twisted or knotted into patterns, from fine Chantilly to heavier corded and guipure styles.
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Organza
Organza is a thin, sheer, crisp fabric, traditionally silk and now often synthetic, that holds volume and shape.
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Satin
Satin is a weave, not a fiber, that gives a smooth, glossy face and a dull back; it is made from silk, polyester and other fibers.
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Sequin
Sequin fabric is a base cloth, often mesh or tulle, covered with small reflective discs sewn on in rows or patterns.
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Taffeta
Taffeta is a crisp, smooth, tightly woven fabric with a soft sheen that rustles as it moves and holds a full shape.
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Tulle
Tulle is a lightweight, fine net fabric, usually nylon, silk or polyester, used in layers to build volume in skirts and veils.
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Crepe
Crepe is a fabric with a fine, slightly crinkled or pebbled surface and a matte finish, made from silk, wool or synthetics, that drapes cleanly.
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Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber spun by silkworms, woven into many fabrics, including satin, chiffon, crepe, charmeuse and dupioni.
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Charmeuse
Charmeuse is a lightweight satin-weave fabric with a glossy face and a matte back, made from silk or synthetics, that drapes fluidly.
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Velvet
Velvet is a woven fabric with a short, dense pile that gives a soft, plush surface and a rich, light-catching depth of color.
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Jersey
Jersey is a soft, stretchy knit fabric, made from cotton, wool, silk or synthetics, that drapes and moves easily.
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Mikado
Mikado is a heavy, smooth fabric with a soft sheen, usually a silk blend, that holds sculpted, architectural shapes.
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Brocade
Brocade is a heavy woven fabric with a raised pattern, often in metallic or contrasting threads, woven into the cloth rather than printed on it.
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Jacquard
Jacquard is any fabric with a pattern woven into it on a jacquard loom, from light damasks to heavy textured cloths.
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Georgette
Georgette is a sheer, lightweight crepe fabric with a grainy texture, a little heavier and more opaque than chiffon, that drapes softly.
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Dupioni
Dupioni is a crisp silk fabric woven from uneven threads, which gives it fine irregular ridges, called slubs, and a lustrous sheen.
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Ponte
Ponte is a thick, stable double-knit fabric with a smooth face, offering stretch and comfort while holding its shape like a woven cloth.
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Cotton sateen
Cotton sateen is cotton woven in a satin weave, giving a smooth surface with a soft sheen and more body than plain cotton.
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Linen
Linen is a fabric woven from flax fibers, known for being cool, breathable and absorbent, with a natural texture that creases easily.