Chiffon fabric

Also called: Silk chiffon, Poly chiffon

Weight: Light
Drape: Fluid
Stretch: None
Sheen: Matte
Breathability: High
Creasing: Medium
Seasons: Spring, Summer
Care: Steam on low; spot clean or dry clean. Avoid hot irons on synthetic chiffon.
Typical use: Bridesmaid dresses, flowing skirts, overlays and sleeves

Highlights and balances

Highlights

Floats and moves when you walk
Layers softly over a lining

Balances

Softens structured shapes when used as an overlay

Wear it when

Events it suits

Pairs with

Silhouettes: A-line, Empire
Sleeves: Flutter sleeve, Bishop sleeve
Lengths: Floor length, Midi

Avoid if

You want a crisp, sculpted shape
The setting has rough surfaces or brambles that snag

A favorite for bridesmaid dresses and warm-weather gowns; it wrinkles and snags more easily than heavier fabrics.

Chiffon is a very thin, see-through cloth, made from silk or from synthetic fibers, that falls loosely and sways when you walk. You will meet it most often in bridesmaid dresses and warm-weather gowns, where it works as a full skirt, a layer over a lining or a sleeve. Among wedding dress fabrics, it is the one people mean when they picture a dress that drifts.

How to spot chiffon

Hold the skirt up to a window: chiffon lets light through clearly, and it has no shine. Rub a corner between your fingers and it feels faintly dry and grainy rather than slick. Wave the hanger and the fabric moves right away, then settles into soft folds. Most chiffon dresses have a lining under one or more sheer layers, and listings often say “silk chiffon” or “poly chiffon.”

Georgette is its closest cousin: it is slightly heavier, less see-through and more crinkled to the touch, and it shows fewer creases. Organza is just as sheer but stiff, so it stands away from the body and holds puffs and ruffles where chiffon would collapse.

Wearing chiffon well

Chiffon needs a shape that gives it room to fall. An A-line skirt flares gently from the waist, and an empire waist lets the fabric drop straight from just under the bust, so both let it move freely. Flutter sleeves suit it for the same reason: the light fabric ripples over the arm.

Start with a midi or floor length, which shows the movement best. For a beach wedding, try a lined floor-length chiffon dress with an empire waist and flutter sleeves, flat sandals and a light wrap for the breeze after sunset. The lining adds a little weight, so the skirt behaves in the wind.

Chiffon breathes well, which makes it a spring and summer fabric. To care for it, steam on a low setting, spot clean or dry clean, and keep a hot iron away from synthetic chiffon. It catches on rough surfaces, so skip it where brambles or rough stone wait.

FAQ

Is chiffon formal?

It can be. A floor-length chiffon gown fits formal and beach formal codes, while a chiffon midi works for semi-formal and garden party events. The cut and length set the formality more than the fabric does.

Can I wear chiffon to a garden wedding?

Yes, it suits garden weddings, though a midi hem keeps the fabric out of the grass and away from twigs that can snag it. Pair it with block heels or flats for the lawn.

Does chiffon wrinkle in a suitcase?

It creases more than georgette, so pack it loosely folded in tissue or hang it as soon as you arrive. A low-heat steamer releases most creases in a few minutes. More options sit in the fabrics section of the glossary.