Wedding Dress Fabrics
Knowing your wedding dress fabrics will come in handy when shopping for a dress. You’ll be able to tell the sales person what you do and don’t want. It will be especially helpful if you are designing your own gown. Here is a glossary of wedding dress fabrics:
Batiste: A lightweight, soft, transparent fabric.
Brocade: A Jacquard-woven fabric with raised designs; traditionally popular for fall and winter, now also worn in warmer weather.
Charmeuse: A lightweight, semi-lustrous soft fabric, that is satin-like to the touch.
Chiffon: Delicate, sheer, and transparent — made from silk or rayon, with a soft finish; often layered because of its transparency, making it popular for overskirts, sheer sleeves, and wraps.
Crepe: A light, soft, and thin fabric with a crinkled surface.
Damask: Similar to brocade with raised designs, but woven in a much lighter weight.
Duchesse Satin: A lightweight hybrid of silk and rayon (or polyester) woven into a satin finish.
Dupioni: A finish similar to shantung, but with thicker, coarser fibers, and a slight sheen.
Faille: A structured, ribbed finish like grosgrain ribbon; usually quite substantial.
Gabardine: A tightly-woven, firm and durable finish, with single diagonal lines on the face.
Georgette: A sheer, lightweight fabric often made of polyester or silk with a crepe surface.
Illusion: A fine, sheer net fabric, generally used on sleeves or necklines.
Jersey: A very elastic knit fabric; the face has lengthwise ribs and the underside has crosswise ribs.
Moire: A heavy silk taffeta with a subtle, wavy design.
Organdy: A stiff transparent fabric.
Organza: Crisp and sheer like chiffon, with a stiffer texture similar in effect to tulle, but more flowing; popular for skirts, sleeves, backs, and overlays.
Peau de Soie: A soft satin-faced, high-quality cloth with a dull luster, fine ribs, and a grainy appearance.
Pique: A knit fabric with a waffle-weave appearance, pique has distinct sides. The outside resembles a honeycomb or waffle and the underside is flat and smooth.
Polyester: An inexpensive man-made fiber that can be woven into just about anything, including duchesse satin
Rayon: Similar to silk, but more elastic and affordable.
Satin: A heavy, smooth fabric with a high sheen on one side; very common in bridal gowns.
Silk: The most sought-after, cherished fiber for wedding dresses (and also the most expensive); there are several types with different textures: raw silk and silk mikado are just two examples.
Silk Gazar: A four-ply silk organza.
Silk Mikado: A brand of blended silk, usually heavier than 100-percent silk.
Silk-faced Satin: A smooth silk satin, with a glossy front and matte back.
Shantung: Similar to a raw silk, shantung is characterized by its rubbed texture.
Taffeta: Crisp and smooth, with a slight rib.
Tulle: Netting made of silk, nylon, or rayon; used primarily for skirts and veils (think ballerina tutus).
Velvet: A soft, thick fabric with a felted face and plain underside.
~Liz
Source: http://wedding.theknot.com/bridal-fashion/wedding-dress-shopping/articles/wedding-gown-fabric-glossary.aspx
picture: http://weddings-engagement.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/popular-bridal-fabrics-2.jpg
