What Kind of material should I look at? - The PASH Wedding Forums and Message Boards

Clarity · #1 07-25-2006, 08:45 PM

Ok ladies I decided on my dress. It's the pattern I showed some of you before. DF's aunt will probably make it for me. My question is what kind of material should I look at? The wedding is in July of next year and it's rather warm and humid here (like it isn't elsewhere?)

I am not good at decyphering between formal materials so I turn to my experts here. What would be light weight but hold up and not just hang? I want to breath and it breath too.

HELP!!!

maroki13 · #2 07-25-2006, 08:48 PM

I think chiffon or organza are nice and lightweight and are good summer materials, but they are more for overlays and not the entire dress. I haven't seen a picture of your dress/pattern, so I'm not sure exactly what you are looking for. Satin would probably be too heavy, and silk is amazing but often very expensive.

I would say go to a fabric store, walk around, and feel the fabrics and hold them against your skin. They usually have a wedding/special occasion section with materials just for gowns and stuff; that area would be pretty helpful.

Clarity · #3 07-25-2006, 08:52 PM

Here's my dress to look at. Very simple (I'm a simpleton

)

I'm using the one on the right but in white.
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kenzies_mama · #4 07-25-2006, 08:57 PM

Crepe. It's lighter then satin or taffeta but not as light as organza or chiffon. Make sure you don't get satin back crepe as that will be extremely heavy. But that top is going to be pretty hot irregardless because it's going to have lining, interfacing and boning.

ljeagle · #5 07-25-2006, 11:22 PM

I would use washable satin and if you are not putting any bead work on the dress it would work great. You wouldn't have to worry about dry cleaning it and messing up the bead work.

My dress is made of washable satin and it wasn't to heavy. You can have the top lined with a cheaper lighter fabric and if you are wearing a slip you don't even have to have the bottom lined.

555Ann555 · #6 07-25-2006, 11:58 PM

My FGs dresses were both made from washable satin too, and it sat very nicely... They had different weights in it too, so if you needed something stiffer you could have that...

(let me see if I can rustle up a decent photo of their dresses...)
well this one kind of shows it...

kenzies_mama · #7 07-26-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ljeagle

I would use washable satin and if you are not putting any bead work on the dress it would work great. You wouldn't have to worry about dry cleaning it and messing up the bead work.

My dress is made of washable satin and it wasn't to heavy. You can have the top lined with a cheaper lighter fabric and if you are wearing a slip you don't even have to have the bottom lined.

This sounds nice too.

VenusElaine · #8 07-29-2006, 07:35 AM

There is a difference between fabric type and fabric content. Natural fibers (cotton, linen, silk) breathe. Synthetic fabrics (polyester, acetate) do not. For a July wedding I would definitely choose natural, and for a gown, silk. Silk can be woven into satin, taffetta, moire, and even velvet. Online sources can provide silk fabrics at very affordable prices, and many provide swatches for little or no fee. The lining should also be a natural fiber, China silk being the preferred choice. I recently purchased silk taffetta for less than $20 a yard to fabricate a custom gown for an outdoor August wedding.
Definitely explore the possibilities. You can have the gown of your dreams, and be comfortable in it!

VenusElaine

Lizbet · #9 07-29-2006, 07:28 PM

That's good info VenusElaine. Thanks for your contribution. You should introduce yourslf in our Bridal Journals section, and tell us about yourself, your engagement and your wedding plans.