Gown by D’Italia, Image by Free The Bird Photography

There are so many fabrics to choose from, but how do you know which one is perfect for your dream wedding dress? Every gown is unique and different is own way. When you choose to purchase or design a gown, it’s important to select the appropriate fabric that will drape, fall and behave in the correct way for the style.

The style, cut, texture, dress codes-code and season are all crucial factors that will determine the best fabric for your wedding gown. Some fabrics may cling to the body, whilst others will stick out. Some may fall softly and sway smoothly as you twirl. Silks are undoubtedly the most popular and admired fabric as has fantastic elasticity and durability and drapes beautifully, feeling incredibly soft and lightweight. And I can assure you, your silk gown will not cause you to sweat over time, unlike your synthetic fabrics. It’s important to remember that not every style of gown can be made from any fabric.

Here is our guide to selecting the best fabric suitable for your special gown.

Neo-Print Crepe (Scuba) 

Gown by D’Italia Image by ALMA Photography 

A Neo-print crepe is commonly referred to as a scuba. It has a beautiful subtle gloss which is great for any bride who doesn’t want a matte or a luxurious shiny fabric. A Neo-print is 2 layers of fabric ether to create a sturdy and durable thickness and weight, whilst still retaining a great level of drape. It is commonly used for gowns that want to retain a good amount of body and fullness, however, because it is heavy, it cannot be used for a ball gown without having a crinoline petticoat underneath to support it.

Due to its beautiful weight, a Neo-print is a fantastic fabric to hide those areas of imperfections as it will sit nice and flat against the body, without showing off any curves or bumps. It also has a stunning smooth surface texture and is extremely comfortable.

Silk Chiffon

Gown by D’Italia, Images by Daniel Brannan

A silk chiffon is a beautiful, delicate fabric that has a very sheer and transparent eleChiffonhiffon tends to have a very smooth texture to the surface and has a stunning soft dSilkA silk chiffon can be used over the top of a non-transparent fabric su as a silk satin.

It makes a perfect overlay for any wedding gown and can even be used on your sleeves for a stunning sheer element. A chiffon can be used to make a simple throw, scarf, hood or cape, which can be a great feature and add a little drama to any wedding or evening-wear gown.

Silk Faille 

Gown by D’Italia, Image by Free The Bird Photography

A silk faille is perfect to create most gowns from. It has a closely woven weave which ensures that your gown will not be sheer. It is appropriate to create a fit-and-flare style, a simple flowy dress, an A-line style or even a ball gown. A silk faille drapes beautifully and tends to come in a matte finish. It has a smooth surface texture and feels incredible against the skin. This fabric is fantastic for beach weddings, garden weddings, and everything in between. The fabric is also wrinkle-resistant which is an bonus!

Silk Satin Crepe

Gown by D’Italia, Image by Daniel Milligan Photography

A Silk Satin Crepe is one of the most popular wedding fabrics. It’s very versatile and can create a fitted tailored look or even something soft and flowy. One side has a high sheen to it which looks gorgeous in the light and adds a great level of formality.

For any bride having a formal black-tie wedding, this is an ideal option. Alternatively, you can opt for a more natural contemporary look by selecting the crepe side of the fabric. This tends to have a slightly textured finish and is always matte. For those who struggle to make decisions then this is a fantastic fabric for you.

Silk Organza

Gown by D’Italia, Image by Walker Photos

Silk organza is a crisp sheer-like fabric with a stiffer texture similar to the effect of a wedding tulle. However, because it is stiffer, it is particularly great to add fullness to any gown and is often incorporated into the ball gown style is used as a detachable skirt.

This fabric has a lovely drape but is not as flowy as your georgette or chiffon. If you are wanting a fabric with more stiffness to achieve a full skirt then an organdie is a great option. An organdie can also be used underneath the skirt to add fullness and achieve a ball gown-like silhouette.

Tulle

Gown by D’Italia, Image by Hakan Dalar Photography

A Tulle is a fabric that is finely but loosely woven to the appearance of netting or mesh. It is commonly used as the overlay for a skirt or as a veil. A fine tulle is great for your veil or for any skirt that has a slight puffiness but still resembles a soft, dreamy dSoftA soft tulle is perfect for a fit-and-flare, sheath-styled gown as it will drape naturally against the body and will not add a lot of fullness or definition. It has a soft and luxurious texture and will move beautifully in the wind. A stiff netting is one of the stiffest tulles on the market. It is used to create the petticoat that sits underneath the gown to add fullness and flare.

Silk Duchess Satin

Gown by D’Italia, Image by Jackie Tran 

Duchess satin is a gorgeous and durable medium-bodied fabric – predominantly used for the outside of a wedding gown and for any in-built corsetry. A Duchess satin has a glossy luxurious surface on one side and a subtle matte, textured finish on the other side. Alternatively, a Duchess Satin is great to create an A-line and ball gown styled dress as the weight and stiffness allows for the silhouette to hold its shape.

About the author D’Italia: Wedding couture custom-made wedding dresses are a specialty of d’Italia. Whether you are looking for a vintage wedding dress store in Melbourne, a lace wedding dress or any style at all ensures the exact wedding style you want, with custom-built corsetry to fit you perfectly, at a fraction of the cost of wedding-boutique gowns.