COMMENTARY

silk vs. polyester blues Okay, I don’t know about you, but I get really anal about 2 things: 1. Using fabrics that suit a particular era (eg 1870s screams taffeta, 1890s screams satin) 2. Natural fiber fabrics (both because they’re so much more lovely but also because they’re so much more comfortable to wear)

So I’m thinking ahead to a Particularly Smashing Event coming next year from the GBACG (more details soon) set in the 1890s. Now, I could finish my poor neglected bead embroidered evening dress, but one of the main reasons it’s been relegated to permanently-on-hold is I never liked the fabric (color and the fact that it’s synthetic).

So I’m starting to think about making something new, and for me, 1890-96 just requires satin. But here’s where the budget kicks in! It just seems impossible to find nice, heavy (bridal/duchess) silk satin at an affordable (for me) price.

So for those of you who work with satin, what do you do? Deal with icky polyester, shell out for expensive silk? Get charmeuse and underline it with something heavy? And does anyone know of any good cut-rate sources for satin (online or in the SF Bay Area)? I know about Silk Connection but I’m scared of dyeing, and Thai Silks is totally outside my price range at the moment.