Comparing silk vs polyester for a formal dress project

I spent last weekend testing both for a bridesmaid dress I'm making and silk is just way better. Polyester might be cheaper but it doesn't drape the same and it makes me sweat just thinking about it. Has anyone else found a polyester that actually works for formal wear?

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3 Comments

linda_reed4mo ago

You make a solid point about high quality poly crepe but no way is it better than silk for formal wear. Silk breathes and moves with your body in a way that synthetic just can't copy no matter the weight or finish. Polyester might survive a long car ride without wrinkles but it doesn't have that natural luxury feel that makes a dress look expensive. Plus dry cleaning is worth it for something that important in my book. Silk also dyes so much richer and deeper than any polyester blend I've ever seen.

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ruby6594mo ago

Polyester actually dyes way better than silk in my experience.

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josephbailey4mo ago

Gotta disagree with you there. I actually made a bridesmaid dress with a high quality polyester crepe last year and it draped beautifully, no sweat issues at all. The trick is finding a polyester that has some weight and a matte finish not the cheap shiny stuff that looks like a costume. Silk is amazing for sure but it wrinkles if you sit for five minutes and dry cleaning adds up fast especially for a dress someone will wear once. Polyester holds its shape and travels way better in my experience.

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