The Beauty of Fabrics
I didn’t really start examining the different types of fabric my closet encompassed until quarantine. For six months I just stared at my clothes in fascination instead of wearing them, so it really started to stimulate my desire to explore fabrics and how designers choose certain types in order to tell a story. Throughout this ~exploration~, I have discovered it takes a unique person to be able to mix patterns; I have not only envy but admiration for their talent.
Fabric choices are now even more prevalent in my life now than it was in quarantine. A few weeks ago, I started designing my apartment with my roommates, so fabric selection has been the key in making progress towards an apartment that actually pleases all of us (mainly me because I am picky). A fabric’s texture paired with the right color can change a space drastically, but it is also so easy to make the wrong choice in the selection process.
With my apartment being oh so cold (due to the cool tones in the flooring and fixture choices and high ceilings), I needed to bring in some warmth to the common area. The perfect fabric for that is velvet (this was just my excuse to get a velvet couch). Collectively, we settled on a bright, navy, velvet couch. The color brings a depth and richness to room that helps bring some life back to the cold empty space.
Just like with the furniture, the choice of fabric elevates a piece of clothing. It can be used from toning down to giving an edge. Now here are some prime examples of my favorite fabrics, modeled and photographed by my roommates and myself, and how you should use them:
Faux Fur
I think faux fur is one of the most polarizing fabric choices. It can add texture and camp, and, be warned, it can very easily go from edgy and glamorous to tacky. This variation is very much based upon the person who wears it. To a certain extent, the fabric will naturally make your outfit look gaudy, so one is forced to find balance or tone down their other garments. However, even if I find it tacky, I love a faux fur coat. I just don’t love it on a soroity girl on formal night.
Faux Leather
There is nothing more badass than leather (or I as i prefer faux leather). Imagine walking into a room, and all the heads turn towards you. That is what wearing leather feels like. It adds some coldness to the tone of the fit, while also allowing one to seem more collected (it is literally magic). It is problematic though. Leather is terrible (but that changes if its recycled, up-cycled, etc), but faux leather then also has negative effects on the environment. While I’ll never be able to pull them off as much as I want to, my favorite way to see this fabric is in the form of pants (preferably a looser fit).
Cord
The warmth. The texture. The dimension. It is one of my favorite fabric choices for the winter. I don’t think there is a way to go wrong with cord either. It works in so many forms from jackets to pants, especially two cord pieces together. Particularly, my favorite form would be pants (I love a good pant). However, the most intriguing thing about cord is the effect one can make by choosing a cool toned color to contrast the warmth and stiffness of fabric, creating beautifully shocking outfit.
Tulle
The fabric, itself, is airy and voluminous. It screams fairytale; it screams ‘I am a princess’. Honestly, what more can you ask for from a fabric? Imagine walking around town in tulle pants, so fun. It is literally always a party when wearing tulle, but for everyday usage, for the toned down individual, try incorporating tulle in subtle accents (i.e. socks). It also has the potential to make one look puffy (but like a fairytale puffy), so one should tread with caution.
Denim
Denim always gives me cowboy vibes no matter the outfit (most of the time). There’s nothing you can do really wrong with denim if you keep it casual, but that is also the issue. It is so easy to wear denim boringly, but it so easily can be interesting if styled right. My favorite denim piece will always be a black denim jacket (a boring staple piece that is easily elevated), but you could always pair a boring piece with patchwork jeans (I have been so into them recently, but like a maximalist version of the one people keep buying from UO) When it comes to denim more is better; it is already such a casual fabric. Get patterned jeans. Get sequin jeans. Get fun pockets on your jackets. Get a denim bag. Diversify your denim usage !
Satin
Satin literally glows in the light. It calls the gaze in every room you walk in. I will always be obsessed with a satin suit (I constantly keep buying them). However, I think for any satin pieces it is the color that makes it. Boring colors just wash out the beauty of the fabric; there needs to be color! Let the bold color and the beauty of the fabric make the air around you come alive.
Special Thanks to Nicole Helou and Vivian Li for helping me make my vision come to life with the help of their creative eye.
