Fabric ID on this dress?

Pinkcoke

Pinkcoke

Alumni
It has a linen/thin slub texture but is very fine and silky and has a real sheen. I'm thinking it's silk, but what sort? I haven't handled many of the examples featured in the resource so would appreciate your thoughts.

You can see the weave best in this photo:
DSCF2315.JPG

the 'linen' texture can be seen under the light here:
DSCF2309.JPG

and the sheen:
DSCF2308.JPG


A bit of fraying on the sleeve edge shows the fibres, which appear to be a blend of a thicker white thread, and a very fine black thread:
DSCF2314.JPG
 
Nice frock! I vote rayon, but see if you can do a burn test to confirm composition. One theory about rayon is that it was called that due to the sheen - although there's not always a shine.

Not to say it's not silk, but it doesn't look like it from here.
 
Thanks Nicole, it's a great size too - 36" waist. It could probably go a size up from what I set my mannequin to (the bust is hard to determine with the two piece bodice, it came up somewhat loose), but I didn't want to push it knowing I had to get it over the shoulders.
I didn't add an underskirt because the skirt isn't all that full, but do you think it would have been worn with one? It's missing the original belt, which would add a bit more shaping.

Some other things to consider which may help or hinder with fabric ID, it has some lightening or fading to the outer fabric on the back of the skirt, it changes colour under heat (goes pink) and despite ironing creases easily. :/
 
I wouldn't say the creases were stubborn - the fabric is too thin for that, but having taken so long to iron both layers, it didn't take long at all for the outer to get lines again.
When listing it I found a wear spot on the skirt that has removed the very fine black fibres similar to the sleeve edge wear, and the remaining fibres are thick, soft, white and to my eye much like cotton.
I'm thinking it must be a blend, the two fibres are so different.
 
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