Is crepe fabric good for summer?

It depends on the fibre. Polyester crepe is warm in humid daytime heat, but comfortable in the evening and in air-conditioned venues. Silk and viscose crepes breathe better. For real heat, linen or cotton is cooler.

What is the difference between georgette and chiffon?

Chiffon is lighter, smoother and more transparent; georgette is heavier, grainier and more opaque. Georgette is sturdier and holds embroidery better, while chiffon suits dupattas and overlays.

Which fabric does not crease for a wedding?

Crepe. Its twisted yarns and textured surface resist creasing, so a crepe outfit survives a car journey or a suitcase far better than satin, chiffon or linen.

Crepe, georgette, chiffon or satin: which fabric for which occasion

Q: Is satin the same as silk?

No. Silk is a fibre and satin is a weave. Satin can be woven from silk or from synthetic fibres such as polyester.

Crepe is a matte fabric with a finely crinkled surface that drapes well and barely creases. Georgette is light, grainy and semi-sheer, with enough body to hold embroidery. Chiffon is the sheerest and floatiest of the three, and satin is a weave rather than a fibre, glossy on one side and dull on the other. For heat, choose linen or a natural fibre; for the evening, satin or crepe; for a long day of functions, crepe, because it does not crease.

What is crepe?

Crepe is defined by its surface: tightly twisted yarns, or a particular weave, give it a fine pebbly texture and a matte finish. It can be made from silk, wool, viscose or polyester; the poly crepe and American crepe sold widely in India are polyester.

It is good at three things. It drapes softly without clinging, it resists creasing, so it comes out of a suitcase ready to wear, and it takes print well. The Amira Crepe Suit is ivory crepe printed in a fine black toile, and the Rani Crepe Co-ord Set is red crepe in a tonal floral.

Is crepe good for summer?

It depends on the fibre. Polyester crepe does not breathe the way cotton or linen does, so in humid daytime heat it can feel warm. In the evening, in air-conditioned venues or in the cooler months, it is excellent. Silk and viscose crepes breathe better than polyester, so if heat is your main concern, check the fibre content.

What is georgette?

Georgette is a lightweight, semi-sheer fabric woven from highly twisted yarns, which give it a slightly grainy feel and a dull finish. It was first made in silk; most georgette today is polyester. It has more weight and opacity than chiffon, so it drapes close to the body and holds embroidery, pintucking and mirror work well. Georgette kurtas are often lined.

The Suhana Textured Kurta Set shows what georgette can carry: rust georgette hand-pintucked into a raised lattice and set with small mirrors. The Anisha Sharara Set uses it for the kurti.

Georgette or chiffon?

Weight: chiffon is lighter and floatier; georgette is heavier and falls closer to the body.
Texture: chiffon is smoother and slightly slippery; georgette is grainier.
Sheerness: chiffon is more transparent, so it almost always needs a lining or a slip.
Wear: chiffon snags and frays more easily; georgette is the sturdier of the two.
Best for: chiffon for dupattas, overlays and sleeves; georgette for kurtas, sarees and anything embroidered.

The Sabaa Chiffon Tassel Set is nude chiffon with a pastel appliqué at the neckline and hand-strung glass bead tassels at the sleeve and yoke — the kind of detail chiffon's lightness carries well.

Is satin the same as silk?

No. Silk is a fibre; satin is a weave. A satin weave floats threads across the surface, which makes one side glossy and the other dull. Satin can be woven from silk, polyester or other fibres, so silk satin is a real thing, and so is polyester satin.

Satin's sheen shifts as you move, which is why it suits evenings and photographs so well. It shows creases and water marks more readily than crepe, so steam it rather than pressing hard. The Sahar Satin Kurta Set is navy satin with a silver-embroidered placket, and the Alia Sequin Stripe Kurta Set puts a sequinned kurta over black satin palazzos.

Linen, for real heat

Linen, woven from flax, is the most breathable fabric here and the coolest in humid weather. It creases readily, which is part of its look. The Saira Linen Co-ord Set is a linen shirt and wide-leg trouser, cut loose through the body for the heat.

Which fabric for which occasion

A daytime function in the heat: linen, or a light georgette.
An evening, a sangeet or a reception: satin, crepe, or georgette with embellishment.
Travelling between functions: crepe, which comes out of a bag uncreased.
Dupattas and overlays: chiffon or georgette.

Caring for them

Follow the care label, and dry-clean anything embroidered, beaded or sequinned.
Steam satin, chiffon and georgette on a low setting rather than ironing hard.
Store embellished pieces folded, not on a hanger, so the weight of the work does not pull the fabric out of shape.

Choosing for a wedding? See what to wear to a mehendi and a sangeet.