https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Tue, 14 Apr 2026 23:30:25 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429864 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:18:00 +0000 deb 1429864@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Taffeta is a crisp, cool fabric in my opinion. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429860 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:09:32 +0000 Suz 1429860@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Exactly, Shevia. Soft is not an opposite to "polished." Even though crisp looks are often polished, soft looks are not by definition RATE.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429844 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:33:47 +0000 Jaime 1429844@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't know. But I will say my first impulse is Lanai and linens are more crisp. Silk blouse is more soft. But silk blouse can look quite polished even if it lacks some of the structure I associate with crisp. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429837 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 04:16:13 +0000 Suz 1429837@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Diana, maybe that's part of the reason that linen can be so polarizing! People who love "crisp" hate that it gets soft and wrinkles, and people who love "soft" may not like the feeling when they first put it on!&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429666 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:19:31 +0000 Diana 1429666@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'm all about the soft wovens.&nbsp; Either soft silks or silk blends, or soft cottons like classic Liberty lawn, although that is an interesting case because ironing + starch makes a liberty-type cotton (a fairly light but fine cotton with a high thread count) into a crisp cotton.&nbsp; Actually, now that I think about it, many men's dress shirts tend to fall into this category, as do high thread count cotton sheets! </p> <p>And just to confuse everyone further... what do we all think about linen?&nbsp; It seems crisp when it's freshly washed and ironed but quickly goes all soft and wrinkly once it's worn.&nbsp; And yet it's definitely a "cool" fabric.</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429657 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 23:02:31 +0000 E 1429657@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Yes, I hadn't thought about the stiff/crisp distinction before!</p> <p>My velvets definitely vary by fabric; the cotton ones (a blazer &amp; trousers) are more like corduroy, stiff but not crisp (and softer than the corduroy), while the rayon/silk blends are straight up soft deliciousness. And then there's velveteen too! So many yummy fabrics. *happy sigh* </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429650 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:48:58 +0000 Suz 1429650@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>E, what an interesting observation. You are <b>DEAD ON</b> about corduroy. I wonder if that is a reason that Angie doesn't care for it very much for her own style? Fascinating.&nbsp;</p> <p>How about velvet? I guess various velvets can feel different, depending on fabrication.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429649 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 22:47:10 +0000 E 1429649@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I think of crisp clothes as those that stand on their own, away form my body, and soft clothes as the ones that either drape or hug my body. I prefer the latter in cooler weather and the former in warmer weather (to an extent...I like breezy blouses in the summer but I'm never psychologically comfortable in clothes that look best freshly pressed), so I'm right in line w you &amp; Suz re: what feels warm/cool (not including coats/jackets of course). Oh except for corduroy I suppose! My corduroy skirts &amp; dresses are fairly stiff but I perceive them as warm. Hmmm. I wouldn't call them crisp though, so we're still good. lol</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429527 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:12:19 +0000 Anonymous 1429527@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Here's the J Jill tencel shirt I ordered (see link below), except I bought a light blue one. I don't have it yet, but I'm posted it to help you. This shirt, while structured, does not have a crisp look to it.</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.jjill.com/jjillonline/product/ItemPage.aspx?item=WY048B&amp;BID=558580459&amp;h=M&amp;rPFID=3452&amp;sk=M">http://www.jjill.com/jjillonli.....&#038;sk=M</a></p> <p>Now let's take a look at a crisp button down shirt for comparison:</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.smartwomenonthego.com/how-to-buy-the-perfect-white-shirt/">http://www.smartwomenonthego.c.....ite-shirt/</a></p> <p>Here's one that's pretty drapey; it's made out of a knit fabric:</p> <p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.sierratradingpost.com/lands%E2%80%99-end-drapey-knit-button-front-shirt-3and4-sleeve-for-women~p~6582a/">http://www.sierratradingpost.c.....leeve-for-</a></p> <p>I'd say a crisp shirt is made of fabric that has no stretch and that can be ironed stiff. Certain fabrics, like tencel, aren't going to be stiff no matter how much you iron them. The fabric itself doesn't lend itself to being that way.</p> <p>Does this help?</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429516 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 19:01:23 +0000 Thistle 1429516@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I still don't think I understand . . . I will check back!</p> <p>:) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429508 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:53:59 +0000 Anonymous 1429508@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Sorry I got confused. My bad!</p> <p>What about tencel? There are different weights of it, and many times tencel is mixed with denim. The result is usually drapey, compared to straight denim that's stiff. I have a tencel/denim 3/4-sleeve jacket at home that's what I'd call in between. It's not too stiff, but not too drapey.</p> <p>I've seen some thick cotton button-downs that have been softened and are drapey. It's been a while since I've seen them, though; I just know they did (or once did) exist. They would be great for all but really cold temps.</p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429505 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:48:21 +0000 Suz 1429505@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b>bettycrocker,</b> in this context, I think <b>Una</b> is referring to the texture of the fabric, not colours.&nbsp;</p> <p>I agree with texstyle, Una -- a silk woven or a silk/ cotton blend, or a cotton gauze, or a rayon (though that will need ironing) -- all of those feel "soft" as opposed to "crisp" to me. I wear soft wovens very happily by the way -- though often in "crisp" colours. (i.e. blue and white).&nbsp;</p> <p>I find it interesting that some of the reason people didn't like the butt vest for me was that I (in myself) was perceived as "too soft" to wear it successfully. It's all quite fascinating. My colouring (to bettycrocker's point) is cool or soft "summer." Which would theoretically mean that outfit 1 in my other thread (the blue and grey soft almost monochrome) should be perfection for me. But it's not. It's just barely okay, and lacks the animation I require, I think.&nbsp;</p> <p>Hmm. Okay. I just made this all about me. Is it not all about me? &nbsp;;) &nbsp; Sorry!&nbsp;</p> <p>Back to wovens...I would say the Lanai (if in wool) is somewhere in between. The wool drapes, etc. so that makes it soft, but it is a jacket, after all, so structured, which makes it somewhat crisp. On a continuum between a cardigan and an old fashioned corporate blazer, it would fall slightly to the right of middle. Cardigan being the left. :)&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429502 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:44:41 +0000 catgirl 1429502@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>BettyCrocker, I meant cool v. warm temperature-wise, not color-wise.Sorry if that wasn't clear! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429500 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:39:44 +0000 Anonymous 1429500@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don't think cool vs. warm means squat, quite honestly. It's the intensity or saturation&nbsp;of the colors. Soft = muted or toned down (the opposite of clear or fully saturated). Think of the Claritin Clear commercial. You can also think of the 4-season color analysis system, where you have soft colors (summer = soft and cool; autumn = soft and warm) and bright colors (winter = clear and cool; spring = clear and warm). Hope this helps. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429495 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:25:05 +0000 texstyle 1429495@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Una, all three of these Finds I own and all three are soft. Two are a cotton/silk blend, and the other is a soft gauze. None of them ever see an iron and I wear them a lot in summer for comfort. I can't stand anything crisp on myself. I don't like the look or the feeling for me. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/wovens-v-knits-and-crisp-v-soft#post-1429488 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 18:15:04 +0000 catgirl 1429488@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Confused as always!  So there are soft and crisp wovens - can someone post examples of a soft woven?  Is that like a silk Equipment shirt?  How do you feel about mixing them up, and in what combos?  Where does a blazer like the Theory Lanai fall on this spectrum?</p> <p>And let's add in how you think about "cool" v. warm (temperature not color) in this context - Suz just mentioned this in another post and I so agree.  I find crisp wovens that stand a bit away from the body just too "cool" temp-wise for me to wear in winter, like cotton jeans.  I need warmer items with some drape - stiff wovens feel not only constricting but chilly. </p>