Evaluating velvet - YouLookFab Forum

I'm a bit confused by velvet, and wondering if anyone can explain the different types, and how to tell them apart.

I like velvet for holidays and dressy winter outfits, and have been looking for velvet tops. Some velvet seems very shiny and reflective, like the blue Pilcro buttondown I've added from Finds. Other items seem to have a softer sheen, like the black velvet top in the other Find below. Not sure if it's the fabric formulation or just the quirks of photographing velvet that makes such a difference. Both of those finds list the material as viscose and nylon. So far as I've seen so far, price point doesn't seem to clearly correlate with fabrication - I have seen viscose and silk, or viscose and rayon, but mostly viscose and nylon.

What fabrication makes a velvet a high quality wardrobe item? Any tips on what I should look for to find a top that's not super shiny?

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by salt-sea

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Bloomingdale's

Ramy Brook Jaxon Balloon Sleeve Velvet Top

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2 years ago

Stagiaire Fash

Veteran

I don’t know about the difference in sheen but do know that my preference is for velvet from cotton.

Good luck finding your top!

SarahD8

I think part of the difference in shininess might indeed be lighting conditions of the photos. But, in general I would think that darker colors will have a subtler shine.

I have some cotton blend velvet pants but they don’t have much drape. For fancy velvet pieces, I look for a silk blend (generally with viscose/rayon). Viscose-nylon blends tend to feel too chilly to me — I run cold, ymmv.

Suz

(website)

I think silk or viscose would typically result in a shinier and more supple (softer, less crispy, more drapey) velvet. Cotton velvet is very soft but a bit crisp so it can make good structured pieces like jackets (if you don't want drape.)

In the old old old days I'll bet silk velvet was the fabrication of choice. But today I expect there are a lot of good (and a lot of less good) options in various blends.

Ginger

Velvet has two components: the backing (what you see on the inside), and the pile, the fuzzy part that sticks up. Either of those elements can be made from different fibers. For example, "silk velvet" is actually a silk backing with rayon pile, and very expensive. The silk gives it its beautiful drape, though the visible part is rayon.

Broadly speaking, viscose is a type of rayon. Probably these velvets have a nylon backing and viscose pile. The viscose is an imitation silk, while the nylon is very light but strong.

Shine can come from the material. Usually silk is not that shiny; synthetics are more likely to be shiny. It also can depend on how it's cut. Usually velvet should be cut with the pile pointing upward; it's counter-intuitive but it gives a richer look, darker. Also, a reflective material usually has longer visible threads. So the pile may actually be longer, which gives more length for reflection.

I am not sure at all if that helps you find the right thing, however. You may just have to go by appearance. There isn't a standard that I'm aware of for material in these cases. I prefer cotton velvet, but it tends to be more stable and not very drapy, so you're unlikely to find it in tops like these.

salt-sea

Active Member

Thank you - I think this explains why I haven't seen cotton velvet in the types of tops I'm looking for - it's probably too stiff to be suitable. I'm looking for drapey. At least now I know there isn't a shortcut to finding the sheen I want. I'll keep looking. I want a color that isn't black or burgundy, and is on the dark side.

Wow, Ginger! Such great information explained so clearly. Grateful for your willingness to share your knowledge.

rachylou

Very thorough, Ginger! Thank you!

Jaime

Wow, thanks Ginger! Glad you asked salt-sea!

Indigoprint

Thank you Ginger for that in-depth info...
Wow what knowledge is present in this forum Thank you Angie....
Cutloose has some beautiful velvet.

Ginger, thank you for that! It confirmed my (completely uneducated) intuitions and then educated me further!

Kate

My two pieces are silk velvet, and that's what I look for. Thanks Ginger, for the info. I knew what I liked but didn't know how any of it was made!

Joy

Velvet is made from different fibers, silk being the most desirable. Shine may vary because of the type of fiber. Some velvet is washable, some is dry clean only. Velvet is a good way to get texture into an outfit. It also adds a bit of dressiness, even when a velvet top or jacket is worn with jeans and sneakers.

Olive Green

Ginger, thanks so much. I tend to pick up velvet for Christmas season, mostly at thrift stores. This gives me some information to assess its components and composition.
Salt-Sea, those are just lovely and luxe looking, would wear in a heartbeat.

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