Having a custom made gown assures you that you get exactly what you want. Two key points are a good seamstress and enough time to be sure that you will not be scrambling on the day of your wedding with a final fitting. If you plan to make your gown from scratch, you really have many options available. New York City offers a fabulous selection of fabrics in all prices ranges in the textile district in mid-town, as well as on the Lower East Side. Fabric shops can also be found in Brooklyn.
Even if you are ordering a gown from a salon, you should ask about the fabric content and possible options. Some gowns are available both in silks and synthetics, and the customer can choose according to her preference and budget. The advantage of synthetics is not just the savings on the purchase price but, possibly, on the cleaning because they often are washable. Knowing what the names of the fabrics are may boost your confidence in making your selection.
Batiste: Lightweight, sheer, delicate fabric in a plain weave, thicker than cotton.
Brocade: a thick fabric usually embroidered or woven with a flat pattern.
Chiffon: a plain woven sheer fabric with a soft drape. It can be made from silk, polyester, or rayon.
Charmeuse: a soft, light-weight fabric typically made of silk or polyester, it is very smooth, with a semi-lustrous satin face and a dull back.
Crepe: can be made of silk or rayon, it is lightweight, porous, and has a texture that could be termed pebbly.
Damask: a lighter version of brocade, medium-weight woven fabric.
Duchesse satin: A thick matte silk mixed with polyester. It has a heavy, creamy texture.
Dupioni silk: A stiff, slightly ridged silk with paper crispness. Do be aware that this fabric wrinkles easily.
Eyelet: open-weave, embroidered fabric, often used in design details.
Gazar: a four-ply organza made of silk that resembles linen in its box weave.
Georgette: a sheer lightweight fabric, usually silk or polyester. It is more opaque than chiffon and slightly heavier.
Illusion: A very fine, see-through fabric – gives the illusion of bare skin in dresses. It is also used in veils -- more expensive and softer than tulle.
Italian Satin: just a fancy sounding name for a synthetic satin like regal sating and silky satin.
Mikado: crisp silk fabric that has qualities of twill.
Moiré: silk with a whorled patter woven into the fabric; its taffeta surface reflects light.
Organza: a stiff, sheer, lightweight plain weave fabric made of silk, rayon, nylon, or polyester. It is often used under a dress for filling out a full skirt.
Peau de soi: a very soft, slippery type of silk.
Regal Satin: synthetic satin named to sound like a more royal fabric.
Rayon: a synthetic fabric made to imitate silk but less breathable.
Shantung: a fabric similar to raw silk, with a rough and nubby texture.
Silk-Faced Satin: smooth silk with two different textures: glossy on one side and flat matte on the other.
Silky Satin: this is the misleading name used for a fabric that is, in fact, polyester.
Taffeta: a crisp, lustrous fabric, usually made of silk or rayon. The light plays off this fabric, so that it presents a multi-shaded effect even in one color.
Tulle: sheer silk, rayon, or nylon nets --what veils and some overskirts are made of.
Voile: a fine, sheer fabric of cotton, silk, or rayon that is easily draped.
Be sure to ask if your choice is washable and check how well it keeps its shape by scrunching it up.
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