Understanding chiffon

Chiffon is a light, sheer fabric with a soft, fluid drape and a slightly grainy surface. It is woven with fine twisted yarns in a plain weave, which is what gives it its distinctive combination of strength and transparency.

Wear and movement

The openness of the weave lets chiffon carry volume while staying almost weightless. In formalwear it is often layered — several sheer layers over a fitted under-dress — so that it floats without revealing more than intended.

A canvas for detail

Because it is sheer and light, chiffon takes surface work differently from a heavier fabric. Embroidery on chiffon must be supported, which is why worked pieces frequently combine it with a lined or interlined base.

In the Curated Pret vocabulary, chiffon is one of the fabrics the edit is organised by. A piece is brought into the chiffon chapter when chiffon meaningfully features in its construction — not when it is the only fabric present.