Worn at court during the time of Queen Elizabeth I as well as on today’s red carpet, silk satin has been a favorite special occasion fabric for centuries. The textile actually draws its name from a Middle Ages Chinese port town called Zaitun (now Quanzhou). Back then, the distance such a precious fabric traveled only added to its hefty price tag, making it affordable to only the very wealthy.

What makes silk satin “duchess”?

Silk duchess satin gown - Lea-Ann Belter Bridal Lola

“Satin” is actually a kind of weave that can be used with any fiber (including wool and cotton) to produce a textile with a glossy sheen. What makes silk satin so luxurious (and shimmery) is the silk. “Duchess” is a satin weave that creates a more subtle luster than its sister fabric. So, taken all together, silk duchess satin is 100% silk woven to yield a textile with a sumptuous finish not unlike chocolate.

silk Duchess satin in Lea-Ann’s studio

Duchess satin or satin (without the word silk) generally means the fabric in question has a synthetic or Rayon component. So, it might be silky…but it’s not silk! A silk-less satin (duchess or otherwise) is usually less expensive, but it often behaves a bit differently in terms of sewing, draping and wearing.

For Lea-Ann, only silk will do! She loves silk duchess satin’s finish and the way it falls which taken together have an understated elegance that’s unparalleled.