Why Silk Duchess Satin is a Fan Favorite for Lovellfaye Brides
Silk duchess satin has long been a sought-after fabric for brides, and it’s remained a popular option for Lovellfaye brides. It’s an elegant and lustrous fabric that’s distinguishable from other types of satin by its higher thread count. A finely woven, heavy, non-stretched fabric, silk duchess satin has a subtle sheen different from regular satins. Its durability, versatility and elegance makes it one of the most often used materials in the bridal gown industry. The fabric can be used for many different dress styles, which is why it’s often called, “Bridal Satin.”
Duchess satin over the decades
Silk duchess satin has been the fabric of choice for some of history’s most famous weddings. Dating back to the royal wedding of Queen Elizabeth and King Philip in 1947, Queen Elizabeth’s wedding gown was made of duchess satin. Designed by Norman Hartnell’s Fashion House, the stunning, luxurious gown featured 10,000 pearls, diamante encrusted star flowers, roses, jasmine blossoms and ears of wheat.
Fast forward to the 90’s, another iconic duchess satin dress dominated the British fashion press when Victoria Adams married David Beckham in 1999. Victoria Beckham rocked a chic Vera Wang ball gown with 50 meters of Clerici Duchess satin and a tightly fitted corset by corsetiere Mr Pearl under the dress.
Duchess satin has made its way to American pop culture, too. In the first “Sex and the City” movie in 2008, Sarah Jessica Parker’s Carrie Bradshaw donned the famed fabric when she almost walked down the aisle. Then, in 2022, the corseted gown made of ivory silk duchess satin and Radzimir taffeta by Vivienne Westwood was spotted on Parker in what’s expected to be a comeback in the spin-off show, “And Just Like That.”
Lovellfaye brides in duchess satin
Lovellfaye uses high quality materials for each design. Some recent Lovellfaye custom designed wedding dresses made with duchess satin include Hadas Dewey, Lexi Coco and Julie Ridder’s gowns.
Hadas was looking for a modest, classy gown for her ceremony. She wanted a full bodied skirt with movement, but not too poofy. Duchess satin provided the perfect amount of shape and shine, allowing Designer Lovell of Lovellfaye to add pleating to the front of the dress - the perfect touch to elevate the whole look.
Wedding photographer: Ashley Rutland Photography
Lexi wanted a gown that could go from day to night. The silk duchess satin made for a timeless design. She started with a train that could then be bustled into a unique fashion with a bow for the reception. The thickness of the satin was perfect to work with for these designs. Lovell also likes to get creative with different mediums in her designing. Lexi’s silk organza sleeves with hand-placed French lace were removable, which made the transition from day to night that much more dramatic.
Wedding photographer: Trish Kirkland Photography
Lastly, Julie’s inspiration was all things vintage. She’d seen a special pearl material on Lovell’s Instagram story and knew she wanted to incorporate it in a 60’s-inspired silhouette. Lovell used a deep ivory silk duchess satin to establish the vintage look. She hand placed each strip of fabric, making the unique design Julie wanted. Another one of Lovell’s favorite things: bridal accessories. Lovell created a bridal scarf for Julie out of 100% silk charmeuse to give the best flow and movement.
Wedding photographer: Alyson Kay Photography
Given that silk duchess satin is so multifaceted and appears in a variety of dress styles, it comes as no surprise that “Bridal Satin” has quickly become a fan favorite fabric for Lovellfaye brides.
Lovellfaye focuses on bringing brides’ visions to life by reconstructing their mother’s wedding dress or adding a custom, personalized touch to their gowns. To learn more about incorporating your mom’s wedding dress into your own or to view Lovellfaye’s bridal collection or custom design process, visit lovellfaye.com.