(Make sure you look at the pictures for this one!)
You don’t realize just how many different fabrics there are until you have to walk into a store and try to choose one. This is a small list of some commonly used fabrics and their defining features.
You’ll usually find these materials in T-shirts, blouses, skirts, and other kinds of casual wear. They’re easy to work with and versatile enough for almost any costume.
A soft and wrinkle-resistant material that will keep you warm in cold weather. It’s easier to dye than linen, but it isn’t as absorbent.
Strong, soft, and durable, linen fabric will keep you cool on hot days. It’s a little more absorbent than cotton but it isn’t as stretchy.
Made as a cheaper alternative to silk in WWII, rayon is a slinky fabric that will keep you cool in hot weather. It’s cost-efficient, stretchy, and drapes beautifully, but will shrink when put into a dryer and wrinkles easily.
Very popular for skinsuits and athletic wear because of its incredible stretch. Spandex is cool, shiny, and durable. It will also give a nice drape if used in loose clothing. Must be hand-washed.
When you have a big event coming up, you’ll want to use these fabrics. Great for magical or royal costumes and lingerie.
A soft material covered with small fibers that will keep you warm in winter. Has a gorgeous shine and gathers nicely. Can be very expensive and must be hand-washed or dry-cleaned.
A high-quality material with a beautiful shine and drape. Silk will keep you cool in hot weather and is relatively easy to work with, but it can be pricey and requires special care.
Lightweight and shiny, satin is similar to silk but generally a little stiffer and more fragile. Can be bought for very cheap at most craft stores. Does not have much stretch, but is easy to cut and sew. Must be hand-washed.
Shiny, stretchy, and breathable, this material is frequently used in avant-garde outfits. Relatively easy to work with, but is prone to snag and burn. Must be hand-washed.
These fabrics are made to withstand rough use. Perfect for hunters, warriors, barbarians, and post-apocalyptic survivors.
Very durable and stylish, but doesn’t breathe and can shrink if improperly dried. It’s also very expensive and can be difficult to sew. Not animal-friendly.
A kind of leather with a velvety finish. Durable, but very difficult to maintain. Cheaper than leather and a little easier to work with.
Literally “plastic leather.” An artificial version of leather that’s cheaper, easier to work with, and that will let your skin breathe. Available in more prints than leather. Easier to clean, but can be less durable and may crack over time.
A shiny, stiff, and waterproof material that’s popular for accessories, catsuits, and fetish clothing. Wet Look is a subset of vinyl. This material is easy to clean, but it can be difficult to sew because it sticks on itself and finished materials.
It would be hard to make clothes out of these materials alone, but they really help give that extra oomph. Good for royal, fairy, and magical costumes.
A light and absorbent material that will keep you cool in hot weather. Can range from sheer material like those used in veils or opaque material used in sundresses and summer blouses. Can get holes if put to hard use.
A sheer, lightweight fabric with gorgeous drape. Perfect for royal costumes because of its billowing effect. Its slippery and fragile quality makes it difficult to cut and sew and it must be carefully hand-washed.
Sheer, lightweight, and shimmery. This material is great for layering on clothes to add structure. It’s stiffer and easier to work with than chiffon, but can still be difficult when sewing and cutting. Must be hand-washed.
A very stiff and dense net material often used in tutus and petticoats. Tulle won’t frayed when cut, so it doesn’t need to be finished. It doesn’t drape well but gives fantastic volume when worn under skirts. It needs to be hand-washed.
If you’d like to know about any other kinds of fabric, check here: http://www.fabric.com/SitePages/Glossary.aspx That’s just a glossary, but if you type a kind of fabric into the search bar at the top you can look at and buy any of the materials listed there.
This guide was made under the wing of Costume Discounters (www.costumediscounters.com). Please go check out their site!! They sell wigs, shoes, shirts, essentials…all sorts of goodies.
