Do you think velvet is a Do or a Don’t? Do you use velvet in your designs? I love the look of velvet- the soft sheen of gem colored velvet looks elegant and royal, and printed velvet can be gorgeous. But velvet can also look dated- circa 1980 when it’s done with really huge shoulder pads in badly tailored blazers. It also doesn’t photograph very well if you are using an indoor flash. I made a dress with a velvet top and silk jacquard skirt- there was just enough mustard, gray, black & sage printed velvet on top to create an interesting design with this daring print, as the muted brown silk made the look more mellow. I also made a skirt from the same velvet material and let me offer you a piece of advice: Don’t make a tulip skirt out of velvet printed velvet- especially if you want a flattering look!
How do you do velvet?
Check out my velvet slideshow here!
Here are some links to BurdaStyler’s Velvet Creations:
Red Velvet Jacket
Black Velvet Coat
Velvet Cloche with Feather
Bright Yellow Strapless Dress
Oct 13, 2010, 08.24 PMby concept-one-design
One of the most beautiful memory in my world of dressing up, was when I wore a emerald green velvet eveing dress. I became an instant celeberty. Recently I designed a royal blue velvet suit for a conductor of the Mini-Mahler Orchestra in Berlin. I think at the moment this is a fashion must!
Dec 14, 2009, 07.40 PMby imjerrygarcia
yes yes yes! love velvet, i am so happy that this is in now so i can find it everywhere! Velvet can be so sexy, but still so romantic. A cranberry velvet skirt with a little white top, i mean come on, and that’s the holidays!
Dec 13, 2009, 04.36 PMby elisabetsy
Velvet is an absolute MUST! One of the first things I ever sewed was a black velvet column dress for a high school Christmas dance. My Grandmother’s fitted plum velvet blazer is one of my favorite things to get out the minute fall hits (and my black velvet bias skirt, velveteen pencil skirt…true classics). Last year I made velveteen leaf-shaped cut-outs for the table centerpieces at my wedding. The leftover fabric is calling to me now… what will I make next?!
Dec 13, 2009, 03.49 AMby littlebear1
I love it, but it gets EVERYWHERE when I try to make things with it…..
Dec 12, 2009, 06.37 PMby uglybeat
cheap stretch velvet makes me gag, but i love velveteen. totally rock n’ roll when made into a close-fitting blazer. when it’s been worn a while, it lightly decays at the edges, which looks amazing. context is everythin: velvet holiday dresses—yuck! yet, vintage velveteen dresses, yum!
Dec 9, 2009, 06.35 PMby hermes
I love a velvet miniskirt!
Dec 9, 2009, 01.56 PMby gloriascloset
I love velvet, especially during the holidays! Its so festive….I have a couple of velvet dresses I like to wear and also a great vintage navy blue velvet Calvin Klein suit. I like to pair the jacket with jeans and a dressy top. I recently posted on my blog about my love affair with velvet….http://gloriascloset.blogspot.com/2009/10/velvet-crush.html
Dec 9, 2009, 11.12 AMby tasallison
I’ve come a full 360 degrees with velvet…i hated and now i love it…but would i wear it m.ade into pants?? no way. i like the idea of a fitted blazer or a short full skirt. or maybe a 1920’s inspried hat or a nice dress with two fabrics combined ..velvet and may be wool. bad quality velvet is all they sell where i live…really awful 8-ball table green.
Dec 6, 2009, 11.08 PMby scissory
Burnout velvet is amazing!
It’s all in the execution as far as I’m concerned.
Dec 5, 2009, 09.59 PMby sweet-saboo
velvet – definitely yes! silk velvet, burnout velvet – absolutely! but not velveteen, velour, crushed velvet, or corduroy.
Dec 4, 2009, 09.35 PMby hotchip
Velvet, what designers turn to when they hit a brick wall. And i think it’s worked every time. Tucked into a high waisted skirt (which always requires heels) – perfecto! x
Dec 4, 2009, 12.31 AMby kaitlinnegan
I like velvet, but I have trouble thinking of how to wear it in my casual wardrobe. Maybe in the right color, like that mustardy/olivey color on the left? I’m interested to see if anyone has ideas on how to work velvet into your everyday wardrobe!
Dec 3, 2009, 04.12 PMby alisondahl
I want to see your velvet creations!
3 Replies
Dec 4, 2009, 01.15 AMby flowergirl22
ok thats s challenge,,, why not does everyone that loves velvet do a piece in velvet,, and have a competition???
Dec 4, 2009, 04.06 PMby kaitlinnegan
A challenge is a fantastic idea! Let’s do it!
Dec 23, 2009, 07.09 PMby wzrdreams
That’s it. That’s all I needed to read to help me decide to cut my velvet…. next up, Minna in blue silk velvet.
Also…. http://www.elle.com/Runway/Ready-to-Wear/Fall-2009-RTW/BALENCIAGA/BALENCIAGA/(imageIndex)/10
Dec 1, 2009, 11.29 PMby elyzampa
For me velvet is MUST! I’ve always loved it! All I have to say it’s that is really important to chose the right color for velvet, I think it’s great only in dark colors, like green, blue, purple, black and burgundi… Maybe only ivory velvet is the only light color I can save, but it looks a bit bride like ;)
1 Reply
Dec 4, 2009, 01.14 AMby flowergirl22
oh i totally agree vekvet is every girls huggy moment,,,
Dec 1, 2009, 02.48 PMby cheekystitch
No way, I say no to velvet. I want to love velvet but I dont think its that flattering. I had a Marc Jacobs velvet jacket sitting at the back of my closet for years, i just gave it away.
Nov 29, 2009, 11.54 PMby flowergirl22
i have 7 velvet dresses,, 3blue, 1red, 1dark pink, 1 black and 1 deep purple,,
it feels so good on the skin, but only wear it on special days out.
BUT THEY ARE ALL STRETCHY SO SOFT AND SNUGGLY,, i could wear them to bed
Nov 28, 2009, 10.32 PMby kiraph
I have only ever worn/used velvet in a costume. I had a burgundy tutu when I was 14 (still have it, but of course it doesn’t fit) I have made several costumes using stretch velvet lycra and that stuff is great!
As for wearing it for fashion, I agree that it looks luxe and can look great, but it isn’t for me and I don’t live anywhere that I could wear velvet and not feel overdressed. :( And I don’t have the right figure to wear it either.
Nov 27, 2009, 09.42 PMby wandalake
I’ve had a life-long dislike for velvet. I think it comes from all those velvet dresses my mom forced on me for holidays and family portraits. Velvet makes me flash back to my pouty 8 year old self. I just can’t take it seriously on an adult. So it’s not for me. I’m sure some people can rock it, though. Probably more than any other fabric, you have to wear it like you mean it.
Nov 25, 2009, 10.21 PMby ginasophia
I really dislike velvet, and I have never owned anything in velvet and do not plan too. The shine, texture and upkeep necessary are among the biggest negatives for me. That said, I think it is a really interesting textile and when I see it on the runway I really admire what it does the the feel of a collection… as sewella said it immediately adds drama and romance. I have a hard time seeing it in a day to day garment for a woman like me, or even for evening wear.
Nov 25, 2009, 09.14 PMby sewella
Let me put it this way: Whenever I see a velvet jacket or a dress, I get weak at the knees. To me it adds a bit drama to the wear and it feels soo romantic. My grandma worked wonders with velvet – I guess watching her making art out of a piece of velvet has made me so in love with it! As a matter of fact, inspired by your article BS, today I bought dark navy velvet which I plan to turn into a dress. Thank you for the inspiration!
Nov 25, 2009, 02.42 PMby skwarynia
Well, i have some bad memories about velvet from my childhood. My grandma, great tailor and seamstress, sewed for me pants and a jacket, kind of suit, from navy velvet. I liked it, but with time the fabric looked worse and worse on me… And I remember that it was the first and the last thing I have from velvet. I think that it doesn’t look good on curvy women as I am, and it glitters… It can look posh of course, but in victorian epoch only, I’m afraid. Anyway I like this fabric, but not for usual clothes. And I amdire people who can do something really good from this, cause it’s hard. It would be good to make out of this a pillow case or some little bag
And I made clutch from beautiful black velvet:) The only one velvet thing now I have:)
Nov 24, 2009, 08.05 PMby mirela
Oh Yeah! I love velvet! I sewn the Danielle in velvet: http://www.burdastyle.com/projects/danielle-sleeveless-top-mirela
P.S. to AnaJan’s comment: I adore Tany’s jacket, such an inspiration and so many tips and tricks she explains! Thanks for the link!
Nov 22, 2009, 06.08 PMby nuiwida23
I’ve been struggling to find a suitable pattern for some gorgeous purple velvet I have. This post has encouraged me to keep trying! And btw, I am IN LOVE with the 3rd and 4th model pictures (the purple dress and blue dress)!
Nov 21, 2009, 12.19 AMby loyl8
Well I love it but I dont. It depends how it’s used and the texture so on and so forth, but I really love it for the holiday season. I am actually trying to make some holiday party outfits with stretch black velvet with gold dots and scotty dog burn out fabric well see how it turns out. I do love the above velvet creations though :)
Nov 20, 2009, 06.24 PMby anajan
Generally, I love velvet, corduroy, velour, and all kinds of “hairy” fabrics. However, I dislike the models shown on the picture. Have you seen Tany’s gorgeous velvet coat? That one is a piece of art! http://tanysewsandknits.blogspot.com/2009/01/acho-que-vos-estava-dever-esta-foto-i.html
Nov 19, 2009, 09.58 PMby wzrdreams
YES I like velvet! I’ve been collecting pics of velvet dresses this fall and I want to make a velvet holiday dress. I have some pretty blue crushed velvet (silk/rayon) in my stash to make the Minna dress pattern. I think I’m going to cut it nap down. I love the silvery shine you get when cutting nap down.