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[HappehPills]

I'm currently stuck between either Satin or Cotton for a cosplay...and I was wondering what were your thoughts on this? Would Satin look good for convention shoots or would Cotton be better?

[MelodyPond]

Depends on the character and the type of satin/cotton you buy. Could you post a link to the character your cosplaying?

If not, then usually cotton is best as it doesn't have the sheen that satin does. However, it has to be nice satin, otherwise it looks as terrible as the costume satin. If you buy really nice, expensive satin, it may look good. It really depends on the persons outfit again.

[Sarcasm-hime]

It depends on what the character would likely wear and what kind of outfit it is. For fancy outfits I like duchesse satin aka peau-de-soie, as it's low-sheen and drapes nicely. Avoid really shiny satins as they photograph badly.

[HappehPills]

It would be for a U.S. Independence Day Period Costume.

And thank you so much! I am torn between either satin or not, but I might go with cotton then, since I worry that it might photograph badly.

[o01101011]

For period costumes always go with natural fibers, or fabric that LOOKS like a natural fiber fabric. They didn't have synthetics back then, so stretchy fabrics, extremely shiny fabrics, etc wouldn't have even existed. Silk would have likely been the glossiest fabric they had

[Syagria]

One thing to remember is that satin is a weave, and cotton is fiber content.

It is possible, for example, to get cotton in a satin weave. Generally, this is called 'cotton sateen,' since 'cotton satin' doesn't roll of the tongue all that appealingly. Cotton sateen is a very smooth, mid-luster material suitable for dress shirts and dresses. Like most cottons, however, it is prone to wrinkling. In past eras, before the age of synthetic fabrics, satin was a deluxe weave reserved for high-quality fibers, such as finely spun silk, and suitable for fashionable garments for the wealthy. To this day, silk satin can still be quite expensive, as not much has changed in the methods of producing and processing silk in the past 3,000 years.

In the current age, what most people call 'satin' is made from some sort of synthetic, like polyester. There are many different qualities of polyester, however - the sort of satin that so frequently meets with sneers of derision is the so-called 'costume satin,' - cheap, thin, very shiny, and prone to wrinkling. There are also better quality polyester satins, which, although lustrous, are not high-gloss, and they are usually heavier-weight material. Casa satin is one such fabric that can be commonly found at local chain fabric stores such as Joann's. It is possible to get a good-quality satin (such as the kind Sarcasm-hime mentions) that can closely mimic silk satin at a much more reasonable price.

What you should do is think about the character. You say it is a period costume, but don't mention what time period, the character age, or the character's social status. I will assume that by "period" you mean something prior to 1950, in which case, if you want true authenticity, you should avoid synthetic fabrics; or, alternatively, ensure that whatever synthetic you choose closely mimics a natural fiber (linen, cotton, wool, or silk, in general. The recent advent of bamboo as an apparel fiber would not be period-accurate).

As for character age, I will also assume fairly young - 15 - 25 or 30. This matters because in nearly every era, there were social dress codes, particularly among the middle to upper classes, dictating age-appropriate wear. In some eras, young women were permitted to have low necklines; a married woman, or one over 30, did not, and neither was it considered appropriate for her to dance at a ball. Additionally, the occasion mattered: for day-to-day wear, the high collars, long sleeves, and covered chest of the Victorian era contributed to our current notion of a repressed and buttoned-up time period, but at soirees and parties, a young woman might have had bare arms (although with gloves!) and a plunging neckline.

Status-wise, obviously, a wealthy woman would wear silk or fine wool nearly every day. A middle-class woman would likely wear fine cotton and linen. Poplin was a common material, which, like satin, refers to a pattern of weaving, but which traditionally was made from a combination of silk and cotton, making it more affordable for the merchant and middle classes. A middle-class woman would likely have a black silk dress for funerals or special occasions, and perhaps one additional silk dress for parties. In winter, a suit of fine wool would be used on visiting days, and a less fine version would be for around-the-house wear. After the rise of cotton in the early-mid-1800s, cotton summer dresses became a welcome change to the scratchier and heavier linen and wool garments, and a young woman would almost certainly have a fine white or light-colored cotton suit for summer outings. For the working classes, coarser linen, cotton, or wool would be common, with usually one nice, but simple, cotton or wool dress for outings.

[KitsuneNoKoibi]

Depends on the character, but if it doesn't matter, then cotton. Satin is impossible to sew--- so slippery! D:

[Anhelitta]

Go cotton! As others have mentioned above-satin is not the fabric of choice in costuming unless a fabric with sheen is required.

[Ani_BEE]

Also you can set sateen cotton weave fabrics that have a low luster. As an example my shirt for Mami is a 100% Cotton White Sateen but they can get pricey the thicker they are.

[Penlowe]

One thing to remember is that satin is a weave, and cotton is fiber content.

Can I say I love you? The lack of understanding the difference between fiber and weave is one of my biggest pet peeves. Thank you for spelling it out so nicely.

[HappehPills]

Thank you so much for all your input, guys! I will go with cotton then!

[Syagria]

Originally Posted by Penlowe

Can I say I love you? The lack of understanding the difference between fiber and weave is one of my biggest pet peeves. Thank you for spelling it out so nicely.

Hahahah, thanks! It bugs me, too! It's one of the reasons I don't subscribe to the whole "all satin is evil!" school of thought. A time and a place for everything, and all that.

[Satine]

<3 the satin is a weave comment I have silk satin (duchesse and charmeause) and they are the most luxurious fabrics out, aside from some of the rayon/silk velvets I also have

Also, what time of the day is the outfit for? Cotton may or may not be most appropriate And what class? That said anything that shines like glossy plastic is probably not good....