Satin vs Taffeta. What Is the Difference? (With Pictures)

Satin and Taffeta are similar kinds of weaves used in making various textile products. Although they both use Silk or synthetic fabric as the base material, they have several differences. They are shiny fabrics, which make them popular for wedding dresses and other formal wear. However, each has its own distinctive properties, which make them quite different from each other.

Therefore, it becomes imperative to understand the Satin vs Taffeta difference clearly. This post covers these differences in detail. It makes it easier for the reader to decide which fabric is most suitable for their styling needs.

The Main Difference

The most critical point of distinction for Satin vs Taffeta lies in the two fabrics’ feel and look.

Taffeta has a Matt finish and is, therefore, less shiny when compared to Satin but still glossier than many other fabrics. Further, Taffeta is relatively lighter than Satin and doesn’t mold much to the wearer’s body.

On the other hand, Satin glossier, more elegant and has more body to it. This makes it cling to the wearer’s body more perfectly as compared to Taffeta. For these reasons, Satin is considered to be more elegant by many wearers.

However, there are several benefits of picking Taffeta too, so looking into the fabric properties and making an in-depth comparison is called for before picking a fabric.

What are Satin and Satin Fabric Properties?

Satin is essentially a weaving pattern. It uses four or more weft yarn over a base warp yarn. This gives the mesh-like weave pattern; further, it also provides the fabric with its flowy and body molding properties. Any fabric with Satin weaving can be called as a Satin fabric. As only one warp yarn is used, the fabric drapes well and gets its signature smoothness.

The base material for satin weaving could be polyester, cotton, silk, wool etc., but, Silk and polyester are more common.

At times, people confuse Sateen with Satin. Sateen is a cotton fabric with Sating weaving. People often confuse silk with satin, however, these are very different from each other. Satin has double shine finish while silk doesn’t.

Some of the prominent properties of Satin are as follows:

• Synthetic product: If the raw material is polyester, then the final product is entirely man-made, not using any natural fibers.
• Double Finish: A glossy, smooth, and shiny front and a dull finish back.
• Difficult to Maneuver: A very slippery fabric, therefore, challenging for tailors
• Maintenance: It is a delicate fabric and therefore requires a lot of maintenance.
• Wash Care: Always dry clean the Silk-Satin products however, Polyester-Satin products can gently hand washed. Never wrung to dry the products, always hang dry them.
• Ironing: The material can get burned easily, so the ironing can only be done on the fabric’s dull side at a very low temperature.

There are several types of Satin weaves, as mentioned below: It is quite clear from the names how these three types differ:

1. In 4 Harness Satin Weave, there are 4 weft threads and one warp thread.
2. In 5 Harness Satin Weave, there are 4 over weft threads, 1 under weft thread, and one warp thread
3. In 7 Harness Satin Weave, there are 7 over weft threads, 1 under weft thread, and one warp thread.

The higher the number of weft threads, the greater is the flexibility of the fabric.

What are Taffeta and Taffeta Fabric Properties?

Taffeta is again a shiny fabric; however, the shine is more matt than glossy. You can call it a dull shine. It is crisp to touch and has a Middle Eastern origin.

The weave pattern used in the production of Taffeta is known as ‘Plain Weave.’ It is a criss-cross pattern made from the simple and alternate warp and weft weaving. This type of weaving makes Taffeta fabric sturdy and durable.

This alternate pattern is very different from Satin weaving, which has four wefts over one warp. In Taffeta, there is one Weft for each warp.

Originally, Silk was used as a raw material to produce Taffeta, but now synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, acetate, etc., are also used.

Some of the prominent properties of Tafetta are as follows:

• Feel: It is crisp to touch. This is the quality that makes the fabric very rigid and less flowy. So it is difficult to deshaped a Taffeta product. It doesn’t drape or mold according to body shape. This is good if the wearer wants the dress or the hat to retain its shape
• Shine: It has Matt shine. It is dull if compared to Satin, but it is still glossy enough if compared to non-glossy fabrics. This dull shine makes it extremely suitable for formal occasions. It also appeals to the wearer’s personality if they don’t prefer a very shiny finish.
• Touch: Even though the fabric is crisp, it is soft and smooth to touch. It is similar to the best of both worlds, not coarse to touch, and yet retains its shape.
• Sound: If you have a flowy trail to your Taffeta dress, be prepared to hear the rustling sound. The crispiness of the material adds the sound aligned with the wearer’s movements.
• Pliable: Taffeta is pliable and can have multiple layers heaped on top of one another. It won’t lose shape and is excellent for inner linings, and it is very soft to the body.
• Difficult to Maneuver: As with Satin and other soft fabrics, Taffeta too is very hard to work with because it is slippery. It can be pre-washed to make it easier to work with. Using a sharp needle is advisable.
• Costly: Silk Taffeta is very costly; however, if the raw material is synthetic, then the costs can come down drastically.
• Maintenance: It is a delicate fabric, and therefore it needs greater care. It can tear easily too.

There are several types of Taffeta, as mentioned below:

1. Shot Silk Taffeta: This uses two yarns of two colors – one for Weft and one for warp. The final output is a textured mixed color one. It also has iridescent quality when touched.  
2. Warp-printed Taffeta: The Warp thread is printed before weaving. It brings a blurry and pastel pattern to the final product.
3. Paper Taffeta: Very thin and lightweight Taffeta
4. Antique Taffeta: The yarns used to weave it are uneven, this gives the final product a slightly coarse and raised texture
5. Faille Taffeta: The fibers used are made from Cotton or Wool and are short-length
6. Stretch-Taffeta: This is a unique invention to make Taffeta expandable. It uses spandex in the weaving, so the final product can be stretched a little. This reduces the shape retention quality of Taffeta but makes it more adaptable.

Satin Hats Vs Taffeta Hats

Comparison Properties	Satin Hats	Taffeta  Hats
Uses (for)	Baseball hats, Formal Wear, Accessory with Dresses and Gowns, Stage Performances, Casual Wear, Sleep Wear.	Baseball hats, Formal Wear, Accessory with Dresses and Gowns, Stage Performances, Casual Wear, Sleep Wear.
Ideal For	Mostly used in Women’s Hats; Also used in Men’s Top Hats	Mostly used in Women’s Hats; Also used in Men’s Top Hats
Advantages	Very smooth, Keep the hair healthy, Retains moisture and keep the hair hydrated. Reduces Frizz.	Very smooth, Retains its Shape, Relatively less shiny
Disadvantages	Highly slippery material, Can be too shiny for some wearers, The fabric requires high maintenance, Expensive, Can get stained easily.	Highly slippery material, Less Elegant, The fabric requires high maintenance, Expensive, Can get stained easily.
Durability	Very delicate	Very delicate
Weight	Relatively heavier	Relatively heavier
Waterproof Material	Not waterproof, cleaning with water can leave a mark.	Not waterproof, cleaning with water can leave a mark.
Reflective Material	Has some degree of reflectivity	Has some degree of reflectivity
Care and Maintenance	It is difficult to clean, can get stained easily.	It is difficult to clean, can get stained easily.
Types and Styles	Caps, Slouchy beanie, Top hat, Bonnets, Sleep cap, Turban	Jewel veil cocktail hats, Caps, Slouchy beanie, Caps
Weather	Warm, Spring, Summer	Warm, Spring, Summer
Prices	$4 to $80	$4 to $80

What Are Satin Hats for?

Satin hats are best used as sleep hats. It makes your hair healthier. Apart from that, several styles are available for casual occasions, such as a baseball game or a music events. They go well with formal or ballroom gowns. Most of the time, men wear Satin top hats at weddings. Satin material is used in hat lining too.

What Are Taffeta Hats for?

Taffeta hats have been a trendy choice to go with formal wear for a very long time. There are vintage-style hats and cocktail hats with veils, which are highly sought after. These days, many hats use Taffeta lining too, and therefore they can have a more casual and sporty look. So Taffeta is used in several baseball caps as well.

The Best Satin Hat

The Best Taffeta Hat

Final Thoughts

Taffeta is a slightly better pick if compared with Satin. One reason is that it is relatively less shiny and retains its shape. This makes it last longer. This is more from the point of view of hats. However, if you are looking for a prom or a wedding dress, Satin’s elegance is unmatchable. If the wearer wants something that molds her body nicely, she should go for Satin, but if she wants a lightweight and classier option, Taffeta should be her pick.