Fashion Guide To Affordable Silk Clothes by PrettyAndPlus
Silk, is it only for the rich and famous?
Not any more! True, silk is normally quite expensive and with good reason. Did you know that it takes 3,000 silk cocoons to make just one pound of raw silk? That shiny silk charmeuse requires quite intricate processing which adds to the cost after that poor little silkworm spins his cocoon and the cocoon is harvested. But to pay $75 - $100 for a blouse in silk, just does not compute with my budget or my upbringing.
So why is silk affordable now? Thank God for eBay! There are several reputable eBay merchants (of which I am one) who are offering NEW (store tags attached) 100% Silk blouses for under $20. There are also beautiful Silk fabrics blended with other material like cashmere, rayon, nylon & spandex for the same low price. That is probably lower in cost than you would pay for any nice top at Walmart or Target and you receive the best quality and Designer Labels that Premier Department Stores sell.
New2U Silks
There are also many silk items in the New2U (pre-owned) listings, but since Silk is such a delicate fabric, I would use extreme caution when purchasing those. Check the seller’s reputation to see their quality standards and refund guarantees they offer before purchasing used silk. Note: The listings to the right are not from my store. Naturally, some silk fabrics (especially raw silk fabrics) have irregularities and variations in the weave and color. Its one of the things that makes silk unique and is characteristic of the fine silk yarn which gives this fabric its beauty and texture. But since it is delicate, ask the seller about any stains, snags or fading of the garment before placing your bid.
How To Clean Silk
So what about the cleaning costs? Most silk items come with a tag that says to Dry Clean the item. That probably is the best way to care for your silk. Here again though, a quick check of prices at your local dry cleaning establishment, will tell you that is not affordable at $6.00 each time you want to clean your blouse.
After doing some research with a fabric store, I found there are affordable methods to clean your silk garments. (Disclaimer) Use your own discretion and do this at your own risk. In checking the internet, I found one recommended method is to hand wash the silk garment with Woolite or a product called Charlie’s Laundry Soap. A simple alternative is to use a natural shampoo (no harsh detergents please) dissolved in cold water prior to putting your garment in. Gently squeeze cold water through the garment. DO NOT HARSHLY SCRUB OR TWIST THE GARMENT OR RUB A STAIN. Be sure to check your fingernails for sharp edges that might snag your garment. Do not use bleach, even color safe bleach. It will damage the fibers and colors. After rinsing, you will need to dry away from sunlight. Outside is OK if hung in the shade.
Varieties of Silk Textures
As an eBay merchant selling silk items, I was surprised at the variety of textures weaves used to make a variety of silk fabrics. I thought shiny Silk Charmeuse was the only silk there was. WRONG! You name a fabric type and manufacturers have probably made it out of silk. Here are just a few examples I found at the fabric store I visited.
Silk Charmeuse: High quality made with a satin weave which is soft, yet supple and drapes beautifully. The front side of the fabric has a satin finish, lustrous and reflective, and the back has a dull finish. Mostly used for special occasion garments.
Silk Dupioni: A plain weave fabric made from raw silk that creates a highly irregular slubby surface. Suitable for Home Décor.
Silk Chiffon: This fabric is very light and transparent, but very feminine.
Silk Double Georgette: A sheer lightweight fabric. Is slightly heavier and more opaque (non-transparent) than chiffon. The twisted crepe fibers of this fabric give it a springy quality that makes it seem to move on its own.
Silk Taffeta: A firmer and shiny fabric. Also suitable for dresses & special occasions.
Silk Suiting: A heavier, thicker, more durable weave. Suitable for Suits, Slacks, skirts and Jackets
We hope this Fashion Guide to Affordable Silk has given you a better understanding of fabulous silks and how affordable they can be on eBay. If this guide was helpful to you, please check the box below. Thanks.
About The Author
My Fashion Store
Silk, is it only for the rich and famous?
Not any more! True, silk is normally quite expensive and with good reason. Did you know that it takes 3,000 silk cocoons to make just one pound of raw silk? That shiny silk charmeuse requires quite intricate processing which adds to the cost after that poor little silkworm spins his cocoon and the cocoon is harvested. But to pay $75 - $100 for a blouse in silk, just does not compute with my budget or my upbringing.
So why is silk affordable now? Thank God for eBay! There are several reputable eBay merchants (of which I am one) who are offering NEW (store tags attached) 100% Silk blouses for under $20. There are also beautiful Silk fabrics blended with other material like cashmere, rayon, nylon & spandex for the same low price. That is probably lower in cost than you would pay for any nice top at Walmart or Target and you receive the best quality and Designer Labels that Premier Department Stores sell.
New2U Silks
There are also many silk items in the New2U (pre-owned) listings, but since Silk is such a delicate fabric, I would use extreme caution when purchasing those. Check the seller’s reputation to see their quality standards and refund guarantees they offer before purchasing used silk. Note: The listings to the right are not from my store. Naturally, some silk fabrics (especially raw silk fabrics) have irregularities and variations in the weave and color. Its one of the things that makes silk unique and is characteristic of the fine silk yarn which gives this fabric its beauty and texture. But since it is delicate, ask the seller about any stains, snags or fading of the garment before placing your bid.
How To Clean Silk
So what about the cleaning costs? Most silk items come with a tag that says to Dry Clean the item. That probably is the best way to care for your silk. Here again though, a quick check of prices at your local dry cleaning establishment, will tell you that is not affordable at $6.00 each time you want to clean your blouse.
After doing some research with a fabric store, I found there are affordable methods to clean your silk garments. (Disclaimer) Use your own discretion and do this at your own risk. In checking the internet, I found one recommended method is to hand wash the silk garment with Woolite or a product called Charlie’s Laundry Soap. A simple alternative is to use a natural shampoo (no harsh detergents please) dissolved in cold water prior to putting your garment in. Gently squeeze cold water through the garment. DO NOT HARSHLY SCRUB OR TWIST THE GARMENT OR RUB A STAIN. Be sure to check your fingernails for sharp edges that might snag your garment. Do not use bleach, even color safe bleach. It will damage the fibers and colors. After rinsing, you will need to dry away from sunlight. Outside is OK if hung in the shade.
Varieties of Silk Textures
As an eBay merchant selling silk items, I was surprised at the variety of textures weaves used to make a variety of silk fabrics. I thought shiny Silk Charmeuse was the only silk there was. WRONG! You name a fabric type and manufacturers have probably made it out of silk. Here are just a few examples I found at the fabric store I visited.
Silk Charmeuse: High quality made with a satin weave which is soft, yet supple and drapes beautifully. The front side of the fabric has a satin finish, lustrous and reflective, and the back has a dull finish. Mostly used for special occasion garments.
Silk Chiffon: This fabric is very light and transparent, but very feminine.
Silk Double Georgette: A sheer lightweight fabric. Is slightly heavier and more opaque (non-transparent) than chiffon. The twisted crepe fibers of this fabric give it a springy quality that makes it seem to move on its own.
Silk Suiting: A heavier, thicker, more durable weave. Suitable for Suits, Slacks, skirts and Jackets
We hope this Fashion Guide to Affordable Silk has given you a better understanding of fabulous silks and how affordable they can be on eBay. If this guide was helpful to you, please check the box below. Thanks.
About The Author
My Fashion Store
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