Now That It’s Fall, Do You Know Your Velvets?

Photo: Imaxtree

We're in the middle of yet another New York Fashion Week,  but if February's collections meant anything, we'll be seeing a lot of one fabric now that the hottest summer on record subsides: Velvet.

The plushie perennial had its last big moment in Fall of 1996, when Gwyneth Paltrow wore a red velvet suit (with satin trim!) by Tom Ford for Gucci to the MTV Movie Awards.  And while velvet sweetheart necklines might bring to mind your least favorite Christmas dress, the fabric is pretty much evergreen in decorating circles, from mass retailers to the fanciest fringe peddlers out there.  But who knew there were so many types?  Let's review, along with their best uses:

Cotton velvet
The workhorse. Inexpensive, easy to clean, soft but not too shiny; it's best on the family room sofa or dad's chair.

Mohair velvet
Like a fiber forest.  With a long nap and generally rich colors, mohair speaks to a certain cozy English-ness and is perfect for club chairs (even if just to replace the worn out leather seat cushion). Might feel itchy to some.

Linen velvet
Casual and textured.  Do you have a country house?  Invite me for the weekend, and then upholster your Bridgewater sofa in this type. Think Louis Vuitton epi-leather but softer.

Silk velvet
For lack of a better word, luxurious.  Silk pile has a squishiness and sheen that feels like money, and the animal print versions can retail for over $1000 per yard.  Best reserved for a small stool or lumbar pillow (or coin purse).

Cut velvet
For Marie Antoinette and/or your local bordello. Also known as gauffrage, this type has raised sections usually in a traditional pattern like stripes or damask.  Fancy decorators love the stuff and it costs a small fortune but the recent flocked wallpaper revival might make you check twice for the red light. I'd avoid.

And while we're at it: Just Say No to chenille (velvet's trashy cousin) and crushed velvet (even if it is Alexander Wang!).