Sateen vs. Satin: What's the Difference?

While browsing for elegant bridesmaid dresses, you might stumble across ‘satin’. A couple of designs later, you’ll come across ‘sateen’.

Sateen? Huh, what's that?

Yes, they’re both weave patterns that create that signature silky finish and yes they won’t drain your wedding budget too but I don’t want you to be fooled by the skin-deep similarities that you see with your eyes!

While satin and sateen may seem to be close cousins with a difference of just a few letters, they are actually pretty different. You don’t want to rush through this just like you wouldn’t overlook the finer points when comparing silk and satin differences. Because when it’s your big day, the details matter.

Sateen vs. Satin: Both Weave but from Different Fiber Lengths

1. Satin comes from long filament fibers, sateen is made of short staple fibers.

The first thing to remember is that “satin” and “sateen” do not refer to the fiber, they refer to the weave of the fabric. Satin shows off with loose continuous filament fibers that make your bridesmaid dress very flexible (perfectly suited for dancing!). However, sateen is still coming from shorter lengths of staple, so it just can’t cut the same stylish Charleston.

2. Satin is warp-faced and sateen is weft-faced.

As for the weave patterns, satin fabrics have warp-faced weave that is, the filling yarns are not clearly seen in the fabric. This leads to that shiny lustrous finish that satin is famous for, or rather well known for. Sateen includes a weft-faced weaving pattern with extra emphasis on the crosswise threads to reduce its sheen.

3. Satin is more shiny and glamorous, sateen is more durable and unwrinkled.

Those perpendicular over-threads make sateen sparkle more than a disco ball does. Satin is still glamorous but it has a more relaxed appearance as compared to the shine associated with glossy fabrics.

Due to the fiber length, both satin and sateen have a place, however they are different in their application. Satin has formed a fashion staple, from blouses and dresses to bathrobes, satin reflects elegance. Sateen is used for making bedclothes as well as upholstery since it bears a more subtle hue and is ideal for beautifying our homes.

What Is Sateen Fabric?

Listen, let me tell you a secret, it’s just a kind of cotton that attempts to be as posh as satin. In fact, I can almost guarantee that you’ve seen or come across this material before and did not know its name! The front is thin and feels like silk while the back part is thicker and has a leathery feel about it.

Sateen is as old as approximately one thousand years! Can you believe it? It began to gain popularity several centuries ago and to this day, people continue using it and it grows only in popularity. Today it is used a lot for producing all sorts of fabric, be it clothes, bed sheets, curtains and what have you.

Sateen would be my preference because it looks classy but it does not come with the high price tag like the silk fabric. It is also so useful, because you can get it in various thicknesses and it is quite easy to work into whatever creation you desire.

Pros of Sateen

• Silk-like handle – it has a rich, smooth, silky feel, rich look and falls well.
• Sateen provides comfort since it is breathable.
• It has high durability due to tight weaving, which makes it difficult for the fabric to tear or fray.
• to wash it, you simply put it in the washing machine without having to be too careful with delicate clothes.

Cons of Sateen

• More prone to develop creases than other woven cotton fabrics.
• Hard to maintain because sateen material easily gets stained with water
• When exposed to strong lights the shiny surface may cause glare
• Not stretchable (especially in case of a tight fit) like knits and hence restricts the mobility of the person wearing a sateen bridesmaids dress.

What’s the Usage of Sateen?

Here are some key products of sateen

• Bed sheets- Sateen fabric is used in making bed sheets due to the silk-like feel and the softness afforded to the skin.
• Dresses - The material is often used to make dresses, mostly formal and occasion dresses such as ball gowns and bridesmaid dresses.
• Home decor - Sateen fabric serves as home decor fabrics such as curtains, pillowcases, table cloths because of its shiny and smooth touch.
• Sleepwear - Due to its softness and lightness, sateen is perfect for kimonos and pajamas. 

What Is Satin Fabric?

Ah, Satin is weaved in a special manner, which gives it that silky, shiny texture we are familiar with. It is known as mercerization, a method that finalizes the creation of the fabric. Originally, it is from Quanzhou, this old seaport city in China where they would process the cotton for that beautiful gleam.

Satin was initially produced from silk only and there were various kinds which included duan and zhusi, ling and jin, wusi and basi. These traditional Chinese satins normally had five or six warp threads each of which passed over and under each weft thread in turn.

The secret is placing the warp threads over the weft so that each warp looks as if it is just resting upon the weft, not interlocking it densely. For other fabrics such as cotton satins, they will be using sateen weave which is similar to this floating principle.

Advantages of Satin

• Sleekness, or as I like to say- the ease of use of the fluid on your body: it just slides over it so smoothly!
• Itchless and rather pleasant to wear, it pulls the dampness out of the skin. Ideal as a layer to keep you warm in colder climates and cool during summer.
• Wrinkle resistant! It is good to be exempted from ironing.

Disadvantages of Satin

• It literally becomes as smooth as a glass; satin indeed gets pretty slippery. Not suitable for use as PJs, gym wear, or any other wear that requires high breathability.
• Higher maintenance than satin. Hand wash if made from silk, wash in cold water only, iron at low temperature only, tumble dry low, and hang to dry. Cleaning satin is not a very easy task as it requires a lot of effort!
• Not much stretch. Simply, be cautious to wear fit with tight styles.

Best Satin End Products

Popular uses for satin textiles today include things like:

• Formal wear, gowns and bridesmaid dresses
• Wedding accessories
• Lingerie
• Bed sheets
• Upholstery
• Wedding decor

Why Choose Satin Bridesmaid Dresses?

I understand how it may be a bit annoying when it comes to shopping and finding very few sateen bridesmaid dresses to select. This is mostly because satin’s soft and low density makes it the heavily preferred fabric for aesthetically and functionally ideal bridesmaid dresses.

Satin is a lighter fabric and more appropriate for hotter climates than sateen. If your party extends for the entire day and spans to the night, the last thing that a bridesmaid would desire is to have a hot flush. Satin is less tight against the skin and lets in slightly more air.

Both may be beautiful, but I usually recommend satin over sateen for bridesmaids. The light weight of satin enhances breathability, the feminine cut highlights drape and the numerous shades of satin ensure that every silhouette is enhanced. The last thing I would desire is for your bridesmaids to be in any form of discomfort on the special day.

Conclusion

Ladies, you are in the planning process and every single detail needs to be perfect and now you are torn between sateen and satin for your bridesmaid dresses. I get it, it’s a big decision and you want everything to be perfect. Each fabric is good in its own way, however, in practicality, satin is generally the preferred fabric for bridesmaids for the reasons I mentioned. If you’re thinking about dresses that look like they’re floating and sparkle in every picture, then satin will do the trick.

I don’t mean to dismiss Sateen too quickly! If you want to free up some of your budget for other wedding essentials while also maintaining similar shine and comfort then Sateen is for you. So, what’s your vision?

Sateen vs. Satin FAQs

What is better, satin or sateen?

It depends on what you want. If you are picking up dresses, satin gives you a silkier touch and texture. Sateen is more durable and used for bedding and upholstery.

Does sateen feel slippery?

Sateen end products feel soft or slippery based on the yarn type. Mercerized cotton, rayon or bamboo yarn, and polyester can be made into slippery sateen. However, they are really a heat-keeper that is not so breathable.

Is satin too heavy for summer?

Actually not if you choose light satin dresses or bed sheets. Natural fibers like silk or cotton satin are great choices for summer, as they are soft, lightweight, and breathable.