Now and then, satin slinks out of the boudoir and sees the light of day. Hedonists rejoice! This is one of those seasons. Satin’s refined shine is dancing down runways on Prada models, clinging to starlets at the Oscars, and gleaming in office cubicles. It’s even giving cargo pants new luster.
Satin isn’t a fabric—it’s a weave. It can be rayon, silk or polyester, and is characterized by a smooth, glossy finish and a dull back. Thinner satins are fluidly sexy, and heftier ones possess a smoldering type of gravitas. That’s why satin is so luxuriously versatile. You can play the sex-bomb with it, yet it works well in the office. It can be taken seriously, or it can be downright tasty.
Absolutely anyone can, and should, slip about in satin, no matter what their age. Need proof? Put a naked baby on a satin comforter and witness the bliss. Here’s how grownups can enjoy some of that rapture.
At your age of 20: The standard line for 20-somethings is “Oh, wear anything, you’re young!” but not here. Save Duchesse satin (an extremely firm, heavy satin) for your wedding dress and avoid anything that’s so tailored it looks like it’s wearing you. Instead, take advantage of satin’s tendency to hug the curves if you’ve got curves to flaunt. Contrast is yours too: Pajama pants flowing over high-tops;
a bias-cut satin halter with stiff 501s. Or try the satin cargos that are everywhere this season: Betsey Johnson has some black ones with slits down to the knee if plain satin cargos are just too conservative…
In your age of 30: Replace some of those khakis with some slick satin slacks—and remember, satin’s reflective glow reveals whatever texture lies beneath (i.e. bunchy cotton panties do not fare well under the sleek stuff). Try Duchesse in unexpected ways, like the clean-lined sherbet-colored tops and skirts Prada showed for spring. Add a funky (and affordable) touch by checking out vintage stores for evening wear.
“A lot of 30-somethings are wearing our bias-cut silk Carmeuse gowns for wedding or evening wear, says Laura D’Alessandro, owner of Isadora’s, an antique clothing boutique in Seattle. Though silk Carmeuse isn’t technically a satin, it’s got the glimmer that women are going for this spring.
In your age of 40: Satin is great in the office—it adds an edge, yet maintains luxurious restraint. And don’t just settle for the ubiquitous satin shirt. Trousers, slim or flowing, fitted jackets and polished skirts are all getting glowing performance reviews right now.
“We’re seeing a lot of shiny fabric, and it’s very wearable,” says Snooze, a sales associate at Mario’s in Seattle. She adds that women are keeping the look fresh by buying satin pieces—not full-on satin suits.
In your 50s: Every woman in her 50s should have a lot of satins—she’s earned the right to have both comfort and luxury at the same time. Thicker satins with more bodies are a great option for pants. Look for flowing cuts that drape elegantly down the leg.
Satin reflects light, which means the right color can flatter skin like candlelight. Try deep browns and warm champagnes, and steer clear of bright colors—think Lauren Bacall, not Auntie Mime.
The final word on satin is that designer Betsey Johnson—she of the slit satin cargo pants—recently turned 60. So slide into something beautiful, no matter how many birthdays you’ve had.
