Fabric – Should I choose Matte, Sheen or Shine?

Along with texture and drape, another element of fabric is the SHEEN. Some fabrics are matte – they don’t reflect light and appear to absorb light – these fabrics are the most SLIMMING fabrics as they don’t draw attention to your body.

Put matte fabrics where you don’t want people to look.

Here is an example of a matt outfit on a woman who needs some sheen – she looks very flat and dull here.

Matte fabrics work best on someone who has a more wrinkled skin, or very textured or coarse hair. This model can get away with a more matte fabric as her hair is a bit coarser, so works better with the fabric.

SHEEN, is a little bit of shine, but not too much. It can be used to highlight and draw attention to those parts of your body that you’re happiest with – and if that’s just your face, wear it round your neckline. It’s most flattering on people who have either smooth hair or smooth and wrinkle free skin. This model looks great in sheen as she has smooth hair and skin.

Shine, is bright, it makes more muted colours look brighter and more obvious. Shine is best on people who have very straight and shiny hair and smooth freckle free skin, and sparkly eyes. Those people who look shiny in their skin. Be careful with shine, it add dimension and makes you appear visually larger, so don’t put it where you don’t want to add bulk, or want people to focus.

This sequin top is an example of both SHEEN and TEXTURE – which work on someone who has smooth skin with natural sheen, plus textured, curly hair.

If you are unsure, ask someone to look at you , and if you could only wear 1 fabric for the rest of the year, which would they choose based on what is more harmonious with you – Matte, Sheen or Shine – whatever comes to mind first is usually right.