FILTERS
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- Beaded Net
- Beaded Tulle
- Chiffon
- Crystal Mesh
- Crystal Organza
- Crystal Organza Print
- Crystal Satin
- Embroidery
- Glitter
- Glitter Stretch Jersey
- Glitter Tulle
- Hologram Jersey
- Hologram Sequin
- Jacquard
- Jersey
- Lace
- Luxe Lycra Jersey
- Lycra
- Matte Satin
- Metallic Crepe
- Metallic Jacquard
- Metallic Net
- Metallic Organza
- Metallic Shimmer
- Ombre Glitter Tulle
- Ombre Velvet Sequin
- Organza
- Organza Print
- Pleated Strech Lame
- Pleated Tulle
- Print Chiffon
- Print Mikado
- Print Satin
- Satin
- Satin Print
- Scuba
- Sequin
- Sequin Beading
- Sequin Glitter Stretch Jersey
- Sequin Tulle
- Shimmer Sequin
- Strech Shimmer Jersey
- Stretch Jersey
- Stretch Lame
- Stretch Net
- Stretch Print Tulle
- Stretch Satin
- Stretch Satin Jersey
- Stretch Shimmer Jersey
- Stretch Tulle
- Taffeta
- Triacetate
- Tulle
- Velvet
Prom Dresses
Rachel Allan Taffeta Prom Dresses
Taffeta announces your presence before you're fully visible. The fabric produces a distinctive rustle with movement that creates audible elegance, a quality that softer materials cannot replicate. Rachel Allan uses taffeta when designs require substantial body and crisp structure, creating gowns that hold dramatic shapes without relying on heavy interfacing or boning. The fabric's inherent stiffness means pleats stay razor-sharp, ballgown skirts maintain impressive circumference, and architectural details read with clarity because the material refuses to collapse or drape softly.
Structural Volume Creation
The weight and body of taffeta allow it to create volume through its own substance rather than requiring layers of tulle or crinoline for support. A single layer of taffeta can produce a full ballgown silhouette that holds its bell shape independently. Rachel Allan exploits this self-supporting property for designs with dramatic skirts that need to make visual impact while remaining surprisingly manageable. The fabric stands away from the body naturally, creating the space and volume that define formal silhouettes.
Light Interaction and Sheen
Taffeta's surface has subtle luster that creates depth within solid colors through light reflection variance. The slight sheen isn't mirror-bright like satin but produces enough reflection to prevent colors from reading flat or matte. Jewel tones appear particularly rich in taffeta because the fabric's body allows light to interact with the surface at multiple angles simultaneously. Movement creates traveling highlights that shift across the dress, adding visual interest through pure fabric behavior rather than embellishment.
Pleat and Fold Retention
Press a crease into taffeta and it holds indefinitely without additional treatment. This memory property makes the fabric ideal for designs featuring precise pleating, sharp box pleats, or architectural folds that need to maintain their geometry throughout wear. Rachel Allan uses taffeta's crease retention for structured bodices, pleated skirt sections, and geometric design details that would lose definition in softer fabrics. The pleats don't relax or soften with wear, maintaining crisp lines from ceremony through reception.
Deliberate Drape Character
Taffeta doesn't flow, it swings. The fabric moves in controlled arcs with deliberate momentum rather than floating ethereally. This substantial movement quality gives taffeta gowns a dignified, formal presence that lighter fabrics cannot achieve. Walking creates measured fabric response that feels weighty and important, reinforcing the elevated nature of formal occasions through pure material behavior.