Chiffon is a French word for a cloth. Chiffon is made from cotton, silk or synthetic fibres. Chiffon can be dyed to almost any shade desired, but if it is made out of polyster, it can be difficult to dye. Chiffon is most commonly used in evening wear, especially as an overlay, giving an elegant and floating appearance. It is also a popular fabric used in blouses, ribbons, scarves and lingerie. Like other crepe fabrics, chiffon can be difficult to work with because of its light and slippery textures. Due to this delicate nature, chiffon must be hand washed only. Since chiffon is a light weight fabric that frays very easily, bound or French must be used to stop the fabric from fraying. Silk chiffon is the most prized, since it has a rich shimmer and slick texture. Silk chiffon is also surprisingly strong for its weight. Because silk chiffon is made from a natural fiber, it tends to be more expensive than synthetics, and it also needs to be dry cleaned. Synthetic materials are most commonly used to make chiffon, since most synthetics take dye well, are relatively cheap to make, and they tend to be sturdy. However, the fabric is still delicate enough that it should be hand washed with cold water only, and never run through a washing machine. Synthetics are also just as challenging to work with as silk, since they are also slippery. Chiffon is also pinnable, as it will spring back, concealing pin marks. As a general rule, one should work slowly and steadily with chiffon, taking care not to run it through a sewing machine too quickly or it will bunch and gather.