You’ve spent an hour on your makeup, the outfit is ironed, and then the scarf starts sliding the moment you sit down in the car. Or it leaves a pale line of foundation along its edge that everyone can see in the photos. Occasion hijabs look gorgeous, but they do take some planning. Chiffon and georgette are the two fabrics most of us reach for, and they behave differently enough that it’s worth choosing on purpose.
The difference in a sentence or two
Chiffon is smoother, lighter and more sheer. It floats, and it can look very delicate in photographs. Georgette has a fine, grainy texture and a soft matte finish, with a little more body, so it falls cleanly and stays where you put it for longer.
If you want drama and movement, chiffon gets you there. If you’d like to stop thinking about your hijab after the first ten minutes, go with georgette. A collection of chiffon and georgette hijabs will show you the difference better than any description, especially if you look at how each one sits at the shoulder.
How each one treats your makeup
This part rarely gets mentioned. Georgette’s slightly rough surface grips the skin and picks up powder a little more readily at the edge of the face, so set your foundation well along the jaw and leave it a few minutes before you wrap. A setting spray helps. Chiffon slides, so it’s less likely to pull at your base, but on the other hand it moves constantly and may keep rubbing the same spot.
Pale colours show everything. Ivory or blush georgette will display a foundation mark within an hour. If you’ve got your heart set on a light hijab, put a thin matching undercap between your skin and the fabric, and keep the scarf a finger’s width from your jawline when you can. Dark jewel shades are far more forgiving.
Choosing colour for your complexion
Sheer fabric lets whatever is under it show through, so a chiffon scarf over a black undercap will look darker and duller than it did in the shop. Wear a nude or matching cap beneath light colours to keep them true.
For warm undertones, try gold-leaning shades such as champagne, rust or olive. Cooler skin often looks lovely in wine, emerald or dusty blue. Bring the colour up to your face in daylight before you buy, because it’s easy to be fooled by a shop’s warm lights. Do the same with your lipstick on, if you can, as the two will be seen together in every picture.
Keeping it in place all evening
Neither fabric grips like jersey, so plan your fastenings in advance. Use a grippy undercap as your base and pin the first layer to it before you drape. Sharp pins can leave visible holes and pulled threads on fine weaves, particularly on chiffon, so use pins that won’t snag where the fabric shows, and keep any brooch light. A heavy one will drag the drape down within an hour.
Leave some extra length over one shoulder too. It’s far easier to adjust at a long dinner, and it looks better when you sit.
After the event
Don’t stuff the scarf straight into a bag. Makeup marks are easier to remove when they’re fresh, so dab with a little micellar water on a cotton pad as soon as you get home, then hand wash in cool water. Hang it to dry on a padded hanger, away from sunlight.
Chiffon snags easily, so keep it folded inside a soft cloth, away from anything with stones or sequins. Looked after this way, a good occasion hijab will still look lovely when next year’s invitations turn up.
