Devore Dresses and Tops: What Devore Is, and the 16Arlington Pieces Cut From It

A devore dress has a pattern you can feel, because part of the pile has been dissolved away, leaving a raised, velvety motif over a sheer ground. 16Arlington used it across its Autumn/Winter 2026 collection in black, in a blend of viscose, silk and lurex that adds a soft metallic shimmer. At Coveti it comes as the strapless Frasia gown, the Olall top and the wide-leg Rocco trouser. The Resia dress shares the same funnel-neck cut in black, and in plain taupe silk.

By Gemma Deeks, Fashion Editor at Coveti. Updated 1 October 2026.

Key facts

• Devore (from the French devore, meaning devoured) is made by printing a chemical paste that burns away the cellulose fibres of a blended fabric, leaving the silk ground sheer.
• 16Arlington devore: 40% viscose, 30% silk and 30% lurex.
• Pieces: Frasia gown, Olall top, Rocco trouser, and the Resia dress in the same black cut.
• Velvet devore was one of the named materials of the Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, shown in London in February 2026.

What devore is

A devore fabric starts as a blend of two kinds of fibre, typically a protein fibre such as silk and a cellulose fibre such as viscose. A paste is printed onto it that dissolves the cellulose wherever it touches, so the pattern burns out and leaves the silk base translucent, while the untouched areas keep their full pile. The result has two depths in one cloth: a plush pattern you can feel, over a sheer ground you can see through. 16Arlington adds lurex to the blend, so the pattern carries a fine metallic shimmer.

For the house it does the job sequins do in spring: it brings texture and light to a simple shape without adding weight. A devore gown moves like a slip dress and catches light like a sequin one.

The devore pieces: a gown, a devore dress, a devore top and a trouser

1. Frasia Gown in Black

Shimmering black devore in a strapless column that pools at the floor, structured with an internal corset for a secure fit and finished with a subtle back split. The house describes the devore as plush and velvet-like with a gentle shimmer. The black-tie piece of the group.

2. Resia Midi Dress in Black

A black midi with a funnel neck and a cinched, asymmetric tie at the waist, falling below the knee in a relaxed drape, with a keyhole back and a front split. The brand lists it as devore and its composition label as silk.

3. Olall Top in Black Devore

Black devore with a high neck and long sleeves. The pattern does the work, so the top needs nothing else.

4. Rocco Trouser in Black

Black devore in a wide leg with an elasticated waist and in-seam pockets, lined, with a subtle shimmer. The most comfortable way to wear the fabric.

The same cuts in plain fabric

5. Resia Midi Dress in Taupe

The Resia in taupe silk, the same funnel neck, asymmetric tie and front split without the pattern.

6. Olall Top in Black

The Olall in plain black silk with a zig-zag of handmade beaded fringe at the chest.

How to wear devore

The pattern is busy enough to stand alone, so keep everything around it plain. The Frasia needs only a black sandal and small earrings. The Olall top and the Rocco trouser make a full set for a dinner, and the top alone works with the Riva tailored trousers. Because devore is semi-sheer, the gown and dress are lined; the top has no lining listed, so wear a black camisole such as the Clio underneath if you want more cover.

Care

Devore is delicate: the sheer ground can snag and the pile can crush. Dry clean only, store the gown flat with tissue, and steam lightly from the inside. Keep it away from jewellery with sharp settings.

Devore and velvet: the difference

Both have a pile, but they behave differently. Velvet has a dense, continuous pile over the whole surface, which gives it weight, warmth and an even sheen; 16Arlington’s velvet this season is a rayon and cupro blend in navy and black. Devore has had part of its pile burned away, so the pattern sits over a sheer ground and the fabric is lighter, cooler and more transparent. In practice, velvet suits the corseted Minelli and the wide Joelle, where weight helps the shape hang, while devore suits the column gown and the relaxed trouser, where movement matters more than structure. The two work well together: a velvet shirt over a devore trouser is a good way to wear both textures at once.

Read next

The velvet pieces. Co-ords and matching separates. Every 16Arlington gown. The Autumn/Winter 2026 edit. Shop 16Arlington at Coveti.

Frequently asked questions

What is devore fabric?

A blended fabric where a printed chemical paste dissolves one fibre in a pattern, leaving a raised, velvety motif over a sheer ground. The name comes from the French for devoured.

What is 16Arlington devore made of?

A blend of 40% viscose, 30% silk and 30% lurex. The lurex gives the pattern a soft metallic shimmer.

Is devore see-through?

Partly. The burned-out areas are sheer, which is why the 16Arlington devore gown and trouser are lined. The Olall top has no lining listed, so a camisole underneath is a good idea.

Is the 16Arlington Frasia gown suitable for black tie?

Yes. It is a strapless, floor-length column with an internal corset and a back split, cut in black devore.

How do you care for devore?

Dry clean only. Store it flat with tissue, steam lightly from the inside and keep it away from sharp jewellery that can snag the sheer ground.