Switch to silk bedding for the fall

In summary: switching to silk for fall is not about adding a layer — it is about changing the weight. Here is the momme to aim for as the nights grow cooler, the order in which to replace your pieces, and how to store summer bedding without damaging it.

Every late August, the same question comes back to me in different forms: “Isn’t silk more of a summer fabric?” I understand the confusion. For three months, we have talked only about coolness. But when I place my hand on 22-momme silk one September morning, what I feel is not cold. It is a warm, dry material that has followed the body’s temperature without trapping it. Silk does not cool you down: it regulates temperature. And this distinction completely changes how you put together a fall bed.

Silk does not cool; it stabilizes

Silk fiber is a protein — fibroin, spun continuously by the silkworm. This protein structure, very different from a plant fiber such as cotton or a polymer such as polyester, has two properties that interest us here.

First, it conducts heat poorly. A silk thread does not “pump” heat away from the skin the way linen does. It creates a buffer layer that takes time to cool down — exactly what we look for when the bedroom temperature drops from 24°C in July to 17°C in October.

It then absorbs moisture — up to around one-third of its weight — while remaining dry to the touch, and then releases it. In summer, this moisture wicking creates a feeling of freshness. In fall, it prevents the opposite effect: a sheet becoming damp and cold in the middle of the night. It is the same mechanism, viewed from the other direction.

In other words: it is not the material you need to change in September. It is its weight.

Momme, the real variable for fall

Momme (MM) measures the density of a silk fabric. The higher it is, the tighter the weave, and the heavier, more opaque, and more durable the item. If the term is unfamiliar, start with my in-depth article on silk momme and weight: it is the foundation of any well-considered purchase.

For bedding, here is how I position the weights throughout the seasons.

The step to take in autumn is simple: if you slept in 16.5 or 19 MM this summer, move up one level. A 22 MM fabric drapes more heavily over the body, follows the shoulders better, and that slight pressure makes a real difference as the room cools. It is not about warmth—it is about drape.

The order in which to replace your pieces

Few beds switch to full silk all at once, and there is no need to. The order I recommend follows the area of skin contact, from most to least impactful:

1. The pillowcase. Your face and hair rest on it for half the night. It offers the best value in terms of impact, and is often where people start.
2. The duvet cover. The large surface, the one that changes the overall feel of the bed. This is where the switch from 19 to 22 MM is most noticeable. Our silk duvet covers are available in the main weights.
3. The flat sheet. Useful if you sleep without a duvet for part of the mid-season, or as a layer between your body and the duvet.
4. The fitted sheet. The most expensive piece to replace, and the least decisive in terms of feel. Save it for last.

Mid-season layering

September and October are unpredictable months: 19°C in the evening, 13°C in the early morning. Rather than bringing out the winter duvet after the first cool night, I prefer to work with layers. A mid-season duvet, a 22 MM silk duvet cover, and a linen throw folded at the foot of the bed, which you pull up around four in the morning without fully waking up. Silk handles the variation; the throw handles the extremes.

Storing summer bedding without damaging it

This is the part we tend to neglect, yet it is what determines how long the pieces will last. Silk that is stored improperly for six months comes back yellowed, marked, and sometimes damaged.

• Always wash before storing. Invisible sebum and perspiration slowly oxidize and set yellow stains that can no longer be removed. Use a wool or hand-wash cycle, at a maximum of 30°C, with pH-neutral detergent—no fabric softener or bleach. The details are in my silk care guide.
• Dry flat, in the shade. Never use a tumble dryer and never leave it in direct sunlight: UV rays degrade fibroin and dull the color.
• Fold without tightening, in cotton or acid-free tissue paper. Avoid airtight plastic: silk needs to breathe.
• Store flat, away from light, and change the folds once during the winter if you think of it. Creases left in place for too long eventually weaken the thread.

Three mistakes I see every autumn

Confuse satin with silk. Satin is a weave, not a material: polyester satin can shine just as much but does not breathe, and it is precisely in the in-between seasons that you notice the difference — condensation and a clammy feeling upon waking. I explain it in detail in silk or satin.

Stick with 16.5 MM out of habit. Keeping a summer weight all year results in bedding that feels loose, slips, and does not stay in place. This is not a flaw in silk, but a seasonal mistake.

Layer without thinking. Adding a thick blanket over a silk duvet cover cancels out the benefit of the material: temperature regulation only works if moisture can escape. It is better to move up in momme weight than to pile on layers.

Frequently asked questions

Which momme weight should you choose for an autumn duvet cover?
22 MM is the best compromise: dense enough for an elegant drape and a cocooning feel, without the weight of 25 MM. If your bedroom drops below 16°C at night, 25 MM is justified.

Does silk really keep you warm in winter?
It insulates rather than heats. Silk conducts heat poorly and forms a buffer layer that maintains the body's temperature while wicking away moisture. It does not replace a duvet: it optimizes its comfort.

Should you wash your silk bedding before storing it for the season?
Yes, every time. Invisible body residues oxidize during storage and create irreversible yellow stains. Wash gently at 30°C, dry flat in the shade, and store in breathable cotton.

Can you keep the same silk bedding all year round?
Yes, if you choose 19 MM, the most versatile weight. But alternating 16.5 MM in summer and 22 MM in autumn and winter provides noticeably greater comfort — and makes each bedding set last twice as long.

Putting together your autumn bed

If you only change one piece this season, change the duvet cover: it is the largest surface on the bed, and the one where switching to a higher momme weight is noticeable from the very first night. Discover silk duvet covers.

— Colette, for the StudioSoie Journal