Chiffon: The Fabric of 2011?

Chiffon, like most fabrics, has been around since forever. A really new fabric doesn't come along very often. New variants, yes.
And for a while, chiffon was not very popular. It has its downsides- if you snag it, there's not a lot you can do, and because it has a matte finish certain colors just don't work very well. If you're looking for really deep, saturated color, chiffon tends to be softer and lighter most of the time.

But, that said, there are more reasons why it's become so popular. As wedding gowns with ruffles and soft textured details have become all the rage, chiffon has grown in popularity because it's such a great complement to this type of gown as well as many others. Soft, romantic, and with just some simple draping you can have an elegant bridesmaids dress that is simple but not plain. Also, it's light and often more comfortable to wear than a stiff satin or taffeta. It's not the "typical bridesmaids" fabric.

So, for Spring 2011 there will be other fabrics and styles out there of course, but chiffon styles will dominate. For now...