What Makes the Difference?

If you've ever been lucky enough to crawl between a set of sheets that cost as much as a new refrigerator, you don't need to be told why they're so expensive. They're soft — really, really soft — because they're woven from the longest-staple cotton on the market. Fine European bed linens are also often made of cottons from the first spinning, which gathers only the longest of those long-staple fibers.

Construction is generally done by hand in small mills, and even when machines are used they are hand guided, meaning perfectly uniform stitching, mitered corners, deep hems, and no selvage edges. Every seam stays in place, even after numerous launderings. Luxury flat sheets are generally wider than standard ones, and shams, duvet covers, and pillowcases often have French flaps that conceal the edges of pillows and comforters.

Sheets this well-made will probably last as long as your refrigerator, too. The life span varies greatly based on use and care, but you can expect a luxury European sheet to last 10 to 20 years, as opposed to the three- to five-year life span of a department-store brand.