All That Glitters
FEW EMBELLISHMENTS can stoke your mood like sparkle does. (“My God, those pleats make me want to party,” said no one ever.) But since we equate glitter with glam evening affairs, sequined minis get unfairly pushed into the rarely-plucked-from “going out” section of the closet and vintage diamanté brooches only get dusted off during party season. This season’s runways, however, sparked glitter’s unexpected renaissance and spurred its happy migration from occasionwear to daytime dressing.
The fanciful switch-up was perhaps most pronounced at Burberry (which continues to be the embodiment of English sophistication even after Italian designer Riccardo Tisci’s recent takeover), where streams of golden gems were tucked into the pleats of an otherwise nine-to-five-ready elegant ecru skirtsuit. At Celine, a classic plaid midiskirt and pussy-bow blouse—staples of the buttoned-up school uniform—were topped with an all-over-sequined cardigan; Erdem’s autumnal wool suiting, its malachite hue alone capable of turning heads, came garnished with black rose appliqués shining in all their beaded glory.
This a.m.-to-p.m. dressing hack was lauded for its functionality and ease, but Lizzy Bowring, the catwalk director at trend-forecasting company WGSN in London, suspects this swell of daytime sparkle might be rooted in a bit of escapism. “It’s a reaction to how we’re feeling about all that’s going on in the world,” she says. “Dressing up makes us feel better.” (Why wear an academia-inspired cardigan for a hard day at the office, for example, when you could give yourself a boost with a blindingly bejewelled bubble-gum-pink Paco Rabanne iteration?)
It’s certainly not the first time in history that we’ve turned to fashion to soothe ourselves. The post-war era saw plain, practical garments get glitzy once austerity waned, explains Bowring. The desire to dress a little more glamorously is a sign of the times. “We’re looking for something a little extra special, something that’s tactile and appeals to the senses,” she says. “It’s the feel-good factor.”
So even if an occasion doesn’t expressly call for glitter this season, and even if a sequined blazer elicits stares (which is kind of the point, to be honest), feel free to be your sparkliest self in the light of day. After all, there’s no need to wait for a party to have a little fun.