WHAT TO WEAR THIS WEEKEND

FREEDOM SEQUINS

WHY NOT CELEBRATE...

SEqUInS feel right for Freedom celebrations — and yes they can look fabulous in hot weather too. There’s nothing like sunshine on shimmer for a feel-good garden party vibe. My nina Ricci dress reworks another winter trend for summer — black. Eternally chic, the shade looks even better with a hint of a tan.

GUILT-FREE GLITTER

MAdE from plastic, sequins aren’t the most ethical fashion trend. In fact Boden have committed to stop producing anything with sequins from next autumn. But if you’re partial to sparkle without contributing to environmental damage, follow in Carrie Johnson’s footsteps and rent them. It’s a brilliant way to assuage fashion guilt. That said, sequins are hard to get right. The cheap ones are overly shiny, often too small and shed a glittery trail when you pull them over your head. This rental dress from nina Ricci has the expensive-looking variety — larger sequins that move with a shimmer.

SOPHISTICATED SWISH

THIS party look is from My Wardrobe Hq, which provided Carrie’s rental wedding dress. It has a Twenties flapper feel with a swishy skirt in ribbons that will look spectacular as you dance. If you can’t bear to part with it once your Cinderella rental time is over, there is an option to buy. Otherwise Cos or Whistles have more affordable keep-forever options (see below).

LET TOES SPARKLE TOO

SEqUInS do all the talking so you don’t need to give accessories too much thought, but I found these high heel dazzlers were worth getting out of my trainers for. If celebrating is what sequins are all about, what better way to hand this column back to my colleague, Fashion Editor dinah van Tulleken than with a final flourish.