Metallic Trend

Somewhere between the sky-high shoulder pads and bedazzled skirt suits of the eighties, metallics got a bad rap. Today, however, shiny clothing and accessories mean one thing: glamour. On the Spring 2014 runways, everyday outfits were injected with a shot of glitz thanks to some flashy, not trashy, twists on the metallic trend.

Pastel and shine seem like an oxymoron, but combine beautifully this season. Seen on the runway at Christopher Kane and Rochas, metallic were tempered with subdued tones to create confection-like dresses. Haider Ackmann was in the same vein, showing metallics in unexpected colours, like rust and olive, but with a decidedly unpolished edge. 3.1 Phillip Lim similarly showed leather vests with a rusted metallic sheen, giving leather a new life.

Givenchy, Tom Ford and Altuzarra all stuck to their high-glam guns, presenting full shine looks. Going for warmer tones in a palette of oranges and reds, Givenchy’s floor-length sequinned gowns were fluid and balanced with matte tribal details

Despite the resounding theme of sequins and shine, Dolce & Gabbana, Diane Von Furstenberg, Lanvin, Gucci and Saint Laurent kept things restrained, playing down the sex appeal of the sequins with modest silhouettes. Longer hemlines, long sleeves and high collars through out the shows meant a more daytime friendly approach to lamé and sequins.

This low-key take on the metallic trend was apparent outside of the runways. A silver pant or jacket jazzed up an otherwise monochromatic and standard outfit. Metallic accents—belts, bags, and shoes— sprung up all over the place, as an easy way to get in on the trend without going all in.