Clockwise from top left: Jumper – Vince at Harvey Nichols, Converse One Stars, Vest – Aubin and Wills, Cardigan – Biba at House of Fraser, Denim Skirt – Topshop, Sequinned Reindeer Dress – Markus Lupfer.
Sparkles are a divisive issue, as illustrated in this little scene from a shopping trip I recently took with my friend Elly:
FADE IN:
INT. YOUNG FASHION DEPARTMENT OF A MID-RANGE DEPARTMENT STORE – DAY
CHRISTMAS MUSIC PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND AS TWO YOUNG WOMEN STEP OFF THE ESCALATOR. ONE OF THE WOMEN IS CLEARLY DISTRACTED BY THE SIGHT OF A ROSE GOLD AND PINK SEQUINNED CARDIGAN (50% OFF!!!!). THEY WALK OVER TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
JEN:
Oh my god, I NEED this.
ELLY:
But when would you wear it and what with?
JEN:
Err, all of the time and with everything.
JEN SWOOSHES ABOUT WITH THE CARDIGAN, PICKING UP JEANS AND STUFF TO DEMONSTRATE THE GARMENT’S VERSATILITY.
JEN:
See, it even works with jeans!
ELLY:
Jeans?
JEN:
Yes. Could wear it to work too.
ELLY:
You’d seriously wear sequins to work?
JEN:
Why not?
ELLY:
I couldn’t concentrate; I’d be too distracted by the sparkliness.
JEN:
I know! Ace yeah?!
ELLY LOOKS AT JEN WITH A MIXTURE OF AMUSEMENT AND BAFFLEMENT. JEN GETS DISTRACTED BY A SEQUINNED LEOPARD PRINT MINI DRESS AND SKIBBLES OFF.
FADE OUT
I adore sequins. I also adore lamé and glitter. One of the best things about December is that glittery stuff is everywhere. It has even got six whole pages devoted to it in this month’s Good Housekeeping magazine (which is, like, the world’s most sensible magazine). Do you know that you can get glittery orange and lime marmalade from Harrods? Well, you do now.
Whilst the idea of twinkly toast toppings appeals to me immensely, my wardrobe is where my sparkle lust reaches its peak. I dream of the Miu Miu gold ankle boots and I’m craving the silver pleat dress with rainbow bodice from the Christopher Kane cruise collection.
There are people who find sparkly things a “bit much”. I get it, I really do – I just don’t care. I have what my Mom describes as the “fairy on a god of lard” approach to fashion. This means that I will wear anything sparkly and “dressy” (the fairy), providing it can be worn with something incredibly scruffy (the gob of lard). Take the jumper pictured above, team it with the frayed miniskirt, black tights and the Converse One Stars and you have perfection. The sequinned cardigan is perfect because the shape is slouchy and casual – it could be thrown over any number of basic dresses or vest and jean combinations.
Yes, they need to be dry cleaned or hand washed. Yes, they sometimes fall off and snag. They also brighten up people’s day – wearing something sparkly to work on a non-descript Monday in November is like sprinkling joy into your colleague’s coffee.
You can even wear sequins in the summer!
This may all sound like the ramblings of delusional dickhead chick lit heroine, Becky Bloomwood, but a sequinned cardigan or jumper is an investment. Sequins are for life, not just for Christmas.
BBxxx
LOVE this post. I adore sequins too! And they do go with jeans and everyday stuff. The shiny stuff is not just for party time, people!
Thanks Sascha! Needless to say, I was wearing a sparkly sweater whilst writing it !
I believe I did concede that if there were some sort of entry level sequins (and I had you to style me) I might be persuaded to wear sparkles to work!
Hehe! It is merely a dramatisation and I may have taken some creative liberties!