Sequined Thoughts

My first assignment for Fashion156 was to ponder sequins. I am fairly new to the sequin game, only having tried them with any conviction over the last few years. Sequins have always held tacky associations for me, in particular of my Aunty Margaret who seemed permanently ready to go to the bingo. But my mind changed somewhat when I bought Queen Marie the most beautiful piece of sequined magic I ever did see for one of her birthdays - it was a silver Dries Van Noten sequin jacket. Completely covered with overlapping sequins it shone like a christmas decoration. It was truly breathtaking.

Checking Garance Dore yesterday I saw this beautiful young woman wearing one almost identical to it. She wears her perfectly - nonchalantly with a slouchy tee and army jodhpurs.

Having tried and tested sequins to varying degrees, I am definitely favouring covering my legs with them. Although not perhaps the easiest way to way them as you do get lots of stares when walking down the street, I feel that sequined legs are somehow subverting what they are supposed to be about. It's as if you are making the pretty, girlie sparkle and turning it upside down to be a bit scuzzy.

Queen Marie has been thinking pretty much non stop about the Sophie Hulme parka she posted about. When I first saw this parka a while ago, I wondered as to whether Queen Marie would die a death if she ever came across it - I thought it much too cruel to point it out to her at the time since I expected it to be thousands of pounds. When I discovered it was actually around about the £670 mark, although still expensive, it suddenly seemed do-able considering the workmanship which had gone into it. Naturally I called Queen Marie from Selfridges to tell her the price and she was taken over with momentary madness and almost  bought it. Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, they didn't have her size left thus saving her from herself!

Yup sequins are a funny thing. Whilst I won't ever be wearing a Princess-like sparkly frock any time soon, give me £200 and I reckon those gorgeous Les Chiffoniers silver leggings would be in my closet right now.

Queen Michelle

Comments

[Brigadeiro]

Coincidence! I just posted on some sequinned items today! Like you I also used to think sequins were tacky, but I think it depends on the sequins.

The DVN jacket sounds divine (that must've cost a pretty penny)! (in fact one of the sequinned items I posted is DVN! Haha)

I loved that shot of the sequinned outfit at Garance, and oh my! The Sophie Hulme parka is 2D4! The Les Chiffoniers silver leggings would look amazing on you ;)

[alicepleasance]

I'd be glad to go to the bingo with that sequined jacket!

[Lou]

Ive never been a fan of the sequin either but that Garance Dore photo has got me questioning my dislike of them. hmmm.

Topshop have some cute little sequined jackets in at the moment: http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=19551&storeId=12556&categoryId=85424&parent_category_rn=42317&productId=946105&langId=-1

[lopi]

If there's one person who can pull the sequin look it's definitely you!

[enc]

I think there's definitely a bit of a stigma with sequins, but it's not their fault. They're the innocent victims in this scenario. They've been appropriated and hijacked.

I think it's a great idea for you to explore them and see about divesting them from their tawdriness.

[AngieMontreal]

Lovely article Michelle! Congrats!

[Cal]

Karla of Karla's Closet manages to integrate sequins into her looks quite often and always looks adorable. here are a few recent ones I pulled up from her blog...
http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/2008/11/cacoon.html
http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/2008/10/moving-mountains.html
http://karlascloset.blogspot.com/2008/10/blue-sequins.html

[Market Publique]

I love this look! Fancy, casual, stylish and comfortable. A difficult combination to achieve, done here to perfection!

[zana]

I consider sequins to be an integral part of my mental health. Plus they lighten the mood of everyone else around...and if you're at a party that is missing a disco ball, simply don a sequined dress and VOILA! Insta-disco-ball.

Here are some of the ways that I wear sequins:

http://garbagedress.blogspot.com/2008/08/obsession-sequins.html

http://garbagedress.blogspot.com/2008/09/what-i-wore.html

http://garbagedress.blogspot.com/2008/09/harputs-market-crew-first-thing-in.html

xoxoxo
z

[hek]

Beautiful pictures!

[*fluff*]

Oh! Pretty plurrs, I want that jacket. . . It's amazing!