Photo by: Gaelle Leroye
Recently I was asked to comment for a magazine on the sequin trend manifested throughout the SS2018 collections. I restrained myself somewhat, speaking and approaching the topic from a minimalists point of view. However what came to my mind when viewing the looks was an image of glittery party girls with too much make-up and smudged lipstick who looked a bit brittle and seemed to be trying to hard. Clearly an attempt to eject some fun and optimism in a time when many of us feel stressed and worried; the more serious somber girls of last season were transformed by covering them with sequins sprinkled like fairy dust on shoes, shirts, skirts, tops, dresses and every other possible garment and accessories. Fashion can do better than that. Believe me I am quite optimistic in the midst of all this uncertainty and change, however I am also a pragmatist. Building cities of tolerance and creativity is going to involve some work. I for one am a fan of the small gesture or the detail and always go for comfort. My answer to how I would style sequins was to keep my somber grey, black and blue wovens and add sleeves (like Tom Ford), long fingerless gloves, leg warmers and perhaps one good pair of boots made exclusively with sequins. Sequins in my view should be seen and not heard. As the fabulous Dries van Noten says, fashion must make you dream but not be just a fairy tale.
You might remember my trip to Montreal this summer where I was hosted by the lovely fashion journalist, Lolitta Dandoy and the Festival Mode Design. Lolitta was kind enough to arrange some wonderful meals with inspiring people, a photoshoot showcasing a talented Montreal designer, Denis Gagnon and provided a photographer who loves to play with light and texture, Gaelle Leroye. The designer took time from his busy life to join us and personally style our shoot. If you ever visit Montreal and are in the Old City, where these photos are taken, stop by his boutique where you can see his work and his collaborations with other designers. Lolitta and I have a long history (she did the first ever press piece on Accidental Icon) and her noticing me and seeking me out at an event in Montreal three years ago, gave me that last dose of courage to push the publish button on my very first blog post. She is a lovely person in every aspect of her being and it was such a inspiring experience to work with her on this shoot and to be interviewed by her at the Festival.
Something about the way that this designer chose to “do” sequins, using earth tones, that cast some light, but not too much, on a serious subject like the lines and silhouette of this stunning black dress, made me feel a sense of hope and realness. I felt sexual without feeling exposed and glamorous without feeling like I was going outside my minimalist identity position. Most exquisite for me is the way there are patches of the fabric not covered in sequins giving the illusion of wear and a nod to someone having a history. Adding what looks like a flaw to something as glamorous as sequins makes this exciting, interesting and different. Here fashion helps me to reflect the serious person that I am alongside the sparkle and light that ignites my famous “attitude”. Re-visiting the happy memories from that weekend to write this post was a nice distraction from a very busy week ahead.
How would you style sequins to suggest who you are?
Contrasts: Black with shiny. Earth and starlight. Smooth and textured.
It’s all good.
Essences.
I once made a quirky black suit and put a large sequined tigers head motive on the back of the jacket……plain, edgy and an unexpected bite, that’s me.
Did Gucci copy you? They did a tiger head on a black motor jacket! Would love to see your suit.
Your outfit is awesome!!! 😀 😀
The designer Denis Gagnon is really quite wonderful.
Sequins with black.
Seqions with white.
Looking fabulous, Lyn!
Many ways to wear a classic.
A comfortable glamorous take on a minimal classic. You look stunning. Such a lovely image upon which to awaken on this beautifully rainy morning.
Carmen
Thank you my friend, your images do that for me.
Sequins on a black wool cap. It’s something functional and warm to wear in the winter, but it’s fun too!
Love that! Great way to achieve multiple goals.
You look amazing, pure glamour!
Thank you dear!
You are awesome!
There’s not much clamor for day sequins on this 72-year-old in my neck of the woods (a small Missouri town). But perhaps I could sprinkle-paste some sequins on the tutus I wear over yoga pants to yoga class. Hmmm ….
That would make a statement indeed! Why not?
You look unbelievable, Lyn! Honestly, my heart jumps seeing you in sequins. I adore sequins (no surprise there given my blog title!) but they have to be fun, irreverent, and elegant… no trashy party girl vibe for me. They are best worn with insouciance, as you are doing here. I wear them with camouflage, with denim, with a chunky sweater… as if they weren’t even sparkly, basically!
I hope to see you in sequins again 🙂 xx
Cool! Look forward to more sequins.
Among your best, in a quiet way. Cheers!
Quiet but says something regardless right?
I love the "sublety" of your sequins. I do believe sequins can be too much, and they have to be done well. But doesn’t everything? For the longest time I’ve wanted a sequin pencil skirt because they suit me, but now I’m not sure. Perhaps a slinky top? And then there’s the color…
Well, agree with Christine, among your best, in that quiet way.
Pencil skirts do suit you and you could do a tailored jacket or even denim. Slouchy shirt sounds good too.
You look amazing Lyn! Those boots are the bee’s knees! I like to wear sequins with a casual look or an elegant outfit, definitely not trashy. I can’t abide scratchy, cheap-looking sequins either.
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
They can be slouchy cool when paired with something like a denim jacket.
I have two "fully sequined" dresses and wear nothing more but out of the ordinary shoes with them. If I were to wear it every day, I envision sequins in stitching, findings, and other details. As I have read amongst the others that have responded, it must be done well, not for the sake of having sequins. Much like your outfit, it is best to have a flash of it. 🙂
Love the idea of putting them in the stitching.
Oh Lyn, how utterly beautiful you look. What a great dress and how well you wear it.
I have bought sequined items too, but ordinary items. And never wear more than one piece of sequins in an outfit. Hang on, I am lieing. I wore a T-shirt with letters of sequins and sequined sneakers. The rest was toned down.
Like leopard you need to be careful not to make it tacky.
Greetje
Well said and great advice.
As a Montrealer it is good to see Denis Gagnon receiving the acclaim he deserves.
Here in Quebec, where the warmth and light of summer has given way to the golden tints of fall and presages of winter, it is good to find light where we can on our bodies. Wearing a chain mail cocktail bandoulière bag for day, oversize crystal earrings, a very slim glinty silver necklace close to the skin. All these touches remind us we can in our clothing reflect the sun’s rays back to the world, giving them exponential life.
What an incredibly beautiful sentiment!
Sequins are decoration and decoration is a crime. Especially when the decorative item on a garment is difficult to mend and most often stitched on the appliques of theme holiday sweaters or on the shapeless evening gowns draped on the bodies of suburban ladies of a certain age.
Sequins bring up questions that could take up hours. Are all sequins tiny hard metallic disks? How are sequins made? What is their history? What the labor required to make a sequin? To stitch on a garment? How are sequins applied? And to what? When does a sequin become a button? Clothes are about movement and supporting the body’s activity. Could sequins be applied with those functions in mind? Sequins are a topic needing discussion.