The sequins are sparkling. The sequins are flashy. The sequins evoke the holidays. One thing that sequins are definitely not is casual. Until now?
A confession: for a long time, sequins made me uncomfortable. I dutifully wear them every December because they’re the holiday uniform, but I’ve never really felt comfortable in them. Wearing a sequin skirt makes me feel like a Christmas light show that never goes off, like I’m doing my best to remind people that it’s December and I’m well aware.
Even if you’re more inclined to sequins than I am, you’ll probably agree that they have a formal connotation. Not every winter day is a celebration and not every day needs to be fancy. However, watching last season’s shows, I noticed a trend emerging. Designers were playing with sparkle, embellishment and sequins in a way that not only seemed new, but also decidedly casual.
Sequin, a brilliant asset mixed with simplicity on the catwalks
For fall 2024, there were a lot of sequins on the runways, but they made me feel something different compared to other sequins. Seeing them didn’t intimidate me. In fact, seeing them made me reconsider my entire winter wardrobe.
At Louis Vuitton, the models wore long dresses with sparkly sequins that trailed down the runway (formal!) but paired them with fuzzy mittens or chunky turtleneck sweaters (funky!). At Stella McCartney, a model paraded topless, wearing only a blazer and denim jeans covered in silver sequins; another wore what appeared to be a formal sequined mini dress but with her hands in her pockets, a small detail that nonetheless added a high level of nonchalance. At Dries Van Noten, my favorite look was a long, sparkling skirt covered in blue, silver and purple sequins, worn simply with a pair of T-strap Mary Janes and a gray zip-up turtleneck sweater.
Sequin, a clever play of contrast
Off the runway, J.Crew’s recent collections have also made me excited about sequins for the first time in years. If you simply search for “sequins” in the brand’s search bar, you’ll immediately see what I mean. Models wear sequinned party tops and skirts paired with cardigans, tank tops, polo shirts, and even hoodies. The goal is not to make the sequins more discreet, but rather to contrast them — these are sequins that you can really live with every day.
-For me, the key to pulling off a sequin look without feeling too sophisticated is to play with textures. At the most basic level, sequins are little shiny discs, so the trick is to pair them with their opposite: anything matte, fluffy, or, yes, fluffy (another key texture of the winter season). We always talk about mixing and matching prints and patterns, but mixing and matching textures seems like a lot more fun.
At least, I certainly had more fun when I adopted this idea. Instead of thinking of the day as either a sequin day or a fluffy day — I guess everyone does that? — I started trying to combine them. This quickly proved to be an easy way to make my brighter pieces more casual and comfortable, and my fluffy items less pajama-like. I’m not one to wear jeans regularly, but pairing an old Levi’s with a sequin top gives a whole different effect. In fact, adding a sequinned item often makes me feel like I’m completing the last piece of a complex outfit puzzle.
Why does this look seem so relevant right now? Here’s my theory: If there was one trend that dominated 2024, I’d say it would be sentiments or even big sentiments. There was a lot to process this year, a lot to think about, a lot to do. It makes sense that during the holidays and winter, many of us want to wear something sparkly to add a touch of festivity to our days. But many of us are also looking for something more comforting, in the form of a big sweater or a fuzzy knit. From the runways to J.Crew, designers seem to be telling us it’s OK to have both. You can be a party girl and a cozy girl — and you can do it at the same time.
This article was originally published on Harper’s Bazaar US on December 13, 2024.
