All that Glitters: How to Wear Metallics

Metallics are coming back into fashion in a big way. I'm talking about anything shiny, glittery, sequined or jeweled, in shades of gold, silver and even jewel tones. At the Golden Globe awards, celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Beyonce strutted their stuff on the red carpet, decked out in head to toe shimmering metallic gowns. And just a few months back, luxury brand Louis Vuitton unveiled their Miroir line of shiny, mirrored handbags, which were quickly snapped up by the likes of Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan. But I have to ask, why is such ostentatious style making a comeback at this point and time? Keep reading for my speculation on that, and also how to wear this sparkling new trend.

Many shoppers may not know that the clothing trends they're going wild about now were actually chosen for them as far back as two or three years ago. That's because the most trend savvy fashion houses work a few years before the season, forecasting the styles, silhouettes, and colors that consumers will want. At the same time, current events can have a drastic impact on the styles we wear as well. For instance, after September 11th, many department stores and boutiques backed away from a bright color pallette and opted for muted shades, since the country was in mourning. This was soon followed by a heavy military influence in the designer collections at New York's Fashion Week. With the war still going on strong today, I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at the opulent looks coming in to style at the moment. Why metallics now? If anything, I think designers feel this country is ready for a change, and metallics are the best way to bring a bit of fun back into fashion.