When I finally made up my mind to buy, it turned out to be the best purchase I have made all summer.
A silver, lamé, fan-pleated maxi skirt is by far the maddest thing I’ve bought for years — totally out of character and way outside my usual comfort zone.
In fact, I don’t think I have ever owned a silver garment in my whole life. And I’ve owned a lot of clothes!
PHOTO: Giuliana Rancic/ AFP
I resisted it during the techno craze of the Nineties, and have always looked askance at the vulgarity of metallic leather.
But this is the way fashion works — especially when the rest of the world feels unstable. I observed the phenomenon after the crash of 2008: then, as now, it wasn’t ploddingly sober fashion that women turned to, but rather, designs that demanded to be noticed.
That time, it was colourful prints and bodycon dressing. It’s as though fashion daring is somehow boosted by collective angst.
So, as of last Tuesday night (yes, I can be that precise), I can report that this summer’s pick-me-up comes in the form of metallic fabrics.
The revelation occurred at a party held by the editor of French Vogue.
The second I stepped in, I noticed it — a silver satin trouser suit, a flash of pewter sequins, a rose-gold lamé trench, a pair of antique gold palazzo pants, a glittering long-sleeved beaded tunic.
I found my silver skirt in Christopher Kane’s shop. Though irresistibly attracted to the light, whooshy fabric, my head was ringing with doubts: would it make me look huge?
Would it attract too much attention? Would it crush? Was it so bright and so unavoidably shiny that people would stare at me? And was I mad to even think about it — at my age?
So I did what we all do on the horns of a changing room dilemma — I took a picture and sent it to a friend. Within seconds, she messaged back: ‘But how often are you going to wear it?’ A sensible piece of budgetary counsel. So I put it back.
But you know how it is when a regret for something you haven’t bought keeps plaguing you.
My rule is that if it is still playing on your mind after three days, if you haven’t sobered up and forgotten about it and have since Googled it for a second look, then you should go back and get it.
I did, and I haven’t regretted it, though I now see there are similar, very nice versions of the same skirt to be had on the High Street at half the price.
This look is not the preserve of supermodels and socialites. In fact, metallics in general are being done brilliantly all over — not least because they are the perfect summer evening alternative to black.
PHOTO: Lais Ribeiro/ AFP
So, how to wear metallic? For me, it’s with my favourite plain cream top from Goat and an age-old black tuxedo jacket.
That’s a rule, I think: wear one shiny piece at a time.
Where a light metallic jacket, or something Lurex-shot, is great on its own, it would be way too much as a whole suit.
There’s the question of degree of glitz, too. It’s always better to pick out subtle sheen, rather than full on flash. Now that the sales are on, there are going to be plenty of very in-your-face flashy pieces around, but I’d walk on by if I were you.
PHOTO: Karlie Kloss/ AFP
That said, this is definitely a look that is well worth a grown-up woman casting her discriminating eye over.
Done with thought, it is not the preserve of the very young, and pieces such as these can be kept and brought out again and again. Besides, what looks particularly good with silver? Grey hair, of course.
Look beyond silver. Why not try fabrics in pewter, copper and bronze?
Cheap sequins often scratch, so be vigilant with scarves and tops.
Keep jewellery minimal: this isn’t the time for dripping diamonds.
Metallics work well against black, but also try them with navy, cream, grey or muted purple.
Daily Mail