As I removed my new sequined high-heeled sandals this evening and looked around my closet, I became keenly aware of my total obsession with sequins. What started out as a few items has turned into literally a whole wardrobe filled with sequins. It’s total sequin insanity! I guess this is what happens when a trend lasts for 2 years. So before I get into the list of the myriad of sequined items I have in my enormous close, I want to offer up a few tips on how to wear (or not wear) sequins.
First of all, be careful of sequins in patterns. Two colors of sequins or tonal variations can work well but prints made of sequins (like zebra or mixes of bright colors) can be tacky or even scary. Limit your outfit to one sequined item. You don’t want to overdo the sequin thing. So if you are doing sequin shoes, leave the sequin top or bag in the closet. Last, consider age appropriateness and placement. Sequin pants work well when you are 20 or 30 but not very well when you are 50 or 60. Most importantly, sequins no longer have to be limited to “dressing up”. They can be incorporated into a simple outfit for a night at the movies to add a little fun to your look.
So what are all the sequined items I have in my closet and how am I wearing them?
1. Shoes – I just happen to stumble upon a FABULOUS pair of black sequin Elie Tahari peep toe sling-back heels. How could I resist? These are incredibly versatile and super sexy. While you can obviously pair them with dressy dress, you can also dress them down with a more casual dress or rock them out with jeans and a tee. After acquiring these show stopping heels, I then ran into a great pair of sequin high-heeled sandals with thing ankle straps. They were SO hot and on sale, I had to get them in two colors. Again, they can be dressed up or down.
2. Dresses – Well, the Nannette Lepore gray merino wool mini-dress with wide bands of sequins from two years ago is still smokin’ hot. It’s definitely for evening and cool weather and not as versatile as some of the other sequined items I own. I am not sure if I count the two black Summer dresses that are mildly embellished with sequins but we will put them on the list.
3. Jackets – I have two and they are both show stoppers. The first one is shiney silver sequins all over and comes right below the waist. It’s all sequins with no visibility of the fabric underneath. The other one is, yes you guessed it, black. This one is a slight wider shape and the sequins are less dense. Both work equally to go over a cocktail dress or thrown on with jeans and tee.
4. Camis & Tanks – Ok, so there are truly more camis and tanks than I can talk about individually but I believe we are somewhere in the neighborhood of 12. I generally like to wear these with jeans but a few of them look great with a black skirt for a more dressed up look. There are a few black ones that work equally well on their own as they do layered underneath a sweater or jacket.
5. Clutch – The clutch speaks for itself. It’s a chocolate brown satin with yellowish lime and metallic gold sequins on the front. It’s perfect with a simple brown or gold dress or denim. Not very versatile but fun.
6. Tube Top – This piece deserves it’s own space. My Mom had this in her drawer from the 80’s and it’s truly awesome. It’s a simple black shiney sequin tube top perfectly constructed with room for your bust. It’s a reminder that great garments stand the test of time. I love it paired under my funky gray cotton cami top dress but the options are endless.
7. Skinny Jeans – I feel like I am saving the best for last. We have all seen lots of sequin leggings out this year and I definitely dig them but I am in LOVE with my black sequin skinny jeans. They work almost identically to leggings but giving you a better look at the waist. My favorite way to wear these is with a simple white ribbed cotton tank and my black suede shoes with the sexy red heel.
While I am not suggesting everyone go sequin crazy like I have, I think it’s just great to understand that add a sequin item to a simple outfit gives you a very chic yet effortless style.