Summer heat is just around the corner, but fashion-forward
mavens can stay cool all season long with the addition of a few
iced-out metallics.
Gold, silver and shiny shades of blue, pink and green are
popping up on runways and in clothing stores across the country,
and the sun-kissed spring and summer are the perfect time to glow
with a little additional bling, according to fashion experts.
Summer heat is just around the corner, but fashion-forward mavens can stay cool all season long with the addition of a few iced-out metallics.
Gold, silver and shiny shades of blue, pink and green are popping up on runways and in clothing stores across the country, and the sun-kissed spring and summer are the perfect time to glow with a little additional bling, according to fashion experts.
Most metallics are popping up in shoes and handbags, but some are showing in more unexpected places – on track suits, T-shirts, jeweled cardigans or shrugs, one of the hottest trends in Hollywood.
And if runways prove a strong indication of what’s to come in the next few months, brace for impact.
Shoppers should expect to see a lot more embellishment, from jewel-crusted shoes and beaded sweaters to flashy brooches, metallic leathers and gold and copper-toned handbags courtesy of labels like Chanel, Hemut Lang and others.
The shine of these fabrics may be seductive, but to avoid looking like a lamé-covered blast from the past, experts advise taking a pass on the head-to-toe glitter look. Instead, simplicity is the key to pulling off these day-appropriate looks.
“I think because of the impact it has, I would just stick to one item,” said Laura McDowell, fashion spokeswoman for T J Maxx stores, in an interview from their Framingham, Mass. headquarters. “Primarily we’re seeing accents – sliver hardware on tops and little embellishments on skirts and things. It makes you pop, and it makes you stand out, but head to toe will make you stand out too far.”
Instead, McDowell suggests pairing a glitzy purse or a sexy pair of flashy sandals with a monochromatic look that lets your accents shine.
Gold sandals with an all-white ensemble or silver with black are popular combinations, but head-to-toe beige or pastels also form a soothing palette with which to show off a new accessory, she said.
Sticking to flats is a good way to keep gold, silver or jeweled shoes looking dressed down for daytime, too, according to the style editors at Style.com and About.com, but shape is key to keeping the piece modern.
Look for a foot-friendly ballerina flat or thong sandal, About.com writers advised, and look for purses shaped as roundish hobos or clutches, said McDowell.
For a truly inexpensive update, stick to flip flops in a metallic hue, like those available at the Gilroy Premium Outlets’ Gap store, according to associate manager Michael Rico.
“We have a very basic customer who’s going to rely on the classics, but we offer some accessories to punch it up a bit, and I think (the flip flops) are a great accessory to a basic outfit,” said Rico, who added that he doesn’t have much in the way of metallic wares in stock. “A lot of our line is borrowed from what has been successful in previous seasons, but the retail Gap brand may have more offerings.”
Indeed, the company’s Web site features everything from gold- and silver-embellished tops to bejeweled bags and scarves.
Their high-end store, Banana Republic, has an entire online section devoted to metallic shoes.
So bring on the glitz, kick up your heels, and try not to blind passersby with the flash of your salivation-worthy sandals this summer.
Just remember, with all that added attention, you may want a fabulous pedicure first.
