Embellishment Is Doing The Talking

Embellishment Is Doing The Talking

Quiet luxury had a long run, and it is over. Not collapsed, just exhausted. A

Sequins, crystals and appliqué

Everything in this group is doing something to the light. A small shoulder bag under floral sequins, sandals set with stones, a bucket bag in embellished satin, a minidress that is essentially surface. The Rockstud pumps belong here too; studs were the original version of this argument and they have aged into a classic. Worth noticing that most of it is accessories, which is how a maximal idea usually enters a wardrobe first.

Shearling, silk and solid gold

The counterweight. Shearling trim on a leather vest and on wool-blend tweed, a tie-neck silk poplin shirt, lace on silk jacquard. These are texture-led rather than surface-led, which is a subtler way of making the same point. The gold pieces do the connective work: iolite and turquoise drops, sapphires, an aquamarine hoop. Fine jewelry has always been allowed to be decorative, which is why it never went away during the minimal years.

Our honest take

The risk with a maximal turn is that it becomes a costume rule, where everything has to sparkle or it does not count. The better read is that decoration is available again, not compulsory. One embellished thing against otherwise plain clothes is the version of this that will still look good in three years.

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