Bring on the Bling

It’s December this week so the Christmas countdown can now officially begin, which means it is totally legitimate to talk sequins. I have been longing to write this blog as there are so many sparkly things in the stores all speaking to the magpie within. And it appears they are also speaking to my daughter who is on a mission for a sparkly bomber jacket. She is three years old. I am not sure that would fall under the school uniform rules whose bounds she cannot seem to stay within as she desperately tries to slip in unseen in either pink tracksuit bottoms, a pink sparkly tutu skirt or more irritatingly and inexplicably banned, the grey school tights. It is undoubtedly my fault but she has clearly understood from an early age about the power of the shine.

So I am going to start off with the sequin bomber. Not for the faint-hearted but with a simple cami or t-shirt underneath or over a plain black dress then it is just a cooler, less cruise ship, version of a sequin jacket, which I am more than on board with. And this one is very lovely indeed: ASOS Bomber Jacket in all over sequin £45. Not with the shorts unless you are in your teens or it is for your daughter.

And I love this one which would work just as well in the summer: Sequinned Bomber £69.99 Mango.

If you are going full on disco diva then this is the one to make you stand out in a crowd: Sequin Ombre Jacket £70 from Topshop. I prefer unzipped as looks less like a tracksuit top and more like a jacket.

If this just feels outside your comfort zone then a sequinned top should be less scary. Hush has this Eleanor top in black and burgundy at a rather unfortunately eye-watering £199. It isn’t a fitted style so sizing down would be the order of the day if you didn’t want to look like a sequinned bin bag.

More mid range is Boden’s Marcia top in black at £109 but with the code F6P8 you receive 30% off.

At a more affordable price point is this Green Sequin Grazer Top £35 from River Island. It is a shorter length (not cropped although the cropped turtleneck petrol sequin top I saw in Vogue months ago and had been coveting no longer seems to be available. Boo) and so would work very well with a leather skirt, pleated skirt or tailored trousers.

It also comes in a silver for £50 and is available in Petite and Plus sizes.

Warehouse has this long sleeved option if your arms are not your favourite thing: Long Sleeve Sequin Top £35. Now I am not a fan of the Man Friday shredded trousers but a slightly more subtle bit of fraying I could do.

 

Oasis has a turtleneck for the more intrepid: Sequin High Neck Top £45. Although here it looks very classic still which is lovely but style it up with wide leg trousers or culottes for an edgier look.

For the little people out there, Warehouse has this High Neck Sequin Dress £59. I say little people as generally they are cut on the short side.

River Island has this Silver sequin T-shirt Dress £50.

Or for something rather lovely – but that would require a proper ‘do’ to go to – this Sequin Pleated Midi Dress £125 from Topshop is gorgeous.

Sequin skirts are another option and I bought one in the Zara sale after Christmas which I have to confess, remains unworn. I AM going to don it at some point over the festive season though as I now have the right sweater to put it with. Mine is a mini but Boden has this Black Sequin Skirt £129 but again with the code F6P8 you get 30% off. Style with a plain knit either worn tucked in or out or alternatively with a tee. With all the glitz on the bottom half, keep the top half simple.

If you want to steer away from black then this Gray & Willow Embellished Skirt £62.30 is spot on and perfectly styled.

Alternatively, this Pleated Sequin Skirt from Oasis £65 definitely ticks two major trends.

Having trawled the Topshop website I am slightly scarred by the other available sequin options out there – I am talking about you Jaded London with your sequin cut out swimsuits, bikini tops and horror of all horrors…catsuit. Although one to bear in mind for a Rocky Horror fancy dress party I suppose. I was trying to come up with a nice pair of sequinned trousers. But I don’t want camo sequinned joggers or spray on leggings so I guess that counts me out.

If all the above shout ‘look at me’ just a bit too much then why not go for a shoe. Understatement but still party. Boden’s Sparkle Slipper Shoe £89.50 but with the 30% off would certainly fit the bill.

I could go on and on as that is the problem with magpies, they just keep want to fill their nests with sparkly things.  Oh and if you are tempted by a sequinned bomber for little people, then Next has this one…