London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Saturday, May 31, 2025

Why Are Our Clothes so Shiny?

Why Are Our Clothes so Shiny?

From chain mail to lamé, metallic finishes are bringing the party spirit back into fashion this season.

From the revival of ‘90s sportswear on the runways to TikTok’s obsession with Y2K style, we’ve been a bit nostalgic lately. And who can blame us? We’re all longing for better days, before pandemics and work from home was the norm.

One of these nostalgic trends coming back in full force is metallics. From flashy eyeshadow to shimmering swimwear to Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion's Grammys performance looks, everyone's set on bringing some shine into 2021.



On the (virtual) runways, metallic made an eye-catching impact even through the screen. For Spring/Summer 2021, chain mail, sequins, and metallic leather featured prominently in collections from Balenciaga, Miu Miu, Givenchy, and more. Both as party-ready clothes and for the day-to-day, metallic embraced the flamboyant fashion that we'll no doubt see more of as the world opens up.



If you’ve lived through the ‘80s, when shoulder-padded dresses and blazers were covered in metallic, you may be dreading this comeback. But from ‘60s-inspired classy metallic purses to chic dresses and even activewear, there’s ways to embrace your inner disco girl without looking like New Year’s Eve décor. Here are the top ways this trend is making a comeback.

Disco Pants




The Internet's favorite influencers are getting on the metallic disco pants trend. The pair from celebrity-approved Scandinavian brand Saks Potts are all the rage, as well as others, like from the stylish Danish brand Hosbjerb.

Not-so-Typical Sportswear




Back at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, Bella Hadid showed us she's always ahead of the trends, sporting a pair of metallic cycling shorts with strappy heels, a tee, and diamonds. Making comfy workout shorts glamorous? Yes, this is the energy I'm bringing to the rest of 2021.

Metallic Swimwear




Believe it or not, it’s almost summer. Metallic swimwear is the latest trend to up your bikini game.

Full-Metallic Handbags




Chunky chained bags have become a standalone trend, but full metallic bags go a step further. Paco Rabanne’s been doing its metallic chain mail bags since the '50s, updated this season in a disc shape. At Givenchy, silver embossed leather adds shine to a structured bag.

Metallic Makeup


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
Labour MPs Urge Chancellor to Tax Wealthy Over Cutting Welfare
Publication of UK Child Poverty Strategy Delayed Until Autumn
France Detains UK Fishing Vessel Amid Post-Brexit Tensions
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
Nigel Farage Pledges to Reinstate Winter Fuel Payments
Boris and Carrie Johnson Welcome Daughter Poppy
×