Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!

It’s holiday season! And what can say it better than a beautiful shinny sequin dress? Of course, insert here, instead of “dress”… a pair of pants, some tops, sandals, earrings, scarfs or bags. No matter the piece, “sequins” is the word to keep in mind when you go shopping this month. 

This season, designers like Stella McCartney, Dries Van Noten, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Elie Saab or Armani are encouraging us to bring some sparkle into our lives. And we are going to listen them! Of course, we all saw the beautiful long dresses from haute-couture catwalks of fall/winter 2024/2025 season – Alexis Mabille, Armani Privé, Elie Saab are certainly our favorites. And we also enjoyed the happy feeling of the prêt-à-porter sequined runways. How did the sequins had such a comeback? What was their evolution through the history of fashion? Who wore them best and where to look if we want some… shinny bright sparking glittering pieces?

Dries Van Noten, Gucci

A bit of sequins history… 

There are some historical evidence that suggest that gold sequins were used on clothing as early as 2,500 BC in the Indus Valley (area now in Pakistan). We do know for sure that, when the tomb of the Egyptian king Tutankhamun was discovered in 1922, numerous gold discs were sewn onto his clothes. Later on, in medieval Venice, gold coins called “zecchino” (sequin), sewn onto clothes, were worn as symbols of rank and wealth. In the Elizabethan era, the clothes were also richly embroidered on the sleeves with gilt thread and decorated with numerous small sequins of gold and silver. Even the great Leonardo da Vinci didn’t escape from sequin fever – he invented a machine that had the role of transforming heavy metal into thin discs (never used, thou). 

The invention of sequin discs as we know them today started in the 30s, when Herbert Lieberman, along with Eastman Kodak, used a cellulose acetate compound to produce the little, slightly stronger sparkles. The real revolution in the production of sequins, however, occurs when an innovative material, polyvinyl chloride (mylar) was discovered –  much more resistant to gelatin and much cheaper and easier to process than metal. The polyester discs were coated with this mylar, which made them more durable and protected them when washed.

Louis Vuitton, Stella McCartney

The Hollywood was covered in sequins!

In the 1920s, the flapper girls stormed the dance floor in thigh-baring dresses, lavishly embellished with fringes and glittering sequins – remember the scenes from “The Great Gatsby” ballroom? After that, the great divas of the big screen as Joan Crawford or Marlene Dietrich stole the eyes (and the heart) of the public with sequin dresses – look for pictures from “Master of Illusions” movie or “The Woman” – all sequin dresses, right? When Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell appeared in the 1953 musical “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in red sequined dresses with a stunning thigh split (designed by William Travilla), the history of sequins was marked forever. A few years later, The Supremes took (literally) all the spotlight: in 1960, Diana, Mary and Flo win over fans with their sequined dresses designed by Hollywood designers Bob Mackie and Michael Travis.

“Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” & “The Great Gatsby”

Music stages wrapped in sequins

The 1960s marked Paco Rabanne’s era on the fashion scene – his dress, made of enormous shiny discs (basically oversized sequins) went straight in history files!. It is said that the model of the iconic dress in “Barbarella” (1968), in which Jane Fonda shined, is also imagined by the Spanish designer. But the early 1970s also marked a new era in music (and clothing): can you remember Tina Turner on stage in anything other than her sequined mini dresses?! Grace Jones or Cher? And… seriously now, can you imagine Studio 54 without sequins? Without Twiggy (with clothes from the famous boutique of the time, Biba), David Bowie (and his Ziggy Stardust) or the series “Dallas”? Fast forward – we’ve seen them on Michael Jackson – in 1983, “Billie Jean” and the famous moonwalk looked different when the star wore the now iconic black sequined jacket, but also Madonna, Lady Gaga and Beyoncé (the sequined world tour 2014 “Mrs Carter World Tour” caused a sensation). An entire world admire the Taylor Swift outfits in The Eras Tour (from Cavalli body to Armani blazer and Christian Louboutin boots). The recent stunt of the sequins: Celion Dion, singing in an amazing dress on the catwalk at Elie Saab. That is what I called fashionable stage! 

The Supremes album cover 

Tina Turner album cover 

Romanian Designers… 

… took the hint. And, for this December, we could choose a lot of sequin pieces to bring sparkle into the month’s parties. Tops, dresses, pants, jackets, even hoodies or sequin covered shoes are here to bring some joy in your outfits. What to wear, how to wear, what to avoid? Keep on reading!

Hoodie Tudor Halațiu, pants Amalin by Andreea Raicu, sandals Nissa, bag Optimef, top Marius Mușat

DOs! 

* Invest in a good piece. Even it is more expensive. After all, you do not wear sequin pieces every day, therefore one quality skirt or a beautiful dress could be worn several time, in different occasions.

* Do try the piece first! A fabric covered in sequin is not your true friend. Especially when it comes to tight pieces – like a dress, like a pair of pants. You want to be able to move (or even dance) in that outfit, so try it, sit on a chair, try to move around a bit before buying it. Finding a size and a design that complement your body type. 

* Accessorize at minimum! The sequin pieces are bold enough, therefore more sparkling shinning accessories added to the outfit will overload the look. You can bet on delicate and simple rings, necklaces and earrings. Or you can skip the jewelry entirely.

* Explore the color palette. Pieces with sequins don’t have to stick to classic metallic tones like gold and silver! Sequins come in every shade, so find a hue that complements your coloring – from red and navy blue to subtle mauve pink or purple.

* Create nice contrasts! Especially when you want to wear the sequin piece not only to glam galas. You can easily pair a sequin top with a pair of jeans, a sequins covered hoodie with a princess tulle gown. 

Dress Irina Schrotter, jacket Sabinne, coat Mimita (Band of Creators), shoes Smiling Shoes, dress Komodo

DON’Ts

* Do not buy cheap pieces. The sequins may fall on the first wearing, may loose their original color or shine after a period of time, may damage other fabrics they are associate with (the cotton, the silk).

* Do not dress from head to toes into sequins (except it is a Halloween theme there). Pair a sequin dress with some satin shoes, a pair of sequin pants with a crisp white cotton shirt, a sparkling top with a neutral skirt. Balance, as everywhere, is the key to put up a beautiful outfit for the party. 

* Do not wear a sequin dress with delicate 20 den tights – they will be ruined because of the sequins in no time! Take a good look at the edges of the top or of the dress – not to be in direct and hard contact with your skin – you do not want to have “sequin marks” all over your body! 

* Do not exaggerate with sexiness! I know, sequin pieces are for parties and glam, but if a dress is sequined, it doesn’t have to be short and with a deep cleavage, as well. 

* Do not be afraid to shine! If a sparkling total look isn’t for you (and you still like the sequins) try to add a little piece to your classic outfit – a bag, a pair of shoes, some sequin earrings, a sequin scarf, a bow in your ponytail. 

Accessory The RoomsShowroom, pants Bluzat, top Nissa, vest Concep a Trois, bag Liza Panait 

Photography: Facebook pages of the brands, www.outnow.ch.