Glitter With a Past
Sequins signal a cultural return to early 2000s glamour, as nostalgia, celebrity memory, and cyclical runway influence converge to make shimmer a symbol of emotional resonance as much as aesthetic allure.
A model wearing a beaded, sequinned dress during the Valentino Fall 2023 Ready-to-Wear show. Photo by Armando Grillo / Gorunway.com, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Sequins are everywhere. From baseball caps to low-top sneakers, these reflective disks are inescapable. As trends go, price range has nothing to do with it. A sequin Flap bag from Chanel offers the same amount of shine as a thrifted halter top. Though alluring, why is everyone rushing towards the light? Do we really need to look like disco balls? Obviously, there is something going on beneath the surface. It's more than consumers seeing sequins then thinking “Ooh, shiny.” In the end, it’s all about nostalgia.
Nostalgia is a beast wrapped up pretty. It's a reminder of past memories: good or bad, thrilling or tranquil, devastating or euphoric. Luckily, the sequin resurgence comes from a happy place. It romanticizes the glitz and glam of the 2000s/2010s. These shimmering disks can reflect light and make their wearer feel joyful or optimistic. As summer brings vibrancy, it's understandable why the world has turned to dazzling miniskirts and tops. Nostalgia pushed sequins into the limelight and they will last through summer 2025.
A golden look from the Elie Saab Fall 2004 Couture show. A model walking in a black, sequined dress during the Rabanne Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear show. Elie Saab photo by Marcio Madeira, and made available via Vogue. Rabanne photo by Yannis Vlamos / Indigitalimages.com, and made available via Vogue. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Trends shoot down the ladder. They start off in major fashion houses like Dior or Prada, then fall down to mall brands like Zara or H&M. This way, runway pieces indirectly become affordable for the average consumer. Material-related trends, though they might start at the top, are easy to replicate. With their extensive history, sequins cannot be traced back to a singular runway designer. They can, however, be traced back to iconic fashion brands like Elie Saab and Rabanne.
Prom core? An ode to boho rock? The above images seem contrasting at first, but they both speak to the runway nostalgia of sequins. The golden dress, designed by Elie Saab, was presented during his Fall 2004 Couture show. The collection focused on lightweight, sequined gowns that bloomed towards the bottom. The models walked out onto the metallic runway in vibrant hues. Though some of the silhouettes mimic that of America’s prom culture, this show was bright and fun. As the 2000s began, it brought style and glamour into the new millennium.
Something also must be said about Rabanne. The French luxury house, with its metallic and chic designs, is ever present in the fashion sphere. Like Elie Saab, Rabanne is known for its staple sequin pieces. This is shown in the Rabanne Spring 2015 Ready-to-Wear show. The show presented a cool-toned palette and cutouts that decorated the shirts/bottoms. The collection also featured darker pieces with ripped, sequin dresses. These pieces were designed with zippers and created an asymmetric silhouette. As the Isabel Marant craze keeps growing, these looks are also emblematic of the “boho rock” style.
Christina Aguilera in a dress from Versace SS1999 at the 2000 Grammys. Destiny’s Child wearing gowns designed by Tina Knowles at the 2001 Grammys. Aguilera photo by Getty Images, and made available via L'OFFICIEL. Destiny’s Child photo made available via Grazia. © All rights belong to their respective owners. No copyright infringement intended.
Sequins don’t just embrace runway nostalgia. They remind us of our favorite celebrity looks (especially from the red carpet). The 2000s were full of stunning pieces that reflected the paparazzi’s flash. Take Christina Aguilera at the 2000 Grammys for instance. She wore a chainmail dress from the Versace Spring/Summer 1999 collection. The metallic piece, previously worn by model Naomi Campbell, flashed silver against Aguilera’s gold Grammy.
One simply cannot mention sequins without discussing Destiny’s Child. The girl group consisted of Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, and Michelle Williams. As they mixed R&B with pop, they also served on the red carpet. Tina Knowles, mother of Beyoncé, designed a number of their sparkling outfits. The trio matched at the 2001 Grammys in shimmering, cutout dresses. The gold detailing of the pieces mixed well with the green base. The sequins, of course, reflected the light off the gowns and onto their many Grammy awards.
From gowns to knits, sequins are everywhere. These little reflective disks shine light off their wearer, and onto their surroundings. As the months become hotter, sequins will glow and shine in the sun. Though they seem to pop up every summer, they will last until the leaves turn gold in Fall 2025.
