It’s time for The Shining, but horror is out, haute couture in. This spring, the catwalks were all about polishing your wardrobe with lustrous foils, precious-metal prints, iridescent fabrics and holographic finishes. An easy way to let glitter and glamour brighten your days and nights. As trends go, this is sheer brilliance.

From flirty, feminine frocks and shimmering pencil skirts to iridescent pastel coats and delicate brocade jackets, every fashion option has had a metallic make-over for summer 2013. If you’re looking to make a unique statement, you’ll want to steer away from the overexposed silver and gold. Instead, focus on the pastel or burnished metallics that make a delicate addition to the trend’s otherwise blunt colour palette.
So instead of looking for the dramatic dark sequins of winter’s party dresses or the vibrant ruby reds of your seductive Valentine’s Day outfits, keep an eye out for more garments with a lighter touch. Baby blues, petal pinks, crystallised creams and subtle silvers are more appropriate for the sunnier season, and are far easier to wear during the day than darker, more oppressive shades.
Brocade and jacquard designs are a wonderfully ornate and opulent way of wearing this trend without feeling overwhelmed, as lighter shades will render the potentially overpowering pattern subtle and sophisticated. Look out for flared skirts and peplum shapes that will emphasise your curves by making your waist look tiny in comparison to the fuller skirt.
For flirty festival ensembles, embrace your inner hippie with tie-dye and rainbow patterns with a subtle shimmer. To keep your legs looking long in short shorts, look for metallic ankle boots – flats, of course, so you don’t spend your summer at music festivals sinking into the mud! Keep the shades more pretty in pastel than putrid in primary colours, for an ensemble that screams summer chic rather than Rainbow Brite. Maxi dresses with jewelled embroidery or metallic thread highlights are another beautifully boho way of embracing this sparking trend.
If you’re looking for a more classic look, cream and pastel coloured dresses can be dressed up with metallic belts, bags and shoes. Light metallic biker jackets will allow you to keep your rock chick vibe intact without drowning you in darkness, or if you want to update a dark party dress, throw a shimmery rainbow shrug over it and clash those sequins.
Finally, if you can’t bear the idea of parting with your darker, monochrome style, rest assured that heavy gladiator heels or killer spike-adorned stilettos look fantastically edgy when teamed with lighter pastels, and short sequinned dresses can be given a hint of modern androgyny when worn under a dark, oversized blazer.