PROJECTED FASHION TREND OF 2023: WILL SILVER TAKE THE GOLD?
By Monica Esquivel
Metallics have made an appearance in the work of multiple designers, and, if Miranda Priestly is right, they will filter down through the department stores and into the bins of a Casual Corner. In all seriousness, silver and metallics have been spotted on the red carpet, at award shows, in campaigns and in fashion shows. With metallics dominating the fashion world, does this mean silver will be making its mark this year?
The Grammy Awards was illuminated by shiny metallics and served as a prime example of the design taking over. Beyoncé wore a two-toned metallic gown of both silver and gold designed by Gucci to accept her Grammy for best dance/electronic music album. Lizzo received her Grammy while sporting a metallic silver ruched gown with puffed sleeves paired with matching silver heels. In her outfit to present the award for best rap album, Cardi B stunned in archival Paco Rabanne featuring reflective silver triangles and a metal mesh hood. The “Golden” singer, Harry Styles, performed at the award show dressed in a silver tinsel full-body suit designed by Gucci.
Across the pond, the Brit Awards red carpet showcased metallic gowns as well. Lizzo arrived on the carpet wearing a mixed metal dress with a dramatic gold ruffle, designed by Robert Wun. Singer Mollie King wore a mint green sequin gown. British actress and model Jodie Turner-Smith stunned in a metallic silver gown with a gorgeous side cape and asymmetrical draped front.
These trends trace back to the SS 2023 season when designs relied “heavy” on metal.
Gabriella Hearst brought elements of Greek goddesses into her designs at the 2023 Spring Ready-To-Wear New York Fashion Show to showcase the strength of women after the overturning of Roe v Wade, according to Vogue and Stylist. Gold metallics were the main trend on the runway including a gold two-piece suit, breastplate, slip dress and gold design accents.
Pieter Mulier mixed classic designs, true to the heart of Alaia, with the future direction of the fashion house at the Winter/Spring 2023 show, which showcased silver and gold sequin designs. Altuzarra also played with classic elements and gave metallics a modern, edgy take by designing a silver cut-out top and pleated skirt.
Fashion brands that also showcased metallics in the SS 2023 fashion shows include Simone Rocha, Tory Burch, Cecilie Bahnsen, Isabel Marant and Givenchy.
In the most recent shows at NYFW, metallics have made more appearances in the works of Luar, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Gucci, Versace and Chanel. Each designer has incorporated metallics into their designs in distinct and unique ways, experimenting with something timeless and exploring its endless possibilities.
Raul Lopez is the designer behind the rising fashion brand Luar, which closed this year’s New York Fashion Week; the show came to life from the designer’s vision of elegant streetwear which connects to his Latinx background according to Vogue. Luar worked with silver by mostly using sequins in their designs. One masculine presenting and one feminine presenting model walked the runway in a knee-length silver sequin skirt, blurring the lines of a gender binary in fashion. Gold appeared on the runway with a backless, sequin dress with draping along the bottom.
The Rodarte fashion show transported the viewer into a dark fairy and gothic world drowned in silver. The runway had an all-silver theme which displayed elegant dining tables boasting massive floral centerpieces, candelabras and opulent decor. Silver tinsel was utilized in dramatic and over-the-top ways in accordance with the gothic, whimsical theme. To summarize the show in one look, one of the models walked out in a silver mermaid gown with a tinsel bottom and sleeves, paired with glittery angel wings to resemble a dark angel fairy.
Dilara Findikoglu’s final look at the FW London Fashion Show “ate” as it featured 200 silver Victorian-age knives.
From the Jetsons, the glitz and glamor of the disco age and the cyber takeover of the early 2000s, metallics have ushered in elements of futurism and classic design into varying decades of fashion.
The ‘future’ also influenced mid-century fashion in film with the rise of space exploration and political events such as the Space Race. Silver was associated with the future and was often featured in space movies and tv shows such as Barbarella and the Jetsons. Silver continues to be associated with the future and has influenced trends in more recent fashion decades.
Similar to the themes of futurism in the 60s, the rising popularity of modern technology created a similar pattern in the late 90s/early 2000s, which created what is known as Y2K fashion. TLC’s “No Scrubs” music video, Destiny’s Child’s 2001 “Survivor” album cover and Paris Hilton’s iconic silver chainmail dress for her 21st birthday serve as iconic examples of silver defining Y2K fashion.
The glitz and glamour of the disco age commonly used metallics. At the 2023 fashion shows, designers used metallic sequin and lamés which also dominated late 1970s fashion. Making a statement and standing out while maintaining an elegant grace are parallels between fashion trends from then and now.
Silver and other forms of metallics have dominated these fashion eras, and are making their way into today’s fashion trends; it draws inspiration from 60s and 2000s futurism, classic designs of the 70s, combined with a modern-day twist.
The Grammy Awards was illuminated by shiny metallics and served as a prime example of the design taking over. Beyoncé wore a two-toned metallic gown of both silver and gold designed by Gucci to accept her Grammy for best dance/electronic music album. Lizzo received her Grammy while sporting a metallic silver ruched gown with puffed sleeves paired with matching silver heels. In her outfit to present the award for best rap album, Cardi B stunned in archival Paco Rabanne featuring reflective silver triangles and a metal mesh hood. The “Golden” singer, Harry Styles, performed at the award show dressed in a silver tinsel full-body suit designed by Gucci.
Across the pond, the Brit Awards red carpet showcased metallic gowns as well. Lizzo arrived on the carpet wearing a mixed metal dress with a dramatic gold ruffle, designed by Robert Wun. Singer Mollie King wore a mint green sequin gown. British actress and model Jodie Turner-Smith stunned in a metallic silver gown with a gorgeous side cape and asymmetrical draped front.
These trends trace back to the SS 2023 season when designs relied “heavy” on metal.
Gabriella Hearst brought elements of Greek goddesses into her designs at the 2023 Spring Ready-To-Wear New York Fashion Show to showcase the strength of women after the overturning of Roe v Wade, according to Vogue and Stylist. Gold metallics were the main trend on the runway including a gold two-piece suit, breastplate, slip dress and gold design accents.
Pieter Mulier mixed classic designs, true to the heart of Alaia, with the future direction of the fashion house at the Winter/Spring 2023 show, which showcased silver and gold sequin designs. Altuzarra also played with classic elements and gave metallics a modern, edgy take by designing a silver cut-out top and pleated skirt.
Fashion brands that also showcased metallics in the SS 2023 fashion shows include Simone Rocha, Tory Burch, Cecilie Bahnsen, Isabel Marant and Givenchy.
In the most recent shows at NYFW, metallics have made more appearances in the works of Luar, Proenza Schouler, Rodarte, Gucci, Versace and Chanel. Each designer has incorporated metallics into their designs in distinct and unique ways, experimenting with something timeless and exploring its endless possibilities.
Raul Lopez is the designer behind the rising fashion brand Luar, which closed this year’s New York Fashion Week; the show came to life from the designer’s vision of elegant streetwear which connects to his Latinx background according to Vogue. Luar worked with silver by mostly using sequins in their designs. One masculine presenting and one feminine presenting model walked the runway in a knee-length silver sequin skirt, blurring the lines of a gender binary in fashion. Gold appeared on the runway with a backless, sequin dress with draping along the bottom.
The Rodarte fashion show transported the viewer into a dark fairy and gothic world drowned in silver. The runway had an all-silver theme which displayed elegant dining tables boasting massive floral centerpieces, candelabras and opulent decor. Silver tinsel was utilized in dramatic and over-the-top ways in accordance with the gothic, whimsical theme. To summarize the show in one look, one of the models walked out in a silver mermaid gown with a tinsel bottom and sleeves, paired with glittery angel wings to resemble a dark angel fairy.
Dilara Findikoglu’s final look at the FW London Fashion Show “ate” as it featured 200 silver Victorian-age knives.
From the Jetsons, the glitz and glamor of the disco age and the cyber takeover of the early 2000s, metallics have ushered in elements of futurism and classic design into varying decades of fashion.
The ‘future’ also influenced mid-century fashion in film with the rise of space exploration and political events such as the Space Race. Silver was associated with the future and was often featured in space movies and tv shows such as Barbarella and the Jetsons. Silver continues to be associated with the future and has influenced trends in more recent fashion decades.
Similar to the themes of futurism in the 60s, the rising popularity of modern technology created a similar pattern in the late 90s/early 2000s, which created what is known as Y2K fashion. TLC’s “No Scrubs” music video, Destiny’s Child’s 2001 “Survivor” album cover and Paris Hilton’s iconic silver chainmail dress for her 21st birthday serve as iconic examples of silver defining Y2K fashion.
The glitz and glamour of the disco age commonly used metallics. At the 2023 fashion shows, designers used metallic sequin and lamés which also dominated late 1970s fashion. Making a statement and standing out while maintaining an elegant grace are parallels between fashion trends from then and now.
Silver and other forms of metallics have dominated these fashion eras, and are making their way into today’s fashion trends; it draws inspiration from 60s and 2000s futurism, classic designs of the 70s, combined with a modern-day twist.