For designer denim, all that glitters on the runway is gold.
The anticipated return of embellished denim is building on the catwalk. Along with Gucci’s ongoing sweeping influence on fashion, denim is enduring a ’90s flashback, an evolving Western moment, and now there are sparks of a ’70s disco revival—all of which are friends of embellished jeans.
This confluence of trends was evident on the Fall ’19 runway, where women’s designers elevated classic blue jeans with glitzy appliqués, beading and jewelry-like diamante trims.
Blumarine took a sweet approach by updating distressed boyfriend jeans with sequin-covered red roses—a floral motif that was mirrored across the Italian label’s Lurex jumpsuits and chiffon frocks. Crystal wings flanked the sides of John Richmond’s cropped skinny jeans for women. And in true Versace form, the luxury brand added silver beaded scrollwork to bright wash flare cut jeans.
While the blingy styles skew women’s, another trend—metallic denim—offers flashy moments in the men’s category.
And when glitter isn’t enough, think denim fur, as in the case of Balmain. Buzz for the shredding technique has been building as designers look for new ways to upcycle materials and stay away from the real thing. For Fall ’19, Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing enhanced his decadent range of sequin-embellished jeans with denim moto coats swathed in the wild texture.
