NEW YORK, Dec 16 — Overshadowed for two years by the pandemic, this year’s holiday celebrations will be more vibrant and festive than ever. In the fashion world, that spells the return of quirky and uplifting party outfits, covered in sequins, rhinestones and feathers. Let the festivities commence!
Five, four, three, two, one... Happy New Year! Forget the sofa and TV NYE vibe we embraced for the past two years, as the party spirit returns to the holidays. With this festive mood comes colourful make-up and nails, and lashings of sparkle and shimmer. It’s official — sequins and rhinestones will be out in force this season, bringing with them the return of all things disco-inspired. In addition, feathers and velvet will be among the season’s essentials, as if to help everyone forget that coats, puffer vests and capes were the last year’s holiday must-haves.
Back to the dance floor
This holiday, it’s time to party. And that means getting back on the dance floor with a wardrobe to match. According to the global fashion search engine Stylight*, sequin dresses are particularly popular this year, with a 211 per cent increase in search interest in November 2022 compared to the same period last year. This is also the case for disco pants — preferably in metallic or brightly coloured versions—with clicks up 206 per cent. But if there’s one category that takes the lead this year, it’s velvet, with a jump in searches of over 700 per cent for velvet dresses, and 146 per cent for velvet blazers.
As seen during the last round of fashion shows, for the spring-summer 2023 season, transparency is one of the major upcoming fashion trends. And this has not gone unnoticed, with some fashion fans ready to embrace the trend this holiday season. As a result, dresses, tops and other see-through pieces are already proving popular with people around the world. In fact, search interest for transparent or sheer bodysuits has increased by 42 per cent compared to last year. Finally, the party season also means feathers. With retro inspirations, black dresses trimmed with feathers have seen twice as many Google searches as last year.
Time to shine from head to toe
But sequin-covered clothes aren’t the only things set to sparkle this season. Shoppers are also falling for rhinestone accessories, starting with rhinestone handbags (+80 per cent clicks). This trend is also being seen in beauty, with a 22 per cent increase in searches for facial rhinestones. When it comes to make-up, bright, flashy colours will dominate, channelling trends like the neon hues of LED eyeliner and the rainbow effect of Skittles nails, named after the colourful candy.
*Figures were analysed based on clicks in November 2022 compared to clicks in November 2022 across all Stylight international platforms. — ETX Studio
