Liquid Metallics: The Season’s Most Photogenic Fashion Trend

As much as we may extol the virtues of minimalism and monochrome, most fashion people have a serious magpie streak. Show us something shiny, sequined, or sparkly, and we can’t help but hone in on it. Lately, thanks to the Gucci-spurred maximalism trend (and, more specifically, that gold pleated skirt that turned into a magnet for street-style photographers everywhere), metallics have had the chance to shine, and designers at New York Fashion Week have been showing the kind of molten-metal looks that are irresistible Instagram fodder.

At Suno, amid a collection of schoolgirl tartans and stripy knits, one gilded shirtdress with accordion pleats made a compelling case for the return of lamé, while at Tibi and Rhié, satiny palazzo pants and slipdresses were the center of attention. At Opening Ceremony, shimmery silver pants slinked down the runway, pooling around models’ ankles and practically begging to be seen in slow motion. Exhibit A:

Of course, the trend doesn’t have to be worn head to toe—paired with a black turtleneck (à la Kaelen) or a neutral-hued sweater, it can look almost understated. And—bonus—you barely need to accessorize (unless you want to, of course).

Click through the slideshow to see the rest of the looks—if for no other reason than to squeal “Oooh, shiny!” at this season’s best metallics.