The sparkling heart is my most-used emoji, I own Collina Strada’s rhinestone-covered water bottle and rhinestone collars for my two cats – but my actual wardrobe is entirely free of sequins, glitter or embellishment (I’m clearly more of a minimalist than I thought…). So when we hosted our Ensemble Presents screening of The Last Showgirl last month, I knew that our ‘razzle dazzle’ dress code would be near impossible. I ended up finding my version of showgirl shimmer in a vintage blue sequin blouse and feathered headpiece from First Scene, which sparked a newfound appreciation for the power of the sparkle. Then, the Oscars happened with all those nude sparkly gowns, and I was transfixed.

Dressing like a human disco ball on a glamorous red carpet is one thing, but in real life and the ‘everyday’, it can be a daunting prospect (for minimalists, especially). Our local designers are also not particularly in a shiny era – I put that down to production costs (embellishments are an expensive ‘extra’), Aotearoa’s typically subdued tastes (‘does it come in black?’) and our current depressed economy and vibe.

Internationally, there have been whispers of a backlash to all that quiet luxury, from Prada’s ‘raw glamour’ collection shown in Milan to Sabrina Carpenter's retro bombshell vibe. The maximalism of the 80s is being positioned as the ‘next big thing’, except now it’s been coined ‘the boom boom aesthetic’ that’s all about flashing your cash through things and yes, that includes flashy sequins.

That is the thing about sequins, rhinestones, shine: they can be bad taste and tacky, silly, glamorous, girlish, camp, old-fashioned, cheap, luxurious or all of the above. They can be whatever you want them to be.

Sequins are not typically what you may think of when you think ‘New Zealand fashion’. But we do do it, and actually quite well – always in a subversive way. Zambesi has always been NZ’s patron saint of cerebral sequins (for them, it’s all in the texture), although I can’t see any in their latest winter range. Kate Sylvester too once had a penchant for shiny pretty things, always done in her signature subtle way of course.

Other local designers have picked up the shiny mantle; often the ones who have their eyes set on the overseas (or Australian) market. Paris Georgia has gone sequin mad of late, with fringed sequin mesh dresses from the Resort range and a fish scale sequin coming soon, typical of the brand’s overt hot girl glamour.

Harris Tapper offers a typically understated version with their black orchid beading on belts, flapper style dresses and the latest, a sheer t-shirt with detailing at the bosom, offering a sort of chic but cheeky wink. Ruby has also opted for their version of sequins that have been a huge hit with their very local customers: I saw multiple people wearing their sheer silver sequin top and skirt at Laneway (including Luce from Shit You Should Care About who looked fab).

If you’re still not convinced it’s for you, beauty can be a beginner’s entry point: think Shark Beauty’s bejewelled hair styling tool covered in 20k crystals or the array of sparkly eyeshadows available for a blast of fun, from M.A.C’s futuristic palette with iridescent shimmer shades and chrome packaging to Mecca’s pink and blue marbled duo, released just for Mardi Gras.

Whether it’s sequins, rhinestones or glitter, pick your level of shine with our shopping edit.

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