Trend Focus: Stud you like
By Eliza Grimond
Spikes and studs, they’ve been appearing everywhere this winter. Shoes, jackets, leather (or for the pecuniarily challenged, pleather) have all been embellished. Ornaments which rightly belonged on beagles and the collars of other canines have appeared on bags, breeches and busts. It has been virtually impossible to go out without having your eye poked out by a studded reveller’s overenthusiastic wave, or to avoid being mangled by the embrace of a friend with a metallic shoulder. The passive aggressive undertones of the fashion world’s new spiky sweethearts have been sending me into the corners of bars and clubs, muttering about Gothic revenge.
I am however now prepared to concede that the spike may have a place outside a dog collar or A&E. Yes, I believe they actually have many things going for them and I’ve compiled a helpful list as to why:
1) They are D.I.Y. The fashion world is giving you a free pass here. You don’t have to buy the fully be-spiked item for £50 when you can dress up your old leggings for a fiver.
2) They CAN be glam. It is possible to be a bit Bowie with these beauties strapped to your hot pants -if you do it in the right way.
3) They are often stuck to maroon garments. A great colour, maroon suits everyone, everywhere. Yes even grannies.
4) When they are displaying a polite smattering, rather than a Gaga-esque spike conurbation, rivets can actually look feminine and chic. Rosie Huntingdon Whiteley wore a pair of pale rose stud heels at a recent awards ceremony in LA, giving her chiffon dress the perfect edge.
5) You know what they say, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em”. Just as they can cause mass injury, studs also have a high self defence value. Fed up with people stepping on your toes in clubs? Get some boots with one inch spikes on the toe. Want to ward off Camera-related sleaze? A studded leather jacket makes you virtually unapproachable. The studded corset, likewise, makes it painfully clear to homing males what is off limits.
6) They are easily binned. As long as you don’t go kray kray on the trend, and are prepared to live with a few holes in your gloves, spikes can become a victim to fashion’s vagaries as soon as Anna Wintour decides that rhinestones really aren’t that tacky, after all.
Images via:
http://jadorefashionlove.blogspot.co.uk; http://www.thefashionblogger.co
