The last ten years have been a trend-watching blur: we’ve seen almost every decade resurface for at least a brief moment before slowly fading away.  The current, high-controversy era in our midst is the late 1980s.  Only being in our mid-twenties, the eighties are an era we Demoiselles spent little time in, and truth be told, we cared little for the trends that were going on then…and like them even less now.

Beneath the headline of “80s Revival” are many different, singular trends that women can choose from, whether it’s acid washed jeans (or “marble washed”, a description potentially created to distract you from the shivers that go up your spine the moment “acid washed” hits your ear drums), neon color, or for this specific post, sequins.

Courtesy of InStyle.com

Prior to 2009, sequins were most commonly associated with country club lunching grandmothers, drag queens, and children.  Now they’re making a comeback in a slightly less “gem sweater” way, but with just as much flash and glam as they had twenty years ago.  But how much is too much? There’s “interpreting a trend” and “wearing a trend”…but with such powerful statement pieces as sequins, it’s easy to let the trend wear you, if you’re not careful.

Would you wear sequins today?

Ugh, God… Sequins. My current appliqué frenemy. I want so badly to dislike sequins for their tacky, garish, intrusive sparkling, but I don’t know if I can. If you’d asked me six months ago how I felt about sequins, I’m sure (after a scoff and a bit of laughter) I’d have said “to hell with sequins!” and really meant it.

Today, I’m not so sure.

When I announced on Twitter my recent attraction to a sequined jacket, I was bombarded with replies accusing me of falling prey to fashion blogger influence. “They’re on every fashion blog, that’s what you want one!”, in so many words… Could it be true?

True or not: I think I want a sequin jacket, guys. I’m not sure what to do with this information as I’m vehemently against this “so tacky, it’s cute and fashionable!” movement, but sequins – shouldn’t they fall into that category?

As for as the matter of flattering, sequins will definitely bring extra attention. But what kind? Will they bring in admirable, classy, strong people? Or will the hipsters and trend-followers of the world give me a terrifying “nod of approval”? Could I be taken seriously? More importantly, could I take myself seriously if I were conducting a conversation with me, while wearing a sequined ______?

Have I speculated enough? Of course not! Is a sequined flourish on a skirt hem appropriate? I think that I would likely buy a dress that had only 1/8th of its surface area sequined. (Hell yes, I’m getting mathematical with this!) Once the sequin-to-nonsequined ratio exceeded 1:3, I think I’d have to put the garment back. That’s just too much pizazz for me.

Then there’s the color to consider… Black sequins are kind of like no sequins at all – barely noticeable with a shine – I can get down with that. Once we start getting into pastel and silver and gold territories that things start to get ugly (literally). A black, fully sequined jacket would hit my closet a lot faster than a silver sequined dress with a 1:3 sequin-to-nonsequined ratio.

The word sequin makes literally no sense to me now. It’s been completely overused.

Bottom line: There isn’t one. The Elle Jury is still out on this trend, as I’m not sure if it’s some kind of voodoo-fashion-blogger influence that has me eying sequin pumps with a twinkle of lust in my eye, or if there’s actual appeal in those flimsy, shiny discs.

A little-known fact: I used to be a dancer.  For seven years I took ballet, jazz, modern, and lyrical classes, even competing in my mid-teens.  I loved the strength of dance, the grace (and pain) of going on pointe, and yes, I even loved the costumes we wore to competitions and performances.  When it comes to dancer-related trends, though, I just can’t take those clothes out of class and wear them on the street.

It started with ballet flats which, due to comfort, I accepted.  Then it grew – spawned – into other functional (but not always attractive) streetwear.  Leggings!  Bra tops!  Arm and leg warmers!  And now, finally, sequins.  Come on, ladies: I’m not five again, and this is not a dance recital.

I must admit, though, that some of my trepidation about sequins has to do with my current lifestyle: I’ve got a very, very big dog to take care of, and a very, very long bus ride downtown every day, and my clothes and shoes often take a beating because of those things.  Patent leather gets scuffed, delicate satin gets torn, and silk?  Please. I don’t even try to do silk.  For that reason, sequins make me nervous, and even though there are a couple of pairs of Oh…Deer! pumps and a TopShop jacket that can rock the trend tastefully, I still don’t think I could drop the money on something so delicate.

So, even though I generally think that sequins are a bit much (and likely a very short-lived trend) I can admit that if I didn’t come in physical contact with lots of people, places and surfaces every day – dog drool, anyone? – I might try them.

Just don’t tell any of the girls I used to dance with.

If you need some “sparkling inspiration” to help you contemplate sequins, please see this highly educational video by Leslie Hall:

Would you wear 2009′s version of the sequin trend?

Why or why not?