Perhaps, fashion is reminding us to look at the bright side. Because shimmer, crystals and glitter are all over Paris this week.
At Saint Laurent, Anthony Vaccarello's very brassy and sexy second collection for the brand was defined by the looks that came out at the end: a series of rhinestone-embellished dresses, blazers and blouses bedazzled for the Gods, as well as a pair of ruched diamanté boots (each crystal applied by hand.)
There were also sexy Eighties-inspired ruched and ruffled leather mini skirts and dresses, shearling jackets with the boldest of sleeves and wispy, sheer blouses.
But it was the glitter that spoke the loudest, as it did at Y/Project where Glenn Martens used rhinestones to ramp up his dramatic dresses (including the excellent hooded one pictured here) and Rochas where Alessandro Dell Acqua made them the sartorial exclamation mark on his fringed flapper styles.
Meanwhile in a show filled with easy velvet floral dresses, slouchy high-waisted trousers and cosy knits, Isabel Marant decorated her denim trousers and jackets in crystals, the glitter once again adding a sense of carefree Eighties glamour and fun to the aw17 season.
And at Balmain, the glitz seemed endless, with nearly each of Olivier Rousteing's 82 looks coated in a slick of metallic shine through gold beading, sequins, hardware, rhinestones and more. Even the humble, cozy sweater was tricked out in a level of embellishment usually reserved for his dresses and gowns.
All of this follows the spacey crystal bodysuits at Gucci and jazzy Swarovski leggings at Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini in Milan.
Think of it as a natural extension of the rise of Eighties glamour and sex that began last spring. It's also a hit of glamorous, feel-good impracticality at a time when the world can use it.
