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| Our latest golden gowns |
Gold is one of those colours that can be equally trashy and opulent. Its wonderful for evening wear or as highlights throughout the day, comes in many a workable tone and real or gilded can be glorious.
Here are Ten reasons to wear gold and how....
1. Since the beginning of style this shiny precious metal has been used to adorn the body with its brightness, it's a colour that has worked throughout time. Our favourites are the Cleopatra's, the 1920's and 30's and it's return in the 1970s.
2. When Howard Carter caught sight of King Tut's tomb he was quoted to say '“...as my eyes grew accustomed to the light, details of the room within emerged slowly from the mist, strange animals, statues, and gold - everywhere the glint of gold. For the moment - an eternity it must have seemed to the others standing by - I was struck dumb with amazement, and when Lord Carnarvon, unable to stand the suspense any longer, inquired anxiously, 'Can you see anything?' it was all I could do to get out the words, 'Yes, wonderful things.” Howard Carter, Tomb of Tutankhamen
Would he have said this if everything wasn't gold? This magnificent discovery inspired fashion for decades to come.
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| Tutankhamen's golden sarcophagus |
3. Think of Coco Chanel when wearing gold. Team it with black and keep it delicate in style. Chanel adorned her designs with golden chains and buttons as elegant highlights and decorated her apartment with the famous golden ears of wheat as symbols of prosperity.
4. Gold is mostly used in Old Hollywood movies, or at least that's what I imagine the colour is twinkling in black and white and looking so effortlessly glamourous. Imagine Cleopatra with Vivien Leigh, Elizabeth Tayor, Theda Bara or one of Cecil B Demille's Ten commandments. The sequins were used to add extra sparkle to the screen and gave such a heightened elegance. A full length golden sequin gown will have you dazzling an adoring audience.
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| Coco Chanel photographed by Cecil Beaton |
5. Whatever your skin tone gold can work for you. If you are pale use darker antique shades or team with contrasting colour such as black. For darker skin tones go for brilliant blonde shades head to toe. Red lipstick always works with gold and use a metallic bronzer to highlight the cheeks and collarbone to bring the look together. Try MACs mineralize blush in warm soul.
6. When you wear gold you can keep accessories to a minimum. Leave necklines bare, be modest with earrings and splash out with a bracelet or cuff. A little golden confection of a clutch bag will be great too.
7. Gold works with so many colours and it doesn't always have to look glitsy. Its beautiful and opulent with vibrant Eastern jewel colours of turquoise, ruby and emeralds. Looks sophisticated and elegant with black, stunning with ivory, whites and pastels and for all out 1920s deco glamour with silvers and other precious metals.
8. Everyone should have one gold piece in their wardrobe. Be it a fabulous metallic pleated skirt, a sequinned flapper dress for dancing in or the gown of all gowns shimmering in gold that makes you feel like a movie star.
9. Golden cloth woven with god wire and silk has often been seen to befitt Princesses. Try a golden Bikini Princess Leia style.
10. In Henry VII's time gold was only to be worn by Royalty in England, indulge in the fact that we now all have the freedom to wear gold and flaunt it!
“The future holds a golden world. It will be for beauty; it will be for intelligent productiveness.” - Diana Vreeland
Related articles:
Inside Coco Chanels Apartment Chanel.com
The King of New York Vanity Fair
Costume Designers in Hollywoods Golden Age Pretty Clever Films
Explore Diana Vreeland.com
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| Barbara Stanwyck in 'Lady of Burlesque' |
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| Lena Horne in 'Stormy Weather' |