This winter has made it crystal clear that embellishment is no longer simply an accent; it’s an attitude. Appliqués are ascendant. Sequins have gone high-octane. Rococo shine and opulent baubles are leaping from the runways into real life. And seemingly every style, from Sabrina Carpenter-esque miniskirts to faux-fur coats, is resplendent in sparkle.
Like many trends, it all started on the catwalk. Dries Van Noten and Courrèges sent out paillettes and sequin sets like wearable stardust for fall-winter 2025, styled as both eveningwear and everyday pieces. Sachin & Babi showed silk column dresses with tonal floral flourishes of beading and embroidery. Dolce & Gabbana’s collection featured a pack of glamazon models in fringed flapper dresses and glittering outerwear. For its part, Prada’s spring-summer 2026 runway featured dresses with crystalline necklines, only reinforcing the trend’s staying power.
Glamour’s embellishment trend wish list
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“I love that embellishment feels slightly rebellious right now,” says Sarah Clary, a stylist and cofounder of the media brand I’m Not Dead. “Once relegated to holiday parties and New Year’s Eve, high-shine touches are suddenly everywhere, from crystal-encrusted collars to scatters of beading on winter dresses—as at home with winter layers as they are under a disco ball. “It’s not precious or ‘saving it for a wedding’ energy. It’s a pearl on a sweatshirt, sequins at noon, something sparkly while doing deeply unglamorous things. I like that it gives permission to be decorative without an occasion—or a personality overhaul.”
So yes, while they were once relegated to holiday parties and New Year’s Eve, high-shine touches are suddenly everywhere, from crystal-encrusted collars to scatters of beading on winter dresses—as at home with winter layers as they are under a disco ball. Some of Clary’s favorite designer inspirations and style legends for embellishment skew more thinking-woman magpie than glitter bomb: “I always come back to Prada and early Miu Miu—when embellishment felt intellectual and a little off, not sugary. Icon-wise, I think about women like Lee Radziwill, Tina Chow, or even Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy on the rare moments she allowed a detail to do the talking. It’s less about sparkle and more about confidence—letting one thing be enough and resisting the urge to explain it.”
It’s a style language that works for everyone—the maximalists whose Pinterest boards are all Euphoria and ’90s glamour, the minimalists who prefer quiet luxury and tonal palettes; office workers who want to stand out while fitting in. Take a quick look at street style and you’ll find a bevy of ways to add a dose of luster to your fit: beaded petals on cardigans, chunky jeweled beanies, voluminous coats dotted with Grandmother’s brooches like glimmering polka dots.
This new age of embellishment encourages us all to be the disco queens, ice princesses, style icons, and greatest showgirls we were meant to be—from brunch to blizzards to birthday fêtes. “Embellishment to me is personality showing up in the details. It’s softness, humor, and mild defiance,” Clary says. “It’s saying, ‘I care, but also I have a life and errands to run.’” Below, shop editor-approved finds to make your winter glitter.
The embellished sweater
Sparkling sweaters are like jewelry that keeps you warm. And all your favorite knits are having a full sparkle renaissance: polos speckled with crystals and beading, jumpers with built-in necklaces, blinged-out cardigans primed for a sartorial ice storm. It proves sparkle isn’t just for partywear; you can celebrate every day of the week from Monday morning to Saturday evening. These picks style just as easily with your favorite jeans as evening pants.
The embellished dress
If Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby were transported to 2025, she’d have every single one of these dresses hanging in her closet. Sparkly numbers and sequined decorations tend to go hand-in-hand this time of year. But these offerings—spangled minis, collared midis, Roaring Twenties slips—are a less obvious than the standard fare. Don’t be afraid to shine at your next holiday gathering.
The embellished skirt & pants
Puttin’ on the glitz! There are plenty of skirtsthat lend themselves to a party girl moment—but also rhinestoned kilts, crystal-striped trousers, and sweet sequin midis that shimmer like the first morning frost. Style them with sleek bodysuits, fitted knits, and chunky sweaters for a mix of textures and high-low enchantment.
The embellished jacket
Cold spell? Don’t let it dim your shine. This is your cue to turn your outerwear game into a full-blown spectacle via cozy faux-fur jackets with clusters of crystals and long evening coats decorated with with ladylike brooches that will give you an excuse to sparkle at every time and temperature. If a fancy-shmancy invite lands in your lap, Tanya Taylor’s luxe paillette coat is the kind of investment evening coat you’ll wear for the rest of your life; bring some shine to every day with Free People’s boho layer.
The embellished bag & shoe
For the queen just dipping her toe (literally) into sparkle, an embellished shoe or bag is the perfect first step. It’s the easiest way to crank up the drama on your everyday look or to add some extra energy to a night out. Cinderella had her glass slipper, but you? You get to upgrade your sweater-and-jeans winter uniform with crystal-encrusted ballet flats, or liven up your city look with an iced-out shoulder bag. Fairytale endings all start with feeling unapologetically chic.
The embellished accessory
And now for the finishing touches, the pièces de résistance of your look. Beanies sprinkled with jewels, shimmering scarves, icy crystal necklaces, and earrings that catch every bit of winter light are on the guest list. You can also go right to the source with Free People’s pin set, which allows you to modify anything—cardis, jackets, socks—to fit the trend. These bijoux are the instant mood-lifters.
By Micaela English
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