By Kellydeene Skerritt

The sequin boom takes on a new challenge in the art of discretion as designers update the beloved jewel into a new contemporary direction with focus on shape, form and iridescence. Nowhere was this more evident than on Christopher Kane's A/W08 womenswear runway. Kane's use of shape and form to construct garments in matt cyclical discs took the sequin to architectural limits and gained the lustre through embellishment of Swarovski crystal.

I know, why am I talking about womenswear when it's a menswear feature? Menswear often takes inspiration from women's direction, adapting and often simplistically styling it in an innovative way which is evident in menswear S/S 09 designs.

French poet Jean Cocteau once said "Style is a simple way of saying complicated things" and what could be more true than the attitude of menswear styling SS09.  The simplistic embellishment and application of the gleam of menswear textiles, reflects a bit of light into our dreary autumnal gaze, effortlessly radiating us away from economic gloom and saying 'everything is going to be ok!'

The sequin's literal context has been stripped bare for all to see demonstrated by Westwood's choice of high sheen thread on the black trouser suit that casts a contingent fluidity of movement over the eye. The iridescent glare bounces the light like a sequin to a disco ball but with class and modernity.

The change in direction for menswear communicates that discretion is key. McQueen customised subtly through brassy bead embellishment of the arm cuffs on blazers, which drew flickers of attention to the contours of the garment.

Such a tiny detail can generate such a big impact and with the transitional focus ever growing through the roots of customisation. People are becoming more confident to self inflict jewels and detailing to their garments and accessories by being seen as an easy way of updating a bland item to current trend.

Styling this trend can be left to your own personality, going two ways on the spectrum, extreme deluxe sheen or muted sporadic embellishment. The London scene is bursting at the seams with pioneering young men expressing their artistic flair through decoration you almost have to beat it back with a stick! This aspect of the sequins non-contextual reference is what makes street style so exciting!

The point is that thanks to the best of current designers the contemporary concept of the sequin can be worn with effortless ease.