Going Full-On Metal Is Not As Scary As You Think

This year is the year of the metal. The metal trend has slowly been picking up over the years as we spot more and more celebrities, such as Lady Gaga and Lais Ribeiro, donning on chainmail dresses, the material made famous by fashion house, Paco Rabanne. Even former FLOTUS, Michelle Obama killed it when she wore a rose gold chainmail Atelier Versace to her last state dinner in 2016. She tops the list for pulling off the chainmail trend, hands down. No questions asked.

Can we all just take one moment to relive the time when Michelle Obama made all our jaws drop?

Then again, people can be quite skeptical when it comes to wearing something so reflective, and just wonder, “Why would we wear that?” in general. Well, here’s where we come in to share with you on how you can integrate the metal trend into your outfit.
Clothing
Contrary to popular belief, chainmail is actually a lightweight material that flatters the body. If the material appears over-the-top for you, slipping it over a white t-shirt and pairing it with denim jeans gives the outfit a more casual look. Alternatively, items with metal eyelet detailing can also help you achieve that edgy, industrial vibe.

A post shared by Lais Ribeiro (@laisribeiro) on

Model Lais Ribeiro in a dazzling chainmail dress

A post shared by Chanel Iman (@chaneliman) on

For those who are afraid of pulling off the chainmail trend, consider opting for pieces with metal eyelet detailing like this crop top that Chanel Iman wore to the Sound of Rum festival.

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New Look Chainmail Crop Top, $43.08

topshop chainmail top
Topshop Chainmail Top, £28.00 £3.00

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House of Holland ‘Chainmail’ Slip Blouse, $328 $131

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Missguided Eyelet Jeans, £40.00

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Missguided Black Eyelet Detail Cropped Hoodie, £20.00

Bikinis
Baywatch may be bringing the high cut swimwear trend back, but we are all for chainmail bikinis although we aren’t very sure if it’s advisable to step into a pool with it on. Metals rust upon contact with water, right? But that’s beside the point. In the worst case scenario, you can always save it for when you attend a music festival or just wear an oversized white tee over it to have the metal detailing peeking through.
minka-bra-2
Minka Bralette, AU$139.95

mika bralette
Amber Bralette, AU$169.95

Accessories, Bags and Shoes
We’ve also seen many brands turning metal chains into accessories ranging from rings, necklaces to bracelets and AMBUSH excels in this department with their experimental line of jewellery. You can also switch up your look by opting for bags or shoes with a metal accent to give a modern, futuristic look.
chain ring
AMBUSH Chain Ring 2, ¥25,920

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Paco Rabanne Vintage Chainmail Shoulder Bag, $2,890

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Missguided Black Eyelet Detail Heeled Mules, £35

zara necklace
Zara Pack of Golden Chain Necklace Details, $29.90


Header image: Bella Hadid’s Instagram