All that glitters doesn’t come cheap

 This season brings with it some serious bling. The A/W 2012 catwalks were dripping in jewels .Taking the trend for costume jewellery to a whole new level, this season’s love affair with the semi-precious is intrinsically linked to the world of haute couture, as designers seek to translate artisan details into their ready-to-wear collections. As the economy continues to wobble, these ostentatious adornments are restricted to those with champagne taste and a heavy purse to prove it.

 It is no surprise then that those leading the pack include a host of Paris’s most exclusive fashion houses — all of which boast a healthy list of couture clientele. In his latest offering for Chanel, Karl Lagerfeld scattered bright semi-precious gems over the collars of slate bouclé coats and spiked clear icicles from the arms of his signature tweed jackets, while at Christian Dior, Bill Gaytten studded the bibs of duchess satin gowns with clusters of gems in shades of amethyst, emerald and blue topaz. Even the normally unassuming Miuccia Prada added sparkle to her mainline womenswear offerings for this season. At Prada, oversized jacquards and giant baubles featured on long coat dresses while for Miu Miu, Mrs Prada relied on mirrored appliqué to lend detail to mannish suede jackets. Lanvin’s Elbar Albaz and Louis Vuitton also went big on the super-lux bling.
 While these treasures have a price tag to match, as with all trends, the high street is bound to be hot on its heels. But this is certainly not budget-friendly. If you don’t have £10K to spend on a Chanel jacket, it’s best to either steer clear or start practising your foxtrot.

culled from standard.co.uk.