Crystals and chainmail have been the two sides of the same glittering coin in fashion. Gianni Versace launched the popular chainmail fabric in 1982 for a fashion show at the Paris Opera and dressed the ’90s supermodels Carla Bruni, Claudia Schiffer, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford and Helena Christensen in the metallic-mesh fabric. As for crystals, it has been infused in fashion since time immemorial, but Marilyn Monroe’s ‘Happy Birthday to Mr. President’ dress (also in the news for, well, you know) by Bob Mackie from 1962 is etched in our memory as one of the earliest contemporary version of it.
Both of these sparkling elements in fashion have sustained the true test of time. Whether it’s through the Y2k era when Paris Hilton celebrated her 21st birthday in the iconic metal chain dress or every other red carpet in the ’10s where celebrities drenched themselves in rhinestones, this one is a party sartorial memo that has stood the test of time. But how does one decide which luminous fabric makes the cut? On one side there’s chainmail which is subtle in sheen and falls on your form like butter. On the other hand, there are crystals, a form of surface ornamentation that can instantly make your outfit luxe and ostentatious. If you’re a maximalist and cannot take the hard call, scroll below for recent looks sported by your favourite celebrities to help you pick your next party look.
1. Shanaya Kapoor
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Recently, the youngest entrant from the Kapoor clan partied with her sisters in a mini bodycon crystal dress by stylist Mohit Rai’s label Itrh. The young-to-be debutant kept the rest of the look simple and fuss-free, ditching the accessories and allowing this timeless piece to take the centre stage.
2. Janhvi Kapoor
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If you’ve been recently following Janhvi Kapoor’s sartorial journey, she’s really been into statement-making shiny dresses and gowns. Whether it was her Alexandre Vauthier black halter rhinestone gown or the metallic pink backless number by Manish Malhotra, she definitely has a type. Continuing her streak of shimmering silhouettes, the Gunjan Saxena actor wore a mini chainmail dress with a centre front cowl detail.
3. Komal Panday
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Fashion influencer Komal Panday brought in her 28th birthday in a custom-made ensemble by Itrh and it was definitely a head-turner. Head-to-toe etched with stones in the shade of champagne ivory, the outfit was tailor-made according to her bold and risqué aesthetic.
4. Natasha Poonawalla
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Entrepreneur Natasha Poonawalla doesn’t exactly follow the trend, she sets them. Always wearing fresh-off-the-runway looks, the industrialist was recently spotted in a mini pink chainmail number from the Fendi X Versace collaboration. She clubbed the Fendace dress with a pair of gold heels and accessories to balance the bling from the pink, an interesting way to tone down maximalism by adding more of it.
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