When the going gets tough, the tough get going. And when recession hits, the recessionistas hit back – hard. This spring is all about opulent fashions – the spectacular, the rich, the extravagant and outrageous. Luxurious but affordably priced, this unconventional and daring trend is the ultimate in statement-making. And that statement is “I am goddamn fabulous.”

The beauty of this opulent look is that you don’t have to splash out on a whole new wardrobe, and can instead incorporate many trends form the past year. Bejewelled dresses, lace, floral appliqués fringe, statement jewellery, bold patterns and couture-worthy embellishments can be co-ordinated, clashed, layered and loved as subtly or sumptuously as you like. But we would err of the side of extreme: maximalism is the order of the day as the tasteful “less is more” diktat is left to last season’s leftovers.
This fierce, flirty and feminine look has already hit the catwalks, with leather-loving designer Balmain heading the charge. Their incarnations took inspiration from the decadence of Faberge eggs, while Dolce & Gabbana were all about fabulous fabrics such as lace, leather, satin and velvet; all highlighted with lashings of gold jewels. Valentino offered a softer and more subtle approach, using Jacquard patterns to evoke the delicate detailing of Russian Dolls. Chanel decided to approach the look with a futuristic twist, with metallic threads, angular shapes and bold jewel-inspired colour palettes combining to create a bold look.
For those of us who might find these top designers somewhat beyond our budget, fear not because Ireland has embraced this trend with heavily embellished collections already sneaking into shops.
The key to wearing this look and not letting it wear you is to keep silhouettes simple and structured. Clean lines will allow embellishments to do the talking, so look for straight lines and then start layering the accessories.