Sequins That Actually Make You Look Tougher

"Sequins" is a loaded word. It's one that connotes a fancy occasion, something probably pretty girly and eye-catching. It's not a curse word around the office, but it's one you won't see put into action there very often. At least, that was the case until we started reviewing the fall '15 collections. Case in point: yesterday's Kenzo show, which was a sparkly spectacle from the swirling, robotic walls to the (you guessed it) sequins on sweaters. For autumn, the embellishments are jumbo and fierce rather than dainty and sexy. In fact, protruding from the vest of a totally bundled-up light aubergine look, they're actually kind of threatening. The collection (which reminded us a lot of the Kenzo days of yore) used lots of prints and lots of layering, and the sequined ensembles were no different. Instead of stripping down an outfit to make it thin and shiny, the team added paillettes to chunky sweaters as a final layer of fringed armor to fight the cold. These styles were not for the faint of heart.  This new type of sequin may not be quite as "look at me" as spangly '80s tops or formal gowns that are covered in them from head to toe. But, they're still totally catching our eye.  For all things Fashion Week around the world — including street style snaps, designer news, and the trends you'd actually wear — head over to Refinery29's Fashion Month hub.