gold

Brash and nouveau, or a metal colour that is truly precious? Not since the Seventies has gold been so fashionable. Helmut Lang has designed a shimmering fish-skin of sequins, to be worn beneath the softening knit of a skirt. Whistles has smoothed a thousand shiny sequins into a stretch bra top. And, for that dazzling party entrance, Moschino Cheap & Chic has a gold-beaded shift. Styling by Liz Thody. Photographs by Francois Rotger

This page Gold sequin shift dress, pounds 385, by Moschino Cheap & Chic available from Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge, London SW1; Feathers, 40 Hans Crescent, London SW1 and Zagger, 18 Baddow Road, Chelmsford; hold-up tights by Jonelle at branches of John Lewis

Opposite One-shoulder stretch sequin top, pounds 45, from Whistles, 12 St Christopher's Place, London W1 (0171 487 4484);

Khaki sweater, pounds 165, knitted skirt and gold sequin underskirt pounds 350, by Helmut Lang at Browns, 27 South Molton Street, London W1; Liberty, Regent Street, London W1 and Jones, 15 Floral Street, London WC2; necklace, pounds 170, at Erickson Beamon, 38 Elizabeth Street, London SW1; hold-up tights by Jonelle, as before

Gold and black lurex top, pounds 109, by Jean Colonna, at Jones, as before; gold sequin mini-skirt, pounds 80, to order from Whistles, as before; suspender belt by Chantal Thomass from a selection at Boisvert, 16b Grafton St, London W1; black orchid stick-pin, pounds 60, by Eric Halley at Erickson Beamon, as before; hold-up tights by Jonelle, as before.

Hair Paolo Ferreira at Calliste, Paris

Make-up Nicole Jaritz, using Make-up Forever

Model Helene Fillieres