2026 Is Year of Metallics

January 12, 2026

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Metallics once again emerged as one of the defining trends on the 83rd edition of Golden Globes red carpet, confirming the lasting appeal of high shine in modern eveningwear. The prevalence of reflective fabrics felt like a natural continuation of a movement that has been building on this carpet for years.

Just one year earlier, metallics delivered some of the night’s most talked about fashion moments. Demi Moore made a striking appearance in a gold metallic Giorgio Armani gown rooted in classic glamour, while Angelina Jolie offered a darker, more dramatic take in a gothic metallic and sheer Alexander McQueen look. Zendaya also embraced the trend in a copper-tone Louis Vuitton design, highlighting how metallics can shift the mood through silhouette and styling. Those looks helped set the tone for a trend that continued to evolve this year.

There is nothing more Old Hollywood than a metallic gown. From the 1920s onward, reflective fabrics have been synonymous with screen sirens, red carpet spectacle, and cinematic glamour. Early lamé gowns captured the light of black and white film, a personal favorite of mine, establishing metallics as a symbol of luxury – and a visible one at that. Channeling Jean Harlow and Marlene Dietrich is always the way to go.

That legacy continues today, reinterpreted through new fabrication and modern proportions.

At the 2026 Golden Globes, the Spring 2026 runway’s influence was evident in the way metallics were treated as full statements rather than decorative accents. Liquid finishes, sculptural volumes, and fluid draping dominated, creating looks designed for movement and impact.

Here are some of the best metallic looks of the night.