There’s no getting away from the shine

About the Author

Angie is co-founder of YLF and its resident fashion stylist.

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

There’s no getting away from the shine

— by Angie

on October 9, 2007

Patent is everywhere and it’s the third season in a row. From handbags to shoes, wallets to belts and jackets to jewelry, there’s no getting away from major gloss and shine this season. I like patent best when it’s cracked, distressed and textured. It’s the newer and edgier version of high shine at the moment and I love it’s urban appeal.

The trend is taken to new heights this Autumn with entire garments made of patent. Less extreme, but equally eye catching, are skirts, pants and coats that glisten graphically with patent trim. It seems that high shine has gone from fashion statement to fashion basic in less than 18 months. It’s quite the look in men’s and children’s shoes as well.

Patent remains one of the biggest trends around and I’d be surprised to see it diminish next year. How do you feel about the shine?

Fashion forward patent and cracked patent men’s shoes.

13 comments · Add a comment

Tammy

(website)

Black Patent Shoes bring me back to childhood with little girl dress shoes!
I don’t own any patent shoes or clothes yet but I do have a great patent clutch. I can see myself wearing shoes (that aren’t black) but not clothes

October 9, 2007 at 8:12 am

Angie

(website)

Good strategy Tammy. I have patent shoes in red, black, cream and yellow and an assortment of patent handbags. I love cracked patent and this forms the bulk of my patent wardrobe. I love mixing glamorous high shine handbags with casual urban pieces like Converse sneakers and rugged riding boots. I somehow find the contrast appealing.

October 9, 2007 at 8:44 am

Meredith

I just purchased a handbag yesterday, and it is my first patent item ever. It is red and makes me feel a bit fancy.

October 9, 2007 at 9:24 am

Becky

I’m afraid I’ve never warmed up to patent. It always looks cheap to me.

October 9, 2007 at 10:14 am

Jenn @ Frugal Upstate

(website)

Hmmm, I think I still have the black patent pumps that I was required to wear with my dress uniform in the army. Pretty plain, but since I already own them, cheap!

October 9, 2007 at 4:39 pm

Meg

(website)

I definitely consider patent a “fashion basic”. I love it on accessories – especially clutches in fun colors. I’m definitely hesitant about wearing it anywhere else, though, except maybe as a very small detail. I haven’t taken much notice of cracked patent. I’ll have to keep an eye out.

October 9, 2007 at 6:48 pm

Fran

LOVE patent. It always looks SO clean, and it pops! I think it looks sophisticated, too. I have a big black patent purse that I am carrying practically every day (I know, I should switch it up, but it goes with everything and looks great). I have one pair of black patent shoes and one pair of gray. Want a patent trench! But, I guess, head to toe patent would look cheap, wouldn’t it. (Or WOULD it????!)

October 9, 2007 at 7:53 pm

Angie

(website)

That sounds fab Fran. I think that patent shoes and a patent handbag is enough high shine for one outfit. If you go patent on the jacket or trench, you’d want to tone down the accessories.

October 9, 2007 at 9:22 pm

Véronique

I agree with Becky. I am a real fashion addict but I cannot figure myself wearing patent. I have the idea that it looks cheap.

October 10, 2007 at 6:09 am

Sara

I LOVE patent in BOLD funky colors! I have a fabulous fire-engine red patent purse and some conservative black patent pumps that are really low key..but they add a little fun to an otherwise boring shoe!

I completely understand the “cheap” thought but using patent in quality accessories (and not over doing it) helps to eliminate the cheap factor.

October 10, 2007 at 3:00 pm

Angie

(website)

I totally understand the sentiments of those of you who feel that patent can look cheap. It can. This is where you need to be discerning about the type of patent accessories that you select. Also, patent comes in the form of plastic and genuine leather. Obviously, the leather options are a cut about the rest and a little pricier for your pocket. But there is fabulous faux patent leather available at a fraction of the price. As Sara pointed out, patent that does not look cheap makes an outfit pop. It adds another dimension to your ensemble. Often, black leather can look blah, but black patent in the same shoe style seems to steps it up a notch.

It’s fine if you can’t get your head around patent anything – your style quotient won’t slip!

October 10, 2007 at 3:43 pm

lulu

(website)

love patent bags! haven’t found patent shoes that look good on me though… not sure about what “cracked patent” looks like, do you mean faux alligator?

October 11, 2007 at 10:49 pm

Alexandria

(website)

I LOVE patent leather. I think it is classic and I hope it stays “in” forever. It makes everything look richer and gives leather just that twist it needs to be different than the same old color it might have been before it shined!

October 20, 2007 at 5:19 am

About the Author

Share this Post