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It all started with Karl Lagerfeld.
When the German-born master of trends sent models down his Chanel Spring Summer 2018 runway wearing transparent plastic raincoats, gloves, thigh-high boots and rain hats (fending off spray from the indoor tropical waterfall he’d had constructed for his show’s backdrop), it formally cemented the message: plastic is fantastic.
(Click here to listen to Lagerfeld explain all that glam catwalk PVC in person.)
Shocking as it might be to put Yeezy in the same category as King Karl, Kanye West was ahead of this trend too. After all, it’s been almost two years since wife Kim Kardashian started sporting his see-through plastic mules, thigh-high boots and pumps, all with perspex heels, at any and all occasions from the school run to Met Gala red carpet.
Since then we’ve seen transparent plastic embraced from Acne Studios and Celine (pre-Hedi) to Burberry and countless savvy high street brands join the perspex party. Celeb-fave designer Olivier Rousteing based his entire Balmain SS19 runway accessories collection around the clear perspex theme, with matching bags, heels and bangles that screamed “we’ve joined the retro-disco, too!”.
Tricky as the trend may be, it’s surprisingly simple (and everyday wearable) if you shop the right pieces. Looping back to the instigator, Karl Lagerfeld, we’d suggest the square sunglasses from the newest Chanel FW18 Eyewear collection – universally flattering, classic and neutral enough to literally go with everything.
Ditto clear handbags (time to trade in those wicker baskets, ladies), belts, jewellery, and mules. Stella McCartney, even released chunky-soled clear plastic sneakers this season, that wild woman. This is one trend that’s peak ‘90s nostalgia at its finest.
SHOP THE CLEAR PLASTIC ACCESSORY TREND: GRAZIA’s HOT 10
Chanel, Square Sunglasses in Acetate and Metal with 24k gold lenses, $700. SHOP IN STORE
TIBI, PVC Waist belt, $110. SHOP NOW
Yeezy, Season 7 Transparent Mules, $1145 at My Theresa. SHOP NOW
Staud, Shirley PVC and Leather Tote, $306. SHOP NOW
Billini, Isabel Perspex Mules, $100. SHOP NOW
Marzook, lucid plastic plexiglass orb bag, $1140. ORDER NOW
Kenneth Jay Lane, Gold tone acetate earrings, now $25 from $50 at The Outnet. SHOP NOW
Stella McCartney, White Eclipse 40 Chunky PVC sneakers, $771. SHOP NOW
Topshop, Porto Perspex Tote, $50. SHOP NOW
Dior, Visor, $465 at My Theresa. SHOP NOW