Feathers are key embellishment

Forget being a fashion faux pas, feathers are the hottest new trend this coming season.

The ultra-glamorous embellishment oozes old-school Hollywood vogue, and enhances any outfit.

A host of designers have taken inspiration from Natalie Portman in this year’s stunning ballerina thriller Black Swan and have embedded feathers into their Spring/Summer 11 collections.

Glamorous floor length gowns and cute thigh-skimming dresses were dressed up with subtle and feminine feather details that added extra bulk and a high-octane glamour to the pieces.

Cue Chanel who showcased the stunning trend on its catwalk. Models strutted down the runway wearing gorgeous pieces adorned with the fabulous embellishment. There was a contrast between subtly and over-the-top glamour in the show, which perfectly highlights that this trend has great versatility.

You can decide to build the whole look around the feathers themselves or you can limit yourself to a scattered use of these details in order to preserve the fine lines and shape of your outfit.

Feathers come in all sizes, colours and designs, so there’s a wealth of opportunity to toy with the trend. Play with the sight-pampering effect that feathers create and choose outfits that help you rock the trend with a “wow” effect.

If you’re more traditional but still fancy tackling the show-stopping decoration, then why not stick to feathered accessories? Team a simple outfit with a feathered bolero-type jacket, or choose a pair of stunning heels bejewelled with the embellishment.