All these beads and adornment -are a bed sign

I wonder about that - first could you specify other eras (in fashion)?

The odd thing to me is that while the haute couture designers are using lots of beads, sequins, spangle and rhinestones, is the places I am most likely to see the most embellished clothes are the ones catering to the lower incomes or the extremely fashion conscious. The few mid-level stores I have been in of late, I see very little embellishment excluding embroideries of different sorts.

This could prove to be an interesting thread. Cheryl

I think a lot of this is geared toward the very young or the lower income person.

For the young I guess they think it's fun. I'm a very small size and junior sizes really fit me best, so when I shop I look in the junior department first. This year it's near impossible for me to find anything appropriate there because it's either wildly glitzy, or near naked in style.

For the others I believe that since they don't have extra funds for vacations, or unnecessary extras in their life, they get some pleasure from something just a little outrageous that doesn't cost too much.

Lucille

Don¹t forget the woman that wants to look young, no matter how bad it looks on her. ;)

I'd agree if it were just one or two items, but on a GS craft run at WallyWorld, all the jeans in all size ranges were tarted up and ditto most of the pants and tops. Only the "exercise" clothes were exempt.

Cheryl

Cheryl Isaak ,in rec.crafts.textiles.needleworkwrote: and entertained us with

I rather like the bling stuff, in small doses. I have a tshirt with a blinged V neck, a jeans jacket with very nice bling all over it and of course the cell 'phone carrier I made myself in the bling style with metallics, beads, and dangly beads hanging from it. I do NOT wear them all at the same time lol

I don't care for the jeans with bling attached though, they somehow don't look like fun bling but rather like jeans for ladies of the night wear. JMOYMMV

Small doses have always existed. I like little bit. A single sparkly bit is cute and fun, enough spangles for ten evening tops is too much

Exactly!