It seems like only yesterday we were taking pictures of our pastel pink Glossier hauls on rose gold iPhones for ‘the gram’. Coined “millennial pink” by fashion journalist Véronique Hyland for The Cut in 2016, the colour dominated the mid-10s. It was the colour of the girlboss—ironic, considering the stereotypes of weakness and “girliness” associated with pink which millennials will have grown up with. Going from cool to cringe, have we become oversaturated by the shade? Gen Z says yes!

In a post-COVID pandemic era of dopamine dressing, gen Zers needed a colour that channels opulence in their return to the big wide world. Valentino made us ponder over its viral PP pink, as celebrities took to every red carpet in the shade after the brand’s creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli dedicated an entire collection to the vibrant tint.

After much deliberation, gen Z eventually settled on silver. The metallic quality allows for a more realistic response to light behind a screen, leading to success in the virtual world. How did this translate to IRL?

Flashes of silver have been emerging all over the fashion scene as we look towards trends of futurism in a revival of the space age. In 2022, Glenn Martens sent metallic denim and oversized metal hardware down the Diesel runway. By summer, the trend broke into the beauty sphere with Hailey Bieber’s viral pearly chrome nails. It was in turn closely followed by up-and-coming designer, Natalia Fedner, who created a series of intricate metal chainmail looks for Beyoncé and Kylie Jenner.

In the mood to have a go at it? Check out our round-up of all things silver:

Despite the latest rumours, Hailey Bieber once had world domination at her fingertips. Chrome nails were all the rage over summer 2022—and still are. Diesel took the trend one step further with all-over body makeup on the runway.

Glued to almost every influencer’s head, Apple’s AirPods Max are central to our day-to-day fits. In a nod to maximalism, their slick, oversized design makes a celebration out of technological advances. They’ve already caught the eyes of celebs including Dua Lipa and Sarah Jessica Parker. The AirPods Max are a great statement accessory that can be customised in a variety of ways too, as TikTok proves time and time again.

As it turns out, silver can be dressed down too. At Copenhagen Fashion Week which took place in February 2023, Scandi-favourite GANNI made a case for silver denim by giving rough and ready jeans a mesmerising shimmer. Shortly after, TikTok became inundated with DIY tutorials on how to give old jeans a foiled-up makeover. If that’s too much work for you, keep things simple and head to the high street.

Leading the sustainability revolution, gen Z is all for recycled fabrics. Emerging Australian brand Published By make its bags from scrap metal and plastic. Fun fact: they’re also produced by the same technology used by car and aeroplane manufacturers. The bags may weigh a tonne—not to mention their hefty price tag—but Published By is transparent about its sustainability initiatives. “There’s a lot of greenwashing in the industry, we’re not claiming we’re perfect, but we don’t overproduce,” co-founder, Ruby Wallen, told Hypebeast.

Leather has a natural sheen to it, making it the ideal fabric to show off your silver. Prada tackled two trends at once with its metallic kitten heels, and Stradivarius does a great dupe. Nike, meanwhile, gave us a more practical (and cheaper) alternative revisiting the Pegasus 2006 for its newly released P-6000.

Silver isn’t just for your wardrobe, it also has a place throughout the home.Try disco balls to create fun, natural light shows that moths dream of. Interior designers have created the icon of the 60s disco in virtually every form. From mirrors to candle holders, now, there’s no need to leave the house to experience the club.