Palatial Palladium

>> Longtime Style Bubble readers will know of my affliction that renders my skin red and blotchy as soon as it comes in close contact with metal that are a smidge less than 100% hypoallergenic.  Even silver and certain types of gold can cause a mild itch.  Titanium, pure gold and platinum seem to be the only metals that can endure prolonged wear.  What can I say?  My skin has expensive taste.

Therefore, because of my metal-repelling outer shell, I was intrigued by palladium, as a rare and lustrous silvery-white metal that was recently hallmarked in 2009 and is supposedly hypoallergenic.  It's the least dense metal out of the platinum group metals and is soft and maleable when hot but incredibly strong when hardened and cold, making it perfect for intricate jewellery making.  In terms of price ranking, it's more expensive than silver but not as dear as gold and platinum and is currently going through a publicity boost with the International Palladium Board pushing the use of the metal in jewellery and fashion.  As a result, Hussein Chalayan worked with Palladrium on two evening dresses in his 'Domisilent' A/W 12-3 collection, using palladium to create neckpieces that were then backed onto neon acrylic.  Chalayan has never been one to shy away from the new and the unknown and by partnering with this mercurial metal, the results are two of the most outstanding pieces in the collection that I just had to take a closer look at…

Chalayan uses palladium as an unexpected addition to what are red carpet dresses and whilst the dresses themselves display subtle yet masterful strokes of pattern cutting, it's the neckline that draws your eyes in.  Jewellery incorporated with clothing isn't anything new but knowing a little bit more about the metal behind these modern day breastplates clues you into the level of innovation that Chalayan undertakes in his work, even if he no longer showcases his work with that overt level of theatricality that he once did.