I wasn’t quite sure what to include in a lurex post since I wasn’t exactly sure about the actual difference between lamé and lurex. My fuzzy idea was that lurex is a sparkly yarn or a fabric knit with sparkly yarn, and lamé a smoother, woven metallic fabric. According to the Vintage Fashion Guild however, Lamé is the general term for all metallic fabrics, while Lurex is “the name trademarked by The Lurex Company for plastic-coated aluminum yarn”, or fabrics made with that yarn.

I decided to go with all kinds of metallic fabrics with the exception of sequined or beaded fabrics.

The ultimate glamour girl Jean Harlow of course wore some lamé clothes.

Dorothy Lamour in lamé.

Claudette Colbert in a fantastic hood and tons of jewellery.

Loretta Young in a very glamorous lamé dress.

Martha Vickers photographed by Bert Six. Source: Screen Goddess

Stunning Hedy Lamarr in a sparkly dress.

Beautiful dark lamé.

As Delilah in Samson and Delilah.

Lizabeth Scott.

Lamé gown and sparkly gloves on Paulette Goddard!

Ida Lupino in silver lamé.

And another very glamorous dress!

Adele Jergens.

Lucille Ball.

Source: Screen Goddess

Barbara Stanwyck.

Lena Horne. Source: Classic Allure

Great metallic blouse on Ann Sheridan. Source: I Love Vintage Actresses

My favourite Ann Sheridan photo. I love the dress and the ice background.

Alexis Smith in shiny ballerina wear. Source: Vintagegal

Maureen O’Hara.

Maria Montez looking amazing in dark lamé.

Ava Gardner.

Metallic knits. Source: Dr. Macro

Yvonne DeCarlo in a great lurex bikini! I love the top and the pointed waistline.

Showgirls at the Copacabana Club photographed by Stanley Kubrick for Look magazine in 1948.

Jane Russell in an amazing metallic dress. With Robert Mitchum.

Early Marilyn Monroe photo in a lamé dress.

Marilyn’s most famous, and totally amazing, lamé dress.

My personal favourite among Marilyn’s metallic dresses.

Cut scene from The Seven Year Itch. I wish I could see it!

With husband Arthur Miller, about to meet the queen of England.

Julie London. Source: I Love Vintage Actresses

Ava Gardner.

Debra Paget looking fantastic in dark silver lamé.

Anne Francis in what might be the same dress as Ava Gardner’s above.

I just love this look. I’d like to see the movie it’s from, if it is from a movie.

In one of her Forbidden Planet outfit’s with pretty great earrings (that I don’t remember from the movie).

The absolute best of the Forbidden Planet outfits, and one of my favourite outfits ever. Source: Simply Sassy

Virginia Mayo. Source: Thetag1

Virginia again in an amazing still from The Silver Chalice.

Arlene Dahl.

Jeri Miller in Abbott and Costello Go to Mars which has some gorgeous space outfits.

Joan Collins in a gold cheongsam.

Mamie Van Doren.

Mamie again in such a great outfit. I wish I had a jumpsuit like this.

Not to forget, guys look amazing in lamé as well!

Diana Doors.

Fantastic pink lurex cheongsam on Patricia Lam Fung. Source: Soft Film

Jayne Mansfield.

Great Lurex sweater. Photo by Peter Basch

With Jane Russell and a black lurex top.

Casual lurex outfit, love this!

Gold pants in a great nail polish ad.

I love this entire photo so much. Gold and pink are one of the best combinations.

Stella Stevens.

Elizabeth Taylor wearing lurex as Cleopatra.

This might be beaded but it’s such a great photo, and it could be lurex.

Burlesque performer Blaze Starr in lurex pants.

Julie Newmar as Catwoman wears black lurex!

Kitty Ting Hao. Source: Stirred, Straight Up, with a Twist

Utterly dreamy photo of Dolly Parton in a sparkly lurex dress (I love the Nudie suit in the background as well).

Go go dancer and stripper Dee Dee Danielle in a great lurex costume. I love the matching shoes, and the colour! Source: Vintage Burlesque Photos

Shakira Baksh in the tv series UFO (maybe I should watch this?). Also the wife of Michael Caine.

Cyndi Lauper in a great outfit. Source: LIFE Archive

Nina Hagen.

Madonna in her amazing Desperately Seeking Susan jacket (one of my most favourite movies ever).

The Cramps with Lux Interior in lurex pants.

And Poison Ivy as well!