Rhinestones are sexy. They used to be thought of as cheap, and in a way still are – just no comparison to diamonds, after all – but for most people they’re good enough and often quite expensive in their own right. Now commonly associated by some with burlesque and the like, they remain middle-brow fare after all these years.
Their use was probably first popularized by musicians who probably couldn’t afford real diamonds and then wound up being carried over into the realm of respectability as some of these performers hit the proverbial big time. Anyway, why pay so much money just to put on a show? Rhinestones look just like diamonds to their audiences, especially from the back row! No sense at all in sporting the genuine article when you can achieve the same dazzling effect with a high-quality substitute.
Sequins are another shiny material that is often used on the clothing of entertainers. They do not dazzle, however, so much as create a striking sheen. Unlike the case with rhinestones, individual sequins are never expensive, though the time and effort needed to create whole outfits out of them can be costly. But for the most part these two materials have been favored precisely because they are rather affordable. In fact, the vast majority are available in bulk quantities, with volume pricing to match.
These materials are also used for fashion accessories, and for most people, if they should own any sequin or rhinestone at all, it would likely be on something like a purse. It’s amazing what people think of in order to improve upon a dress! Indeed, attend any high-fashion show (should you ever get invited in the first place!) and take stock of all the designs on parade. Sequins and rhinestones – even diamonds, in all likelihood – would be quite passé!