What Is Lurex? The Metallic Thread Explained, and How to Wear and Wash It

The short answer: Lurex is a brand name for a metallic yarn, a thin strip of plastic film coated with a metal finish and often wrapped around a core thread, that is woven and knitted into fabric to give it sparkle. It is light, it does not tarnish the way real metal thread does, and a small percentage is enough to make a cloth glint. A good example is the Dries Van Noten Loose lurex shirt in Khaki, a check shirt with 3 percent lurex in a viscose and silk base. Browse more in our designer shirts and the Dries Van Noten collection.

The word is a trademark of the Lurex Company, which began making metallic yarns in the 1940s, but it is now used for any metallic fibre in fashion, the way people say Lycra for stretch. You will find it in knitwear, evening gowns, tweeds, socks and shirts, usually as a small share of the blend.

Key facts

• What it is: a metallised film yarn, usually polyester film with an aluminium finish, coloured gold, silver, copper and more.
• How much is used: typically 2 to 10 percent of a fabric.
• Feel: slightly crisp. In a fine knit it can feel scratchy against bare skin; in a woven shirt it is barely noticeable.
• Care: cool wash, low iron, no tumble dryer.
• Lifespan: does not tarnish, but the metallic coating can wear with heavy friction.

Lurex vs lamé vs sequins vs metallic thread

How to wear lurex beyond the party

The trick is to treat it as texture, not decoration. A lurex check shirt with jeans reads like a good shirt that catches the light; a lurex rib knit under a blazer gives an office outfit a little life. Keep the rest matte: cotton, wool, leather. Two shiny things compete. Our edit of plaid shirts for women shows how the check and the sparkle work together.

• A lurex shirt, open over a white tee, with wide trousers.
• A lurex knit with a pencil skirt, see how to wear a pencil skirt.
• Lurex socks with a heeled loafer, which is the smallest dose of all.

Is lurex itchy?

It can be, mostly in knitwear where the metallic yarn sits close to the skin. Look for a lining, a high natural fibre content and a lurex share below 10 percent. Wear a fine cotton layer underneath if you are sensitive. In woven fabrics such as shirting and georgette, the yarn is held flat and rarely bothers anyone.

How to wash lurex

1. Check the main fibre on the label and follow its instructions first.
2. Turn the garment inside out.
3. Hand wash cold, in a mesh bag. A machine’s delicate cycle at 30 degrees is fine too.
4. Do not wring. Roll in a towel, then dry knits flat and shirts on a hanger.
5. Iron on the reverse at low heat with a pressing cloth. Metallic film can melt.
6. Never tumble dry.

Our picks

1. Dries Van Noten Loose lurex shirt in Khaki

81 percent viscose, 16 percent silk, 3 percent lurex, in a khaki and green check. The metal thread is there, but you notice it only when the light catches it.

2. N.Peal Mollie Metal Trim Roll Neck Cashmere Jumper With Lurex in Ash Grey Sparkle

Cashmere with a fine lurex thread, soft enough for bare skin and bright enough for evening.

3. ME+EM Lurex Boucle Statement Button Mini Dress in Black

A lurex boucle mini, the tweed route to sparkle.

4. Costarellos Brennie Lurex Georgette Dress in Purple

Lurex georgette, light and fluid, the woven version that never itches.

5. Carolina Herrera Floral Cloque Lurex Jacquard Pencil Skirt in Forest Green

Lurex woven into a cloqué jacquard, for texture and shine in one piece.

Frequently asked questions

Is Lurex real metal?

Usually not. Modern Lurex is a plastic film with a metallic finish, which is why it is light and does not tarnish.

Can you put lurex in the washing machine?

Yes, on a cold delicate cycle, inside out and in a mesh bag, unless the main fibre says hand wash only. Never tumble dry.

Can you iron lurex?

Yes, at low heat, on the reverse, with a pressing cloth. High heat can melt the metallic film.

Is lurex the same as lamé?

No. Lurex is a yarn mixed into a fabric. Lamé is a fabric woven mainly from metallic yarn, so it shines all over.

Does lurex go out of style?

It comes and goes as a trend, but a little lurex in a classic shape such as a shirt, a knit and a tweed jacket stays wearable for years.