Nearly every runway season, spring or fall, designers offer a fresh take on gold fabrics and styling.

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Gold is a malleable color which designers have forged into looks ranging from aggressive sex-appeal (see Dolce & Gabbana's Fall 2007 crumpled gold dress) to head-turning elegance (Oscar de la Renta's Spring 2008 beaded column gown). And in perhaps a nod to how investors buy gold as a safety net in tough times, several designers have spun gold looks for next spring.

Prada's crinkled gold foil dresses and Versace's gold leather coat this season suggest a carefree exhibitionism in line with earlier looks by Givenchy and Dolce & Gabbana. Golds by Missoni and Aquilano e Rimondi are more subdued and closer in spirit to Proenza Schouler's Fall 2008 sequined trousers worn under a heavy coat.

With recent headlines bemoaning the state of the economy and continued investor skittishness, perhaps investing in golden styles is the only sure tip we can pass on. At the very least, you'll look like an optimist.