I’m going to venture out on a limb here and call studding one of the hottest, if not the most sought after, embellishment choices of the season. Don’t expect the typical punk-rock looks we’ve come to expect, though. The latest take on this trend is the studded top covered in a plethora of hammered discs, nailheads or faceted metal squares—or even all three—arranged to create a Greco-Roman or Art Deco Egyptian Revival look (an echo of 1920s fashions inspired by the discovery of King Tut’s tomb).

Michael Kors’s Silk Top with Hammered Metal Studs is a perfect example of the Egyptian influence on this summer’s fashion. The billowy cut with fluttering cap sleeves forms a dramatic desert-diva silhouette that looks best when paired with fitted trousers or jeans or just about any type of shorts, from slouchy tie-waist styles to crisp Bermudas. I wouldn’t let that scare you, however, if you’re not into voluminous blouses. It’s also cinched at the waist with a drawstring tie that nicely maintains an hourglass outline and accents the bust curve, plus the slightly clingy material gently traces the body. The placement of gold embellishments of varying shapes and sizes on this studded top reminds me of a Nile princess’s elaborate neckpiece without becoming costumey and feels extra luxe juxtaposed against the buttery soft, deep orange silk.

And that just might be why the studded top is turning out to be a must-have item for 2009…that sense of balance between supple, sensual fabric and a tough, assertive element which perfectly captures American femininity at the end of the first decade of the 21st century. These artful studs are grown-up, more regal than rebellious, and they represent the woman who’s truly in command of her life with the resourcefulness to ride out the recession while maintaining it all: family, friendship, career and personal style.