FASHION : Metallic Offers a Dash of Flash : Natural and neutral are giving way to the gilded look--from large, shiny purses to dazzling tennis shoes.

It seems like only yesterday that a back-to-nature focus hit the fashion world.

Tones went neutral, lines flowed softly; cotton and linen took command. Hues of brown, buff and sage were everywhere, sending an organic message. Earth consciousness was in.

And now, the backlash. Forest-forward clothing has reaped its own demise.

Yes, the newest thing in fashion is . . . get ready . . . METALLIC!

You could call it the industrial revolution, but somebody already took that name. So, how about the organic mutiny?

It’s serious stuff. At the Academy Awards, choreographer Debbie Allen showed up for the ceremony in a genuine brass breastplate. If this trend continues, women could be in full armor before the year is out. Which would mean that someone would have to follow them around and help them in and out of automobiles--just what women have been trying to avoid for 20 years.

It’s one of those things that creeps up on you. And in Ventura County, the signs are already here. Lurex is back, along with sequins and super-shiny shoes and handbags that should go far to prevent pedestrian traffic fatalities.

Unlike past metallic waves, this one is bringing styles meant to shine in the sun. There are hordes of bright straw hats in all-over gold, along with others sporting gold bows, bands and trims.

Gold handbags, too, are not wimpy little evening clutches. They’re big workaday totes in shiny leather or playful blends of leather and sequins. Besides stopping traffic, these numbers could go a long way toward daunting purse snatchers. With one of them under his arm, a thief would stand out like a moose on snow.

Most gold-trimmed dresses, meanwhile, seem to be for formal wear. But Lurex tops are shown for daytime. And obviously ready for the sun are iridescent swimsuits. There are half a dozen suits with bold gold patterns on a black background at Bullock’s, Thousand Oaks.

And to get fully into the metallic mood, women can indulge in shimmery makeup. Revlon, for one, makes a product designed to make skin sparkle with golden highlights. Not to worry; the shiny stuff is iron oxide and mica.

Lips can match. Iridescent lipstick, including some in gold tones, is available in many lines.

But the award for the most common gilded item in the marketplace goes to shoes. And there are no holds barred on styles. We found pumps, sandals, loafers, tennis shoes and even brightly gilded clogs ready to dance down the highway of life.

At Sears in the Esplanade, we asked salesclerk Robert Gutierrez how women were taking to the flashy footwear.

“Metallics are going to be a strong thing,” he said, “They do sell well.”

A popular destination for shiny shoes is Las Vegas, according to Gutierrez. “A lot of women associate metallics with gambling,” he said.

So do some merchants. Georgia Boutell, owner of Georgia Boutell’s Art Deco in Ventura, said she is investing sparingly in metallic clothing.

“It’s all going to end up on the sale racks,” she said. “I like more classic things that will last longer.”

At Oak Tree in Oxnard, manager Leah Wylie agreed. “It will stay three months. People will go right back to natural,” she said.

Personally, we think that they’re missing the clues. You’ll recall that the same thing happened with Spam. At first, people tried to laugh it off. A generation later, it has nearly covered the planet.

Just remember, when you see the outfits--complete with chain mail--you read about it here.