Just gonna throw this out there.

People have used beetle wings as a sparkly component in dresses.

Here's one that was worn on stage by Lady Macbeth.

I can't help but imagine this leading to an interesting conversation between Rarity and Thorax.

Comments

[FanOfMostEverything]

She'd probably first bring it up at the medal ceremony during "Celestial Advice." I doubt she could hold it in for much longer.

"I do apologize if this is personal, but do you... shed?"
"I actually don't know yet. This whole thing is new to all of us."
"I see. Well, do keep me posted."
"O... kay?"
"Yes, I think this will be good for every creature involved..."
"Rarity, my eyes are up here."

[Georg]

"Rarity, I--"
"Doesn't it look fantastic, darling?"
"Yeah, but--"
"Such glitz! Such attention! So many ponies watching my creation! Oh, and Twilight is modeling the dress quite well too, don't you think?"
"That's what I wanted to talk to you about. Fluttershy says--"
"She's following my directions perfectly. See the short, steady steps, the way she's holding her wings. Oh, having a princess model my Sparkletastic Skirt during the fashion show was genius, Rarity! Sheer genius!"
"Ah think you've been hanging around Trixie too much. But as I was saying'--"
"I just wish I knew why Twilight has started twitching like that. And it's getting worse."
"It's the lights. Fluttershy says them beetles you used on her dress get active in the sunlight."
"Oh, my."
"And they bite when they get active."
"Oh, my! I do hope she can finish her turn on the catwalk before--"
"Afore that happens, you suppose? Then again, I ain't seen her move like that in months. It's probably good exercise. And it's better than her dancing."
"True, I suppose. I just wish she hadn't started stripping off the dress in the middle of that. She really should have considered my reputation. I mean her reputation, that is."

[iisaw]

For my money, there are a lot of iridescent beetle wing casings that look better than a lot of gems!

[Daedalus Aegle]

5091812
Plus they are surely lighter. Those gemstone-laden dresses must weigh quite a bit.

5091786 5091798

(Difficult to imagine a more appropriate use of this emoji.)

[SIGAWESOME]

* pushes glasses up nose *
Well ackchually they are technically called "elytra"

I can't help but imagine this leading to an interesting conversation between Rarity and Thorax.

I bet Thorax will be horrified at the prospect: Either this is like collecting scalps as trophies to show-off, or it is like knitting a cashmere jumper from "stuff" pulled out of the hair trap in your shower...

5091812

For my money, there are a lot of iridescent beetle wing casings that look better than a lot of gems!

Yes. Yes there are

[Darkhanos]

Lol, I'm just gonna leave this here

I can't be the only one that watched this growing up

[Daedalus Aegle]

5092086
The 90s were a weird, weird time for children's television.

[Darkhanos]

5092090
I dunno. We had Batman the Animated Series, and that was pretty badass

[Daedalus Aegle]

5092094
Yeah, there were some great cartoons. But the live action shows, man... Those were weird