The 7 Defining Fashion Trends Of 2023
We look back at the hottest fashion trends of the year.
From runways to red carpets and their subsequent translations to street style, the biggest fashion trends offer a reflection of cultural and societal changes as well as what's happening at a specific point in time. While the rise of microtrends—think: Barbiecore, quiet luxury, stealth wealth, coastal grandmother, and cottagecore—may make it a challenge to parse out what's actually defining this period, they similarly reflect current events and tell us something about ourselves.
This year, as we grappled with the effects of the pandemic, we continued to prioritise comfort and deepened our love affair with escapism. The celebration of girlhood became a broader cultural trend, and celebrity culture remained highly influential—whether it was Kendall Jenner stepping out pantless or Margot Robbie giving us a masterclass on serving #Barbiecore. Ahead, we round up the 7 trends that defined 2023.
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No Pants, No Problem
Last November, Kendall Jenner was photographed in Los Angeles wearing a Bottega Veneta look comprising a black knit sweater, sheer black tights and no pants. Then, for Miu Miu fall/winter 2023, Miuccia Prada sent her models down the runway in knit boy-cut briefs that were sometimes worn over pantyhose, sparking the pantless and exposed-undies trend. Jenner may have rocked the trend in the street style arena, but Emma Corrin brought it to Venice Film Festival 2023 in a buttoned-up green cardigan with matching briefs, worn over sheer black tights. Beloved by fashion insiders and TikTok girlies alike, fashion knickers paired with unexpected ensembles soon took centre stage.
The Denim Maxi Skirt
Following the rising hemlines of 2022, 2023 saw a resurgence of maxi skirts—the denim maxi skirt in particular. A timeless icon rooted in the art of creative repurposing, it is a fashion staple that transcends fleeting microtrends. High or low-waisted, ankle-grazing or floor sweeping, baggy or structured, the garment's myriad styles makes it easy to dress up or down. Burberry, MM6 Maison Margiela, Acne Studios and more contributed to edgy iterations of the long jean skirt trend while the style set swapped out their jeans for this wardrobe hero.
Related article: The Best Long Denim Skirts Are Ruling Street Style
Buckle Up
Mary Janes are here to stay. Revisited in various iterations over the years, the classic silhouette has undergone chic updates with sparkly embellishments, sleek patent finishes and chunky platforms, among others. The strap-flaunting footwear came back in full force for the Spring/Summer 2024 shows, as seen at Chanel and LOEWE. Off the runway, it has also become a favourite of celebrities and It-girls alike. Case in point: Rihanna's Alaïa rhinestone-studded lambskin ballet flats, Dua Lipa's Maison Margiela Tabis, and Hailey Bieber's Bottega Veneta Mary-Jane flats.
Quiet Luxury
“Quiet luxury”, "stealth wealth" and the “old money aesthetic” were trending buzzwords in fashion this year thanks to the success of Succession. With a low-key approach to luxury, "quiet luxury" creates a wardrobe of elevated staples that speak to a more sophisticated understanding of style (think: Sienna Miller in Anatomy of a Scandal meets off-duty Olsen twins). Labels like The Row, Totême and Tove fit right in with their refined ready-to-wear, while the post-Alessandro Michele era of Gucci saw a restrained collection that included champagne knits and boxy blazers.
Related article: These Quiet Luxury Brands Are Beyond Any Trend
Bow Down
It was the year of girlhood, and it was all tied up in a bow. Following the emergence of cottagecore and the balletcore aesthetic from the past two years, brands like Miu Miu, Simone Rocha, and Sandy Liang continued to nod to an era of hyper-femininity. The bow adorned Miu Miu's satin ballet flat, was reinterpreted into bags at Sandy Liang, and made its way to Simone Rocha's runway beauty looks. The trend has been spotted on celebs like Olivia Rodrigo, who sported a bow adorned outfit by Fancì Club, and Euphoria star Sydney Sweeney who donned oversized black bows in her hair and on her Miu Miu gown at the 2023 Met Gala. The obsession with bows continues on TikTok, where bows are added to anything that can hold them.
Barbiecore
We'd be remiss to leave out Barbiecore, the viral trend characterised by a pretty-in-pink aesthetic emblematic of Mattel’s iconic doll. Needless to say, no one does Barbie better than Margot Robbie, whose stunning showcases of actual ensembles modelled after looks the original Barbie dolls wore proved that 2023 was the year of major nostalgia. From saccharine-sweet outfits to ’80s neon gym gear paired with rollerblades, Barbiecore embodies a whimsical escape like no other. Besides being worn by a host of stars including Megan Fox, Hailey Bieber and Kim Kardashian, fashion houses like Valentino paid tribute to the vibrant colour with its Pink PP collection.
Related article: Why Is It So Deeply Satisfying To Dress Like Barbie?
Sheer Delight
The sheer trend made a triumphant return to the runway in 2023, but it's more subtle and wearable than you think. At Tory Burch Spring 2023, flowy sheer midi skirts were layered beneath structured mini dresses; at Prada, semi-sheer pieces added depth and intrigue but were not overly complicated. Florence Pugh leaned into a more wearable version of the trend in a floor-length Valentino skirt and a cropped grey sweatshirt at the brand’s fall/winter 2023 show in Paris.