The fashion business, particularly fashion week, attempts to strike a delicate balance between longevity and trends. Designers aim to produce collections that are consistent with their previous work while also breaking down barriers, pushing their designs forward, and ushering in a new fashion season. As fresh designer collections debut throughout the world during fashion month, we begin to see distinct fashion trends for 2023 emerge.
There’s no doubt that the fashion moments of 2022 were scorching. TikTok introduced thousands of new styles, series like Stranger Things and Wednesday provided new closet inspiration, Addison Rae ruled the string bikini, and Bella Hadid supplied Y2K reality all year. What fashion trends will be available in 2023 that can possibly compete? A lot, in fact – if you’ve been following all of the trendiest runways looks from NYFW or combing Instagram for up-and-coming designers, you’ll know that there are some exciting things in the works for 2023’s fashion trends.
Bottega Veneta Creative Director Matthieu Blazy showcased his much-anticipated sophomore collection, and Kate Moss began the presentation. Diesel capitalized on its last season’s buzz by pushing the limits of what can be done with denim. (Fringed denim! Denim that looks ruched! Stylish denim!) Meanwhile, Ferragamo celebrated a new design under its recently appointed creative director, Maximillian Davis, while Y2K is still alive and well at Blumarine. The first spring 2023 styles have certainly piqued our interest, with everything from autumn carryovers like cargo pants
to fresh layering concepts, ethereal sheer, and futuristic metallics. Some of the most significant trends to be aware of right now are listed below.
Sheer Genius
There are times when a trend from one show spurs a flurry of clothes that are similar. The leader of the sheer trend in this instance is Fendi’s Fall/Winter 2022 collection. Although the Fendi collection debuted in February, New York City saw its greatest effect last week.
Undergarments showing through your gown are no longer frowned upon; in fact, it’s encouraged. Almost every major collection on the New York Fashion Week runways included completely transparent clothing. Tory Burch showed that sheer can be worn with careful layering, and other designers like Kim Shui took use of the chance to disclose all.
While several of the transparent items would be appropriate for street style or a night in a darkly lit space, Jason Wu demonstrated sheer design in a formal dress. The designer brought down the catwalk a wide range of sheer gowns in floral, sparkling, lace, and jewel tones (to name a few). “Of course, there will always be gorgeous dresses,” Jason Wu remarked onstage minutes before his performance, “but you could see a sensual side of Jason Wu that you may not be so acquainted with—but get accustomed to it.”
90s Minimalism
Basic basics and minimal accessories are elevated to vital importance for the new season by a return to the clean, simple designs of the 1990s. As the fashion pendulum swings away from the maximalist loudness we’ve seen so much of in recent seasons, this rejuvenated design gives a modern-minimalist perspective.”
Crochetcore
If last year was the year of DIY crochet sweaters and bright patchwork, 2023 is the year of its looser, lighter, more relaxed relative. “Stringy,” explains Emma Rogue, Instagram’s 2023 trend forecaster. “Delicious, yet stringy. It’s similar to subversive basic crochet.”
Look for knitwear with tie-dye, distressed, or graphic themes, and keep in mind that crochet isn’t only for sweaters; the slouchy, hand-crafted yarn can be used to make everything from shrugs to accessories.
Rushes Raffia Knit Midi Dress
This orange gown would be perfect for any spring or summer wedding you have planned. If you absolutely cannot wait that long, layer a bulky jumper over the top and let the skirt shine throughout winter.
Lengths of Leather
Since many years ago, leather jackets have been a mainstay of fashion week, and this season was no exception. Coach included heavy (and multicolored) leather coats, but the trend was overshadowed by a more lighthearted iteration: leather skirts. Leather skirts swung down the catwalk at NYFW, ranging from small to maxi.
Designers like Altuzarra adopted a more organized, lengthier approach to the design, whilst others kept it short and sweet. Because leather is generally an autumn and winter fiber, it’s refreshing to find an item that can be worn all year. Because the style works with everything, it is a trend worth investing in for 2023.
Ruffles, and Feathers
Tulle is back in full force, according to the American in Paris. As we love extravagant embellishments and over-the-top accessories, dopamine dressing (a.k.a. mood-boosting apparel) will continue to soar in 2023.
And if styling these pieces in traditionally feminine or maximalist ways feels daunting or strange, don’t do it. The best advice I can provide for feeling secure while attempting a more daring style, according to Becker, is to match it back to a classic or favorite piece in the collection you own. Wear a tulle dress with lace-up combat boots to chill down the look, or pair your favorite jeans with a crop top with feather trim.
Low-Rise
The boardroom may be receiving a facelift, according to designers. Tibi, Sandy Liang, and Peter Do all have low-rise suiting choices on their runways at New York Fashion Week. The two-piece suit has been at the top of fashion for the past two years and, thankfully, is not going away. While you may still wear standard or high-waisted pants, designers are providing low-rise aficionados with a third alternative.
Low-rise pants have an extremely short crotch length, similar to the low-rise jean style. This gives them a fitted appearance rather than a baggy one (though if you like a baggy look, simply just size up in regular slacks and wear them lower on your waist).
Dip-Dyed Knit Collared Midi Dress
We all seem to recall becoming bored in quarantine and dressing up in homemade tie-dye sweatsuits. Designers have introduced a more sophisticated variation of the trend for 2023 with dip-dye, as though they feel you’ve had enough time to get bored of tie-dye. Dip-dye lacks the neon swirls but employs the same multi-tone color scheme as tie-dye. The subtle ombré color offers clothing a one-of-a-kind appearance and naturally appeared on Ulla Johnson’s and Peter Do’s bohemian runways. Even while dip-dying can seem like a trend that is more casual, designers like Altuzarra have enhanced the look with dip-dyed gowns.
This Proenza Schouler White Label dress epitomizes the dressed-up dip-dye trend. It’s perfectly acceptable to wear to work, happy hour, or a lovely supper.
Denim-on-Denim
“Denim is one of the few things that never go out of style. This season, designers upped the ante on their obsession with classic blue jeans, channeling a decidedly ’90s oversized, slouched, deconstructed mood, and doubled down on their enthusiasm for the trend by offering multiple denim-on-denim full looks that felt both nostalgic and directional for the next spring.”
Cargo pants
It’s always pleasant when seasonal trends spill over, demonstrating their adaptability at different times of the year and validating our initial decisions to invest in them. I’m happy to report that 2022’s most popular silhouette—cargo pants—will be just as popular in 2023. Designers kept the loose and roomy style of the pants but used softer fabrics, such as satin at Fendi and Jil Sander.
