2023 was a year of upheaval and challenges, a development that is also reflected in fashion. It was not without reason that unexpected comebacks took place, offering space for nostalgia and recalling earlier times.
In the newly published ‘Fashion Recap’, Stylight, an online search platform for fashion and design, takes stock and summarizes the most influential topics of the 2023 fashion year. The report provides an analysis of the fashion trends that have replaced other trends as well as a forecast for the coming year. The results are based on Stylight user purchase and search data collected between January and October. Basically, it can be said that the 90s and 2000s still have a big influence and ‘casual cool’ dominates the catwalks, streets and social channels.
Barbie grows up: red replaces pink
The first half of the year was all about the color pink. Not only the movie ‘Barbie’, but also Paris Hilton’s new presence on social media meant that the wardrobe was filled with girly pieces or that one or two pink accessories from childhood were brought out. Many fashion brands have teamed up with the US Barbie founder Mattel and presented joint collections before.
Since July, however, people have been turning to darker tones of the color family, such as red and burgundy. After being heavily represented on the fall fashion week runways in both women’s and men’s collections, demand for Stylight increased by 21 percent compared to summer. The Italian luxury fashion houses Gucci and Bottega Veneta dedicated both handbags and shoes to the color in their spring/summer 2024 collections, and a Y2K version from the French label Courrèges was already seen in their fall/winter 2023 collection. A spring in red tones is destined.
A different pair of shoes: biker boots and slingbacks hold their own
Striking, varied shoe trends could be observed this year. Cowboy boots were a must at any festival in spring. After their peak, however, biker boots prevailed, with demand increasing by 174 percent in the fall. Brands like Junya Watanabe presented them in combination with avant-garde outfits at Paris Fashion Week. As loyal companions for any weather, the boots should still be there to support their wearers in spring, according to Stylight. Loafers, on the other hand, were unable to maintain their popularity from the previous year.
In late summer, ‘Slingback Kitten Heels’ once again celebrated a comeback and have since been the stars on the catwalks of Miu Miu and Manolo Blahnik. A cheaper version can be found at Spanish clothing manufacturer Massimo Dutti, where models are priced at 130 euros. For winter there is a boot version of kitten heels, for example from Aquazzura.
Dad sneakers can now be given back to fathers: Although the classic with more comfort than style was still used in the spring, after six years of relevance it has now been replaced by sneakers with a narrow profile. Demand for more delicate models such as ‘Samba’ or ‘Gazelle’ from German sportswear retailer Adidas rose by 142 percent at Stylight and is not expected to lose popularity in the coming year.
From cargo to denim, but ‘genderless’
As in the previous year, fashion should cross borders and be gender-independent. Cargo pants and ‘parachute pants’ enjoyed great popularity due to their gender-neutral and functional properties. 90s fans also get their money’s worth: Baggy jeans are making a comeback with over 92 percent higher demand on Stylight. They round off elegant outfits in chic denim fabrics, as was seen in the current looks of the Spanish luxury brand Loewe on the catwalk in Paris.
After the casual cargo look was also widespread in skirt form, the ankle-hugging denim skirt replaced it at the end of the year with a 142 percent increase in demand. Combined with a coat and boots, it should not be missing from your winter and spring wardrobe.
Show your shoulders instead of your stomach
With Miu Miu’s combination of low-slung miniskirt and cropped sweater last year, one thing is clear: the cropped look for tops is more than just a microtrend. Short blazers and tops followed, which particularly boomed on social media. In autumn, however, the focus shifted from the bare stomach to the shoulders, which the French film actress Brigitte Bardot liked to show off with a pulled-down bateau collar. Nina Ricci, Acne Studios and Ralph Lauren are embracing the off-the-shoulder sweater this season. Fast fashion providers have picked up the trend even more quickly and are already showing it in many shop windows. According to Stylight, off-the-shoulder dresses and tops will also be very important next year.
Casual or sexy – between fashionable extremes
Influencers and stars took a particularly revealing direction with the ‘No Pants’ trend. For this purpose, legwear was left out and replaced with statement underwear, often with a brand emblem. Knitted panties from Miu Miu and Jacquemus were the main protagonists of the street looks in spring. However, according to Stylight’s analysis of search interest on Google, this trend will not prevail. Fashion savvy people now prefer to wear transparent items of clothing to subtly show skin. Mesh with prints or in bright colors, like the new spring/summer collection from the Italian fashion label Sunnei, are worn as bodysuits or tops and combined casually.
The top three shoe models for 2023
This year, Stylight chose three outstanding fashion pieces without which the year 2023 would be unthinkable. The list is topped by Birkenstock’s ‘Boston’, which is particularly popular in the Scandinavian fashion world and among influencers. The leather mule from the German sandal manufacturer has 171 million views on Tiktok alone. The ‘Mary Jane’ ballerinas, which are reminiscent of ballet shoes in their delicateness, could also be spotted in versions from Miu Miu, Bally or Coach in every city. As a rather unusual shoe, Crocs from the US shoe manufacturer of the same name have also made it to the top ranks, which this year focused on collaborations with brands such as Balenciaga and Mattel.