There’s no denying that the fashion moments of 2022 brought the heat. TikTok came up with dozens of new aesthetics, shows like Stranger Things and Wednesday gave us fresh closet inspo, Addison Rae owned the string bikini, and Bella Hadid served Y2K realness all year long. What could the fashion trends of 2023 have in store that could possibly compare?! A lot, actually — if you’ve been keeping up with all of the hottest runway looks from NYFW or scouring IG for budding designers, you know that there’s some good stuff brewing for 2023’s fashion trends.
Gen Z is slowly turning the tides by influencing fashion houses and designers rather being primarily influenced by them, a sentiment that you might find yourself agreeing with after taking a glance at the state of high fashion. Memes simultaneously appeared on content creator merch and the Vetements runway, Regencycore continues to live on as we indulge in opulent fashion and anticipate the next installment of Bridgerton, and the bright ‘80s shades beloved by Fendi and Emily in Paris alike signal a comeback of the flashy decade.
As we look ahead to the new year and see the synergies between viral moments, TV shows and movies, and high fashion runways, we’ve selected a handful of emerging trends that stand out to us. Here are some editor-approved fashion trends you’re going to be seeing on your FYP next year.
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Crochetcore
If last year was the year of DIY crochet sweaters and colorful patchwork, 2023 is the year of its looser, lighter, more laid-back cousin. “Stringy,” describes Instagram’s 2023 trend forecaster Emma Rogue. “Tasteful, but stringy. It’s like subversive basic crochet.”
Keep an eye out for interesting knitwear in tie-dye, distressed, or graphic prints, and remember that crochet doesn’t have to be limited to sweaters — the slouchy, hand-crafted knit can be used to make everything from shrugs to accessories. “I’ve had friends knit covers to go over their headphones,” says Rogue.
Meme Fashion
Britney Spears’ early 2000s “Dump Him” shirt walked so that Addison Rae’s 2022 “I Don’t Care” shorts could run. “There is a notion of whimsy happening on the runways — think Loewe’s nail polish or cracked egg heels or Puppets & Puppets cookie bag,” explains trend forecaster Kendall Becker. “There’s a stylish way to integrate irony into fashion. An easy way to achieve the look is through cheeky graphics that feel aligned with of-the-moment internet culture.”
Content creators will continue to put out funny, niche, wearable merch in 2023 while indie brands like Praying and high-fashion brands like Vetements and Loewe use funny, subversive, and surrealist designs and messages on their clothing. For everyday wear, our pick is an Instagram-able “Niche Internet Micro Celebrity” baby tee that reminds us of a similar shirt Emma Chamberlain wore on vacay.
Regencycore
If you’re on the hunt for a spring fashion trend to rep for prom 2023, this is the one. Regencycore embraces the feminine gloves, puff sleeves, pale pastels, and Empire-waist gowns of the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the aesthetic can be seen in collections shown by Markarian and Dennis Basso who have both embraced the luxurious embellishments of regencycore.
Becker calls out Sofia Coppola’s Marie Antoinette as an example. “[The movie] feels over-the-top but in the most perfect way,” the trend forecaster says. “Consider candy shop shades like baby blue, lavender, rose pink, and buttercream yellow, corseting details, bows on dresses and accessories, and gemstone jewelry fit for a royal.” We predict that the opulent, regal trend will continue to grow in popularity in the upcoming year, spiking around the release of Bridgerton Season 3.
Tulle, Ruffles, and Feathers
Emily Cooper, is that you? The American in Paris got one thing right — tulle is back in full force. 2023 will continue to see a rise in dopamine dressing (a.k.a. mood-boosting clothing) as we embrace outlandish details and over-the-top accessories.
And you don’t have to style these pieces in typically feminine or maximalist ways if that feels intimidating or foreign. “While truly anything goes if you love it, my best advice for feeling confident when trying out a more daring trend is to pair it back to a staple or favorite pieces in your closet,” says Becker. You can choose to pair a feather-trimmed crop top with your tried-and-true jeans, or wear a tulle dress with lace-up combat boots to chill out the look.
80s Nostalgia
Grab your headphones and Kate Bush cassette tape, because we’re rewinding back to the 1980s. “The ‘80s were all about embracing a sense of boldness from bright hues like cerulean, hot pink and citron to the art of power dressing through power suits,” notes Becker.
Bright suits and streetwear have been big for awhile now, so it only makes sense that we’ve circled back around to the era of tracksuits, leg warmers, and brightly-colored athletic clothing. Raf Simons and Tom Ford both pulled inspiration from that decade for their runway collections featuring sparkly gym shorts, suiting, and neon leggings — all of which are ’80s-approved.
Digital Lavender and Viva Magenta
Pantone recently announced Viva Magenta, a vibrant reddish-pink, as their Color of the Year for 2023. The color company explained to NPR that the shade “merges the richness, warmth, and strength of natural matters with the rich, open horizons of the digital world.” Trend forecasting company WGSN also announced their own Color of the Year — Digital Lavender, a calming, gender-neutral shade of purple. Don’t know which one you prefer? Wear both for a full color-blocking moment.
Motocross
Fans of Hailey Bieber’s, Dua Lipa’s, and Kylie Jenner’s styles will recognize the celeb-loved, Italian streetwear-inspired jacket immediately. “You can thank everyone’s recent obsession with Formula 1 for that,” explains Becker. The protective outerwear looks like something you’d wear while on a racetrack or competing in an off-roads competition, but in a ~fashion~ way.
“I’ve been seeing a lot of patchwork vintage leather jackets recently,” says Rogue. “And of course, a lot of celebrities wearing them.” We recommend hitting up your local thrift store to see if you might be able to snag something one-of-a-kind — don’t forget to scan the men’s section.
Y2K Continues to Reign
No surprises here — the fan-favorite, early 2000s aesthetic will still continue to be trendy in 2023. If you’re ready to retire some of the y2K trends that you jumped on last year or even the year before, rest assured that there are plenty of other trends from the aughts that have yet to make their comeback.
“I honestly feel like skinny jeans could make a comeback,” admits Rogue. “Low-rise jeans are definitely in, like boot-cut styles from True Religion or Diesel or similar brands.” Whether you’re a fan of low-rise or if you prefer to stay far, far away, channel that same Y2K energy with embellished pockets on stonewashed jeans with metallic detailing.
Utilitarian Style
If the simplicity of practical clothing speaks to you, you might enjoy incorporating some utility styles into your 2023 wardrobe. Utilitarian fashion tends to be functional because it draws inspiration from military, wartime, and post-apocalyptic styles. Think cargo pants, buckles and straps, Carhartt jackets, and belts.
“What I’m loving this year is the range of iterations of cargo pants — you can find pink satin pairs, cool denim options, or chic cream pairs with more minimalistic pockets. There’s really something for everyone these days,” explains Becker.
Barbiecore
We couldn’t make a list of 2023 fashion trends without acknowledging one of TikTok’s most recently-coined aesthetics: Barbiecore. The rise of the aesthetic was sparked by a resurgence of bright pink thanks to Valentino’s F/W 2022/23 collection and further encouraged by Greta Gerwig’s upcoming adaptation of the plastic doll’s story starring Margo Robbie. “I love a full monochrome moment. Maybe for 2023 the new thing will be incorporating a contrasting color,” Rogue muses. “Or different shades. Like some pastels, some bright pinks, some dark pinks.”
And if hot pink feels too over-the-top, Becker recommends incorporating the color through accessories instead of a full look. “An all-black outfit with pops of pink through shoes and a handbag is the perfect balance.”
Hannah is the Assistant Fashion & eCommerce Editor at Seventeen and covers all things style, shopping, culture, and entertainment. Hannah has spent thousands of hours analyzing TikTok style trends, reviewing celebrity fashion, and reading vintage fashion magazines. Seventeen taught her how to get dressed when she was younger, and she now spends her working hours passing down that expertise. On the weekends, you can find her buying books and drinking decaf lattes. Follow Hannah on social media at @hannahohx.