It’s hard to believe that 2023 is almost at a close. While many of us are likely still finishing up our workloads and starting to make resolutions for the new year, let us take a moment to pause and reflect on everything that has happened in the fashion world over the past twelve months.
Here in Aotearoa, 2023 marked a new era in the local industry as we bore witness to the first New Zealand Fashion Week since the pandemic where many designers — both established and emerging — took to the runway to showcase their latest collections.
On an international scale, we saw a multitude of new trends emerge and viral fashion spectacles take place. Between the bedazzled hot pants that actress Emma Corrin debuted at Miu Miu’s FW23 show and Jared Leto’s appearance as Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette for the Met Gala, there was no shortage of head-turning moments to behold.
Turning our attention specifically towards this year’s top trends, it’s fair to say that there have been a few. As we revel in the last few days of 2023, we thought it would be a fitting time to take a look at the ones that made the most memorable mark on the industry this year. So, without further ado, scroll on for our round up of the ten top trends that defined 2023.
1. Ballet flats
Back in January, FQ identified ballet flats as the shoe du jour for this year — and how right we were. From the polarising mesh Alaïa ballet flats to more classic iterations like Miu Miu’s satin ones, ballet flats have retained their popularity for the whole of 2023 — cementing their status as one of the year’s biggest shoe trends.
2. Hot pants
As seen on the runway at the likes of Miu Miu FW23 and Tom Ford SS24, it seemed as though the entire industry was boycotting trousers this year in favour of thigh-grazing, underwear-esque hot pants. It might not be everyone’s cup of tea, sure, but if you are so inclined, summer is the perfect time to give this trend a go yourself.
3. Fringe
Imbuing each garment it features on with a touch of western edge, fringe was back in a major way this year. Ranging from subtle to bold, this tactile detail was featured heavily in the SS24 collections of design Houses like Gucci, Burberry and Prada (to name only a few).
4. Adidas Sambas
Anyone who keeps tabs on the sneaker world will know that the Adidas Sambas were without a doubt this year’s it-sneaker. Having been regularly sold out on the brand’s website as well as in local stockists like Karen Walker, it became something of a status symbol to own a pair of the style.
5. Low-rise
Perhaps the most polarising trend of the year to-date, and one which elicits an audible groan from any millennial in the vicinity: the low rise jean. Having first risen to prominence in the early-2000s, low-rise jeans have had a spectacular renaissance over the last twelve months, largely thanks to industry icons like Bella Hadid and Julia Fox.
6. Bubble hem
Flouncy, frothy, whimsical, however you want to put it — there’s something adorably twee about a bubble hem. Taking this year’s top spot over the previously dominant micro mini skirt or floor-grazing maxi, we’ve seen bubble hem skirts appear in the ready-to-wear collections of many designers this year, including our very own Maggie Marilyn. Whether paired with a crisp cotton shirt or a fitted bodysuit, we’re loving all things bubble hem this summer.
7. Kitten heels
Delivering another hearty dose of nostalgia, kitten heels reemerged as a favourable choice of footwear for many this year. Often designed with a square or sharp pointed toe, this style of shoe is a sublime choice for any individual who wants to wear heels without dealing with the subsequent foot ache.
8. Bows
The coquettish, hyper feminine aesthetic has been having a major moment on TikTok and in the wider industry this year, with bows of all sizes featuring in the collections of many big designers. Whether featured as details on garments or as standalone accessories, you can expect to see bows everywhere for the foreseeable future.
9. Giant bags
Pint-sized micro bags will always have a place in our wardrobes but lately it’s all been about the ludicrously large bag. Seen in the recent collections of Bottega Veneta and Loewe, those who appreciate a practical accessory will definitely want to hop on this trend.
10. Oversized earrings
After everyone became obsessed with Bottega Veneta’s ‘Drop’ earrings in 2022, oversized, statement earrings began to sweep through the wider fashion industry, cropping up in the collections of both high and low designers alike. Seen on the likes of it-girls like Kendall Jenner and Hailey Bieber, this trend receives the FQ team’s personal seal of approval.
