Fashion Trends That Will Completely Take Over 2023

It can be pretty tricky trying to keep up to date with every new trend — after all, things move pretty quickly in the world of fashion. If you're looking for the latest fashion trends, however, you've surely arrived at the right place! As 2023 approaches, brands ranging from bargain to haute couture are beginning to drop their 2023 collections, and we've already started to see some exciting new style trends promising to be everywhere. 

We've compiled a list of the biggest new trends we expect to see over the course of the next year, and we're prepared to discuss everything from tassels to leather to fur to sequins and more. One thin appears to be for certain — in 2023, fashion promises to be bigger and bolder than ever, and with a distinct throwback to fashion days gone by. So, without further ado, let's delve into the trends you'll want to add to your wardrobe in 2023.

Let's face it — ballet flats haven't always been in favor of the fashion world. The dainty, girly shoes were extremely popular in the 1950s when Brigitte Bardot popularized them. They then came back into fashion in the 2000s. Now, with a resurgence in the "French girl" look, the shoes seem to be coming back (via Refinery29). "The ballet flat was definitely an aughts staple," fashion writer and ballet flat enthusiast Tyler McCall told said. "I can think of so many tabloid moments, whether it was Amy Winehouse in literal ballet slippers or Alexa Chung in a pair of denim cutoffs and bright Chanel flats. We're all about mining that nostalgia at the moment."

Fashion Marketing lecturer at London Metropolitan University, Giovanni Bordone agreed. "This coming season ballet flats are making a huge comeback and this is aligned with the casual and relaxed look proposed by many houses," he told us. "This style was probably launched within the cosplay environment in Japan and in South Korea, expanded in a few major cities in China and then picked up by major fashion houses and launched on the catwalk. I cannot think of a better example of bottom-up trend generation than this."

You heard the experts — it's definitely time to pull out that old pair of ballet flats!

As fashion fans probably already know, trends tend to be cyclical, going in and out of style every few decades. Well, one old trend seems to come back into fashion in 2023 — 1990s boots. As Hello! noted, Hailey Bieber is leading the charge. In October 2022, she appeared at the WSJ Tech Live Conference wearing a stunning pair of knee-high heeled leather boots with a pointed toe that screamed 1990. 

"The glossy finish, vampy spike heel, tough buckle hardware — these boots mean business," said Hello! Fashion's editor-in-chief Jill Wanless explained, "Unapologetically sexy, especially when worn with a bare leg and mini skirt, they spell a return to overt power dressing and work perfectly with the barely there cutout dresses we're seeing across the catwalks."

As Glamour noted, everyone from Jimmy Choo to Ganni to Ted Baker is coming out with their own version of the classic boot. We can definitely expect to see this retro trend everywhere very soon.

Yet another bold trend for 2023 is the all-things-sheer trend. That's right — next year, you can expect to see a lot of see-through tops and dresses. According to StyleCaster, this trend started with Fendi's Fall/Winter 2022 collection. Fendi featured numerous sheer maxi dresses on the runway, and suddenly, everyone seemed to be hooked on delicate, see-through fabrics. 

As Jessica Richards, a trend forecaster, explained to Marie Claire, the surge in sheer fabrics was partly down to the 2022 political climate. "With challenges against women's rights on the forefront, hyper-feminine and body-baring trends defy a climate created by legislation that restricts women's autonomy of their bodies," she said. "These silhouettes, created in sheers that emulate 'nakedness,' strip down the volume of their co-trend and instead promote a presence that a woman's body is her own and not to be ignored, she will make it seen and acknowledged in a fashion-forward response to the socio-political environment of the times." 

Add a few sheer pieces to your wardrobe this year, and you won't' just be making a fashion statement — you'll be making a powerful political statement, too.

With Taylor Swift's shimmery tenth album "Midnights" breaking streaming records, it seems that we're all in the mood for some glitz and glamor. Just like Swift's new disco-inspired "Midnights" era, 2023 promises to be full of sparkle. That's right — according to WWD, sequins are well and truly in.

As Elle noted, designers like Tom Ford, Nensi Dojaka, Area, and Michael Kors have all jumped aboard the sequins train. This year, it's all about high-drama glitter, so go for a maximalist look. Think big colors, bold cuts, and, of course, sequins everywhere.

And we couldn't be more excited. After all, sequins are the perfect way to add some much-needed pizzazz to our wardrobes. After several laid-back years of lockdowns and limited socializing, it's clear we are all more than ready to have a little fun. And what better way to embrace our new-found joie de vivre than with some sparkle?

Annie Hall, who? This year, we are expecting to see some retro shapes when it comes to outwear. Blazers are going oversized. Think boxy shapes and shoulder pads. Stars like Kim Kardashian and Isabelle Huppert have already been spotted adopting the trend. As blazer specialist Peter Do told Vogue, "I like that it takes time to make, that you don't need to buy many, and that when you find a good one, it becomes your safe space."

As Bordone told us, oversized blazers have been popular for a while, so this might be your last chance to try the trend before it goes out of style. "We have seen oversized blazers for the last four or five seasons, and this might mean the last appearance of this trend on the catwalk for a few years," he said. "What seems very common in many fashion houses and very much on trend is asymmetric and double-breasted pieces."

Gone are the days of sleek, fitted trousers and in are the days of the slouchy, pocket-covered cargo pant. "In this season, cargo pants are back and overly popular, in the streets as well as in the catwalks," said Bordone. "Not sure if this a renewed desire for comfort and practicality inherited from two years of COVID or an unlikely outcome of this terrible war in Ukraine that is on our daily news feeds."

Of course, for many of us, cargo pants don't exactly mesh with our personal style. But never fear — there are some clever ways around it. As Rivera said, "With cargo pants some of us are either super excited that this trend has returned or cringing at having to navigate a pant with bulky pockets. Luckily, while there are some heavy, bulky cargo pant options out there, a lot of designers have put a sleeker spin on this pant for the upcoming season." Rivera even suggested trying a pair of silk or satin cargo pants. "Brands like Banana Republic and Cami NYC have some great options," she said.

Most of us probably associate Mary Janes with 1950s schoolgirls — but in 2023, the long beloved Mary Jane is being reinvented. And yes, it's actually cool again (like, again-again). On the catwalks at New York Fashion Week, numerous models were spotted sporting Mary Janes. And in the stores, they've been selling out quicker than they can be restocked.

But not all Mary Janes in 2023 are exactly 'classic.' As W Magazine noted, the Mary Jane has morphed over the years. These days, you can expect to see platform Mary Janes, heeled Mary Janes and even Mary Janes with numerous straps going all the way up the calf.

Looking for Mary Jane inspiration? Well, numerous celebs have flaunted their own Mary Janes over the past few years. Alexa Chung famously loves Mary Janes, while Sarah Jessica Parker is often seen wearing hers. Zoe Kravitz is another big fan (via InStyle).