Fashion rewind: Undoubtedly, the year 2023 witnessed a deluge of captivating fashion trends, ranging from the fanciful realm of Barbiecore to the mesmerizing appeal of oversized suits. This fashion trend revealed a common desire to leave the sartorial confines that had kept us in hibernation for the previous two years due to the pandemic. It would appear that the momentum has continued to grow. As 2023 draws to a close, let us embark on a retrospective exploration of the most peculiar trends that traversed the fashion industry, encompassing both runway and off-runway affairs.
Athiya Shetty and Rana Daggubati Sizzle in Resort-Wear at Lakme Fashion Week
Bucket bags
At last, the era of unimaginative, boxy handbags has come to an end. Celebs adopted this daring accessory on runways and at international events. From the golden ‘balti’ purse by Ananya Pandey to the Spring/Summer 2024 collection by Bottega Veneta, these fashionable handbags elevated every ensemble they accompanied. Irrespective of their dimensions, they demonstrated functionality and style.
Denim-on-denim
Just when you thought double denim had attained its pinnacle with the iconic blue-on-blue encounter between Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake in the early 2000s, the trend experienced a complete resurgence in 2023. Prominent fashion houses, including Versace, DSquared2, Stella McCartney, and others, introduced collections that expanded the parameters of denim elegance. Even our Bollywood divas, including fashion icon Sonam Kapoor, give the trend their spin.
See-through clothes
Visible apparel, ranging from subtly transparent to audaciously translucent, has become the norm on fashion runways and red carpets. Among others, Dua Lipa, Rihanna, Priyanka Chopra, and the consistently stylish Alaya F have boarded the transparent Express. Furthermore, the aforementioned trend has experienced a significant transformation, materializing in delicate organza and ethereal tulle to create garments that are not only trendy but also unexpectedly comfortable to wear.
Quirky phone covers
It was the year of Orry, which consequently led to the creation of his eccentric phone cases. We had not previously imagined that an ordinary accessory like a phone cover could attain such a high level of style. Orry’s eclectic phone case collection, which included designs such as the ‘3D skinned banana’ and the ‘crab on a plate’, motivated us to embrace the unconventional and reject conventions. It evoked the era when Generation Z ruled the fashion industry.
Big shoes
Because we finally switched to stilettos in 2023 after the unprecedented Covid-19 forced us to wear flip-flops, 2023 undoubtedly had “big shoes” to fill (pun intended). This it done quite literally with the introduction of the “big red boot” by the American label MSCHF, which was a hit among major celebrities and featured cartoonish clompiness. The trend continued to escalate, attracting the attention of esteemed brands such as Prada and Loewe, among others, which presented their interpretations of the enormous “clowncore” footwear.
Cut-outs
Although cutout apparel originated in the 1930s, it did not become a mainstream phenomenon until the 1990s; designers such as Tom Ford and Thierry Mugler played a significant role in promoting the style. Hopefully, the cutout fad has attained its pinnacle of perfection in its most recent manifestation, wherein framed abdominal buttons and exposed abs are seamlessly woven into the fabric of modern design. Prominent individuals from Bollywood, including Kiara Advani, Janhvi Kapoor, Malaika Arora, and others, have demonstrated to us how to confidently embrace the trend while maintaining a delicate balance between daring and inappropriate.
Cats, cats, and more cats!
At the Met Gala, the annual gala of fashion, an abundance of felines adorned the red carpet. Celebrities adorned in furry attire paid reverence to the late Karl Lagerfeld’s cat Choupette rather than actual felines. Jared Leto in a furry catsuit and rapper-singer Doja Cat in cat ears and feline facial prosthetics both contributed to Met’s status as a spectacle for international audiences.
Whatever Uorfi Javed wore
After Ranbir Kapoor criticized Uorfi for her subpar fashion sense, the internet began to divide into factions. Although, indeed, Uorfi’s audacious and frequently sensational fashion declarations may not appeal to all individuals, they are undeniably memorable and command attention (literally). To distinguish yourself, it is essential to add a page from Uorfi’s lookbook to your bookmarks.
As the year draws to a close, it is unequivocal that in a social media-dominated era, trends are shaped not only by the renowned and privileged but also by content creators, influencers, and ordinary citizens who contribute originality and authenticity to the fashion industry.
Parineeti Chopra at Lakme Fashion Week: Slays In Her Sindur and Choora Look
