The Fall/Winter 2023 season has just concluded and has left us with ample inspiration for the latter half of the year, thanks to designers and brands shaking things up and exercising their creativity to introduce intriguing new designs.
In terms of materials, leather is emerging as the new denim, with multiple appearances over the runways, as designers continue to explore environment-friendly alternatives of the fabrication. From plush leather variations to textured options and even fabric mashup manipulations, leather is holding a strong spot for Fall 2023.
That being said, consumers’ collective desire to stand out in a crowd and celebrate life in general, has seen a dramatic rise since the exit of the pandemic – and the coming season only sees it grow in demand. Supporting the same outlook, the fashion industry went all out in showcasing metallic, glamazoned looks and fiery red ensembles that create an instant impact.
On another page, the recent popularity of Netflix series Wednesday and the viral TikTok trend of dark academia has given rise to the delicate and sexy, yet mysterious hold of lace trims as a detail of choice over countless product categories just to add a bit of character.
Read on to discover our top picks for Fall/Winter 2023 in terms of trends that are set to define the season.
Leather Weather
Historically, leather fashion pieces have proved themselves to be luxury fashion’s biggest sales-driving category, providing the highest margins. This, coupled with the looming recession, has ushered designers and brands to be more strategic by prioritising leather in their Fall 2023 collections.
At the same time, new, more sustainable approaches to producing leather have been gaining immense traction and investor support. So far at the international Fashion Week runway showcases, brands including Simone Rocha, Bottega Veneta, Adeam, A.W.A.K.E Mode and JW Anderson have debuted Fall collections featuring a variety of leather dresses, shirts, jackets, skirts, trousers and accessories.
Our pick of standout looks include those by Budapest Select, Celine and Dion Lee.
Red Hot
Each season gives rise to one colour that stands out from the rest and this season, the spotlight is on red, which seems to be making an impact for both summer as well as winter!
We had designers opting for an all-out head-to-toe look in red, which was quickly balanced out by some brands using the fiery tone just as a hint on an overall look to create that statement.
Standout looks include those by Balmain, Valentino, Genny, Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Prada.
Lace Face
A popular fashion trend dating back to centuries, lace continues to enjoy a safe space among today’s fashion as well. Owing to its delicate and intricate nature, the material detail has the ability to instantly add character to any given look.
Influenced in part by the recent popularity of Netflix series Wednesday and the viral TikTok trend of dark academia, this season saw designers and brands alike, taking the trend up a notch by experimenting with and exploring different coloured laces, moving beyond the traditional white and black, to add texture, depth and a touch of romance to outfits.
Alberta Ferreti, Loveshackfancy, Rodarte and Stella McCartney featured amongst the ones who opted for classic black and white options, whilst Dion Lee, Erdem, Ermanno Scervino Giambattista Valli presented striking versions in neon green, yellows and pinks.
Maxi Coats
This winter staple is updated for the season in a slew of material and silhouette options that will leave consumers spoilt for choice. Popular styles include floor-grazing trench coats, double-breasted long-line coats, and button-down versions.
Designers have explored a wide range of material solutions from lightweight windcheater styles to more weather focused fluffy options that act as the perfect shield during the colder months.
Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga Annakiki and Sportmax showcased wearable versions in faux and vegan leather, whilst Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, Paco Rabbane, Ferragamo presented fluffy versions in faux fur and shearling.
Undercover, Rokh and Givenchy made a strong case for trench coats in lightweight materials.
Metallicised
With the pandemic exiting, party season has been on top of the mind for both consumers and designers / brands since the past couple of seasons which have seen a massive influx of gold and silver fashion pieces coming into the market.
High-shine fabrications and embellishments have been stealing the show during the recent international fashion runways and it has been hard to ignore the fact that silver and gold have increased as mainstays on the ramp, as popularised by the likes of Jason Wu and Bronx and Banco. But, at the same time, the trend has also seen the light of the day, thanks to being translated into daywear through coats at Coach and knit tanks at Priscavera.
This season is taking metallic mania up to another level by opting for metallic lilac, lime or rose pink options.
Frisky Feathers
The fascination with feathers has managed to stay around for quite some time now with the trim detail adding a touch of whimsy and drama to any outfit. This season sees designers and brands mix it up with different colours, styles and textures to create a unique look that can be worn on both casual and formal occasions.
That being said, feathers have long been a fashion runway favourite for designers, but at a time when the world is surrounded by increasingly sombre clouds, their presence at the latest showcases offered a soft and airy change to those dreaming of escape.
Designers are adding feather trims to everything from coats and jackets to dresses and skirts to make a statement – and it seems to be working, with retail data to back it. The standout looks include the ones by 16 Arlington, Bottega Veneta, Dolce & Gabanna, Germanier, Julien Macdonald and Lapointe.
Plaid Placement
The plaid pattern, also referred to as ‘tartan’, dates back to 18th century Scotland, where it was used by the Jacobite army, an anti-British group. Over the years though, the pattern has undergone many changes in symbolism and more recently, it has been linked to the pop culture of the late ’90s, the impact of which is still coherent.
Originally associated only with winters, the plaid pattern, along with its complex history and its influence on pop culture, has occupied a permanent position in the fashion world, rarely dropping out of trends as it continues to adapt to generations of shoppers.
This season, the print has been a popular choice for womenswear as well as menswear collections, most notably at Family First, Etro, Antonio Marras and Gucci, where plaids were spotted on knee-length and ankle-length styles alike.
