my favorite 2023 fashion moments
We did it. We finally made it out of 2023. A year that felt incredibly long yet flew by. I guess that’s a part of growing up. 2023 was a year filled with many emotions: I graduated from college (YAY!), moved to a new city (LA!), and created friendships I hope will last for a very long time (SLAY!). However, this is not one of those sappy end of year posts where I reflect on the epic highs and lows of 2023. One, because that is a post that should have gone up before the year actually ended, and two, because it’s probably best if I just keep 2023 in 2023. So instead let’s talk about fashion! Here is a roundup of the most memorable fashion moments from last year.
Editor’s note: This post is so delayed, and I apologize for that. I moved into my first big girl apartment so it’s been hectic here in LA.
The Met Gala: Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty
Starting off strong with my favorite Monday of the year: The Met Gala. However, this entry is not entirely positive. The theme for this year’s gala was “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty,” honoring the late designer who was the head of multiple fashion houses, but most notably Chanel. Attendees paid homage to Lagerfeld’s signature designs such as his Chanel tweed, his black and white uniform, and even his cat, Choupette.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
While most people were surprisingly on theme, my issue was not with the actual looks, but the theme itself. Karl Lagerfeld was as controversial as he was influential in the world of fashion. Lagerfeld was notoriously fatphobic. He exclusively hired rail-thin models because, in his own words, “no one wants to see curvy women” (Focus Magazine, 2009). On top of that, he was a vocal critic of the #METOO movement. After Interview creative director, Karl Templer, was accused of sexual misconduct by three models, Lagerfeld came to his defense saying “If you don’t want your pants pulled about, don’t become a model! Join a nunnery, there’ll always be a place for you in the convent.” This is just the tip of the iceberg of Lagerfeld’s controversies. So why celebrate him? There are more iconic designers that could have been honored such as Vivienne Westwood or Virgil Abloh.
Pop Princesses: Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter
I made a comment in a previous blog stating that the pop music genre was on a decline. I am secure enough to admit that I was wrong. My faith was restored by these two rising pop stars. Aside from genuinely making good music, Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter possess all the ingredients of the early aughts pop girl recipe: a rumored feud, relationships plastered in the tabloids, and most important, distinct style.
I saw a post that said Sabrina Carpenter is a Bratz doll while Olivia Rodrigo is a Polly Pocket, and I think this is such an accurate perception of their respective styles. Sabrina’s (yeah we’re on a first name basis) tour looks have been going viral ever since her Emails I Can’t Send Tour began in September 2022. Styled by Jason Bolden, Carpenter is known for her soft, yet elegant, glam looks. She is often dressed in soft pinks and blues creating a certain innocence to her look. But what she is probably most known for are those platform boots! Just look up “Feather” on TikTok. To sum up Sabrina’s style I guess you could say she is a “Bardot reincarnate.” Which brings us to now Ms. Rodrigo.
Olivia’s (yeah I know, first name basis again) style is the polar opposite from Sabrina Carpenter’s. Where Sabrina is more femme and flirty, Olivia serves “pop-punk” realness. We’ve seen a bit of a shift in Rodrigo’s style since the release of her sophomore album, GUTS. Where her SOUR looks leaned heavily into Gwen Stefani’s “No Doubt” aesthetic, her recent looks are more refined, while still keeping those elements of the punk aesthetic. Instead of fishnets and mixed patterns, she’s opted for Mary Janes and chic mini dresses. We have stylist sisters Chloe and Chenelle to thank for the tonal shift. I think the shift in Olivia’s style matches with her music maturing. For SOUR she is reeling from her first major heartbreak, and maybe her lyrics came across as a bit immature, but we see her growth in GUTS.
Rihanna
We are going on year 8 without a new Rihanna album. While she isn’t delivering us any new music, we were well fed with her 2023 looks. She kicked off the year with her Super Bowl LVII halftime performance in a custom Loewe red jumpsuit with a sculpted bra plate. But she also sported another accessory that surprised everyone. I had 3 active group chats saying the same thing during her performance: “Wait… is she pregnant?” “Didn’t she just have a baby?” “Guys, it’s just her post baby bod.” “She just rubbed her belly, she’s pregnant!” Yes y’all, she debuted her second pregnancy at the Super Bowl, Beyonce 2011 VMAs style.
Getty Images
From this moment on, we were given a slew of iconic pregnancy looks from Rihi, but her looks from the 2023 Academy Awards really stole the show. She began the night walking the carpet in a dark brown leather bra and maxi skirt layered over a sheer turtleneck by Alaïa. She went on to perform in a blinged out two piece set custom made by Maison Margiela. And to rondout the night, she was in another custom made set, this time by Bottega Veneta. In a word: Iconic.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Renaissance Tour
When Beyonce announced her Renaissance tour early last year, the one thing I knew I could look forward to were the looks. Little did I know how much of a cultural reset it would become. Instead of having a single label collaboration, Beyonce and her team, which included stylists Shiona Turini, KJ Moody, Julia Sarr-Jamois, and Karen Langley, curated looks from multiple designer brands. Brands such as Miu Miu, Loewe, Ferragamo, and Valentino, to name a few, made one of a kind custom looks for Queen B. While each look was absolutely stunning, the show stopping main event was the Mugler bee headpiece worn during “America Has a Problem.” Again, in a word: iconic.
Getty Images
While of course I’m going to give Beyonce her credit, I also want to highlight the concert goers outfits, because holy hell did they show out. Stores everywhere were selling out of metallic silver boots, sunglasses, skirts, pants, the whole shabang. People were bedazzling cowboy hats and fans to fit the Renaissance aesthetic. Just take a look at some of the looks from Bey’s LA B-day show. And best believe, I too went to the Renaissance Tour, and my biggest regret was not getting a full outfit pic.
Barbie Press Tour
2023 was the year of the girl, and no girl got more attention than Barbie. The highly anticipated summer blockbuster, Barbie directed by Greta Gerwig, was released in July of 2023. This movie single handedly revitalized the color pink. Costume designer Jacqueline Durran created a timeless wardrobe for the movie, but it was Margot Robbie’s press tour looks that really stole the spotlight. Robbie’s stylist, Andrew Mukamal, paid homage to several iconic outfits from Barbie’s extensive wardrobe. For the film’s Seoul premiere, they recreated the 1985 “Day to Night” Barbie doll with some help from Versace. For a night out during the European leg of tour, Robbie sported a red-corset mini dress inspired by the 1962 “Brunette Bubble Cut” barbie. Hmm how do we promote in Australia? Oh yeah, let’s recreate the black and white swimsuit the original doll wore in 1959. But it was the main event that really stunned me. For the Los Angeles premiere Robbie wore a strapless, glittering black Schiaparelli custom dress with a tulle finished hem inspired by the doll's 'Solo in the Spotlight' look from 1960.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Balletcore
Keeping on theme with the year of the girl, the “balletcore” aesthetic dominated Instagram feeds and fashion shows. You had brands like Reformation and J. Crew collaborating with New York City Ballet. Ballet flats were the It shoe, with Sandy Liang even modeling her Mary Jane Pointe shoe after principal American Ballet Theater dancer Isabella Boylston. People began to wear leg warmers unironically. And bows, all the freaking bows.
Now this was a trend that was a bit triggering for me. As a former dancer, I cringe a little when I see non dancer models trying to go up on pointe. When I see people glorifying the ballet aesthetic, I can’t help but think of the ugly side of it. I rarely showed up to class in a full pancake tutu, soft pink leg warmers, and a bow in my hair. Instead most days I had to dig through my tights drawer to try to find a pair without rips or bloodstains. I wore black trash bag pants and a baggy tee until I was given the look to take them off. It was anything less than pretty and frilly. We can delve deeper into this topic in a later blog when we’re more acquainted.
K-POP
Remember in my Christmas blog where I mentioned needing a CD player for an unspecified addiction? Well, it's K-Pop. I’m a huge K-pop fan. Now there are many reasons why people are drawn to this genre of music, but for me fashion plays a huge part. First and foremost, k-pop idols have become the darlings of fashion week. Idols are often invited by the most coveted luxury brands to fashion week such – J Hope (BTS) at Louis Vuitton, Taeyong (NCT) at Loewe, Jeonghan (Seventeen) and Ten (NCT) at Saint Laurent, and V (BTS) at Celine. K-pop groups, like Enhypen and RIIZE, have become house ambassadors for designer brands such Prada and Louis Vuitton. However, there was one group that stood out amongst the rest in terms of styling: NewJeans.
RM for Bottega Veneta
Taeyong for Loewe
Debuting in 2022, NewJeans has been a breath of fresh air for the industry. The way they’ve been able to establish their brand through styling has added to their success. Instead of trying to mature too quickly, the group’s stylist, Choi Yumi, embraces their youthfulness. For stages, they’re often decked in fur boots; colorful, baggy cargo pants;sports jerseys, and even stuffed animal backpacks. The group has certainly caught the attention of the fashion world. In March 2023, they became ambassadors for Levi's, which is very clever marketing. Individually, four out of the five members have been named global ambassadors for luxury brands: Danielle for Burberry, Hyein for Louis Vuitton, Minji for Chanel, and Hanni for Gucci.
Pharrell Williams
On Valentine’s Day last year, Pharell Williams was named the new Men’s Creative Director for Louis Vuitton. The position had been vacant since the sudden passing of Virgil Abloh in 2021. Why Pharrell Williams? He certainly did not have the same designer expertise as the other names that were rumored to assume the role (Jonathan Anderson, Martine Rose, Grace Wales Bonner, to name a few), but this does not make him an outsider to fashion. In addition to being a co-owner of streetwear brand, Human Made, with Nigo, and co-founder of the Billionaire Boys Club, Williams has also collaborated with brands such as Tiffany & Co, Chanel, Nike, and Adidas. This isn’t even his first time working with Louis Vuitton; in 2004, he collaborated with the brand on a sunglasses line. There is also a long standing history between hip hop and fashion. Plus, Pharrell has good style.
Getty Images
Getty Images
For final proof that he deserved the position, I’m going to just leave this here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDsjAIrmSKM
Quiet Luxury
It took me a minute to actually conceptualize what “quiet luxury” means. Originally I thought it meant more underrated designer brands, and in a way that’s correct, but it’s much more than that. Quiet luxury is just a more low key approach to luxury. Instead of a loud Gucci or Louis Vuitton print, it’s a subtle Max Mara trench or a cashmere v neck from The Row. The reason I love quiet luxury is because it’s a non-trend trend. It shows that designer fashion does not have to be flashy and bold as a way to flaunt your money. When buying from a designer brand, you want these pieces to be closet staples; items you know won’t go out of style anytime soon. Even better, it is easy to recreate the “quiet luxury” aesthetic from more affordable brands such as The Gap, Madewell, or COS.
The Row Resort 2024
Jil Sander SS23Photo: Alessandro Lucioni / Gorunway.com
Miu Miu vs Loewe
So which luxury brand really owned 2023? The Lyst Index is the most anticipated fashion report throughout. Each fashion quarter, Lyst releases which brands came out top by looking at “social media mentions, activity and engagement statistics worldwide, over a three month period.” In Q1, it was Prada who took the lead, with Miu Miu 2nd and Loewe 5th. Q2, Loewe shot up to 1st for their contribution to Beyonce’s Renaissance World Tour and the Anagram Tank Top, while Miu Miu took 4th. But it was in Q3 where the rivalry for “brand of the year” really started to heat up. For the first time, in its 30th anniversary year, Miu Miu became the hottest brand in the world thanks to the virality of their ballet flat and the Arcadie bag, surpassing big sister, Prada (3rd) and rival, Loewe (2nd).
Miu Miu Fall 2023/Getty Images
Kylie Jenner/Loewe/Paris Fashion Week
So like I asked before, who really won 2023? Well, in their Year in Fashion 2023, Lyst crowned Miu Miu as the Brand of the Year. Loewe was recognized as The Logo of the Year for the Anagram Tank Top. Now are Miu Miu and Loewe really rival brands? No, but I love adding a plot to make things more interesting.
*Side note: these are two brands I aspire to work for, so if Jonathan Anderson and Miuccia Prada are reading, please feel free to reach out.*
That concludes my personal Year in Fashion review. Looking forward to what 2024 has in store.
With Luv,
KK
