New year, new you — and lots of new fashion trends to look forward to!

The Pantone Color Institute may have named 2023’s color of the year as Viva Magenta, but the fashion world is devouring the calming, healing, vibrant… Cobalt Blue! 

What else is the overall for fashion in 2023?  While the nostalgia for the early 2000s has inspired a lot of hot trends for 2023, this year is all about wearing what makes you feel good!  

Get ready for the best fashion year yet!  Here are the top 9 fashion trends for 2023.

Body Armor

This year, we’re charging into battle with this trend!  From fringy bras and chainmail bodysuits to chunky body armor, these clothes are the perfect way to enter 2023 feeling like a badass. 

Obviously, these modern pieces aren’t usually made of steel like a medieval warrior’s armor, but they still radiate strength and power, all the same.  Think Dungeons & Dragons meets everyday fashion!  Some designers are even taking it a step further by experimenting with futuristic patterns straight out of a sci-fi movie from the ‘80s!

You can experiment with shiny chainmail dresses that drape down to your calves or loose, shimmery crop tops that you can pair with your favorite jeans!  For chainmail, shades of silver, gold, or bronze are typical colors, but you can find dazzling pinks, blues, and purples, too!  Battle-ready skirts and shirts, shrugs and shawls, bras and bikinis — and everything in between! 

You’re limited only by your imagination, but if you’re wanting some inspiration, search D&D clothing or pull up Neverwinter on your XBOX!

If you want to give it a try, but don’t see yourself in full armor, even just a simple rogue-inspired jacket or a bard-inspired blouse can add that cool, badass edge to any ensemble.

Meme Fashion

From trendy, niche slogans to beloved TV show characters, meme fashion is all the rage!  Don’t know what meme fashion is?  It’s basically graphic tees inspired by memes — from humorous slogans to even the full meme image!

Slogan T-shirts are nothing new, but they’re taking the lead on this trend.  Sometimes you can buy the graphic tee from the person who created the meme (although, unless it’s the person in the image, it can be difficult to find the true owner).  Think of it as an inside joke — with about a million other people.

These sassy, sarcastic quips and visuals add bits of humor and irony into your everyday look — and the versatility of the graphic T-shirt can be dressed up or down to suit a wide range of occasions.  One thing’s for sure — these campy, creative, and clever fashions are a lot of fun! 

Fashion memes are most often very culturally-aware, making fun of the world we live in.  Is it a coping mechanism to distract from the craziness of our society?  Probably!  But that’s a good thing — laughter is the best medicine, and these memes work to foster a sense of community among the generations.  If you know, you know 😉

Cargo Pockets

I don’t know about you, but I am thrilled to see this trend making a comeback! 

Do you want a hands-free way to carry your stuff around all day without worrying about where it is?  When you go out, do you get tired of having to keep an eye on your purse or bag all day and night?  Yes?  If that’s you, cargo pockets are coming to the rescue!

I mean, for those who saw Kim Possible — who didn’t think her mission fit was absolute fire?

While cargo pants may be the first thing that comes to mind, these pockets aren’t limited to just pants.  We’ll be seeing cargo-pocketed shorts, skirts, and even jackets!  And the best part?  Cargo pockets are deep. 

Bridging the gap between function and fashion, 2023 is all about this utilitarian style.  Did you hear that, ladies?  We can finally carry more than just a tiny piece of lint!  YAAAAS!

Detailed Denim Everything

Denim-on-denim has been slowly making its way back into mainstream fashion, but 2023 is when this trend is really going to sweep the world by storm.  And I’m not just talking about jeans and a jacket, okay?  We’re talking tops, bottoms, accessories — even shoes. 

But we’re not talking your mom’s basic denim from their glory years.  The biggest key to the denim in 2023 is the detail — think embroidery, patchwork, graphic prints, and even new patterns are emerging!

I know denim-on-denim can be intimidating, so here’s a tip:  Utilize different styles and shapes, and dress to the natural lines of your body.  Think oversized denim jackets with tighter tops and flared jeans.  Bring out your inner fashionista — you want to flatter your body type and give your look some depth and dimension!

If you’d like a refresher on which cuts and styles work best with each body type, you can look back at our “Tips for Dressing Different Body Shapes” blog here.

A Feminine Flair

This new year is challenging each of us to get in touch with our feminine side.  Along with the BarbieCore trend, you’ll be seeing a lot of other touches of femininity sprinkled throughout fashion this year.

While last year saw a lot of oversized suits and T-shirt dresses — this year the trends are leaning back toward fitted styles.  The hourglass silhouette is going to be huge this season, and even our suits will be tailored closer to the waist to show off our natural curviness.

PSA:  Now is the time to find your go-to tailor, if you don’t have one already!

RegencyCore is also slowly making its way back into the circuit again, especially with the highly anticipated release of Bridgerton’s third season coming to Netflix this summer.  (We’ve grown to love their empire dresses!) Keep an eye out for delicate, pastel-colored dresses and blouses with floral patterns, empire waist dresses, and feminine, puffed sleeves!

BarbieCore

We briefly touched on the rising BarbieCore trend in our “Fall Accessories Essentials for 2022 (Water Signs Edition)” blog. (To all my water signs who missed it, you can check it out here!) But with actor and director Greta Gerwig’s Barbie set to be released this summer, BarbieCore is painting the world hot pink!

You can’t go wrong with Barbie’s traditional monochrome pink outfits — like a hot pink sweater dress with matching pink boots — but 2023 encourages us to play around with contrasting colors.  Pair a soft pink puffy jacket with a neon yellow crop top! Combine your favorite magenta leggings with a sky-blue blouse!

And it wouldn’t be BarbieCore without the accessories!  Heart shaped purses, sparkly jewelry, and bedazzled boots are all fantastic ways to give your look that spunky, feminine touch of a true Barbie Girl!

Ballet & Regular Flats

Heels and wedges were hot in 2022 — and still are, don’t get me wrong — but great news for all you lovers of flat shoes:  2023 is the year of the ballet flats!

While we all love a good heel, there’s no denying ballet flats are much easier to walk in.  They’re adorable and dainty — functional and feminine.  Plus, wearing these babies brings back feelings of nostalgia from our middle or high school days.  Who else was rocking colorful flats with leggings and a jean skirt?  I know it wasn’t just me! 

The brilliance of ballet flats is they can go with any outfit.  Some sparkly red flats work wonders for a night out on the town or some black flats with a bow can give a feminine flair to a rock ‘n roll graphic tee.  They’re also the ideal shoe for going back to the office — use a nice ballet flat to get back in the office groove with the comfort of a sneaker and the polish of a pump.

Flats come in a variety of colors, materials, adornments — so you’re sure to find at least one pair you love that will suit your wardrobe perfectly!

Transparency

We are all about transparency in 2023 — from the companies & brands we support to our own selves — so it’s only natural this philosophy it would eventually trickle down to the clothes we wear!

Layering is the key when it comes to this trend.  Think of your sheer clothes as playing a supporting role to bigger and bolder staple pieces.  They work to add more texture, interest, and complexities to your ensemble!  Layer a sheer black maxi skirt under your favorite mini from last season. Show off your cute new bralette under a long-sleeved, see-through blouse.

The top of the sheer list?  Semi-sheer knits!  These range from light pastels to bold jewel-tones to elegant black-and-whites.  These looks are simple, and can be elegant, playful, or casual, depending on how you style it. 

However, if you’re not a fan of transparent clothes or you’re looking for something quirky and eccentric, we’re also seeing a rise in clear accessories.  These completely transparent pieces are extremely versatile and can go with literally anything!  Bonus:  see-through purses can be brought into stadium events without getting checked.

Dopamine Dressing

The most important trend for 2023 is dressing to make yourself happy.  Dopamine dressing is just as it sounds — wearing clothes that bring you joy and boost your mood!  If you want to dress head to toe in hot pink feathers, don’t let anyone stop you!  Just surround yourself in positivity.

Happiness is subjective, and it doesn’t have a specific fashion style — it is literally designed by you!  Focus on how certain colors, styles, textures, and patterns make you feel as opposed to just how they look.

I also encourage you to look outside your comfort zone, not just to the clothes you’ve typically worn!  If you usually stick with neutral tones, try bolder colors or patterns — or incorporate fun, eccentric accessories, if that’s what makes you smile.  And you don’t always have to go big or go home!  You can pair more daring outfit choices like a hot pink tulle dress with comfort pieces like your favorite leather jacket or combat boots until you get used to your new clothing addition. 

Above all?  Listen to yourself.  Don’t feel like you should be disappointed if you honestly feel drawn to your favorite classics — that’s fine, too.  But also, don’t feel like you should quiet yourself down if you truly feel drawn to the extravagant and unique.  This is all about you — no one else.  Figure out what makes you happy, and enjoy it!

Happy 2023, everyone!  Let’s make this year the best year yet!