Every Single Thing Your 2023 Wardrobe Needs
It's not hard to predict the trends in men's fashion for 2023 when all the major designers have released their collections for the entire year. The question then becomes which of these trends will we want to incorporate into our own wardrobes, despite—not because—of their ubiquity.Â
Here are the trends that are on our radar and what we actually think of them.
The rise of lived-in clothing can stem from a deeper appreciation of what we already have—and you know, "sustainability"? From the Olsen's banged up Birkins to Prada's rumpled looks which included wrinkled leather goods), it's time we embrace the lines life makes—be it on our clothes or on our faces. The best part about this trend is you don't have to shop it. What did we just say about sustainability?
Social media has already adopted the term "the puffication (or puffy-fication?) of fashion." This trend existed in interiors long before the pandemic. But then Kanye did that cursed collab with Gap, so we thought that'd be the final nail in this trend's coffin. It instead came back with a vengeance thanks to all the show invites that came with or were actual pillows, and, well, Kendall's viral photo wearing a Loewe bomber—also another trend in itself. Prada's padded mules and Rick Owens's puffer scarves are the forerunners in our book.
'90s minimalism is back. That means roomier cuts and boxier fits on traditional office garb—long-sleeve button-downs in stripes and other safe patterns with pleated trousers in black, brown, or gray. This might not be the most flattering if you don't look like a Bottega Veneta runway model—there may have been age diversity, but hardly any body diversity—so proceed with caution. Or you know, end up looking like you just came from the office and know nothing about how clothes should fit.
At the intersection of gorpcore and Y2K, cargo pockets—you know, those 3D ones with a flap—are back with a vengeance. They have been put on virtually all items. But if you choose to wear this trend, learn from the past. Don't overload these pockets so as not to ruin the silhouette. Local brand Nicolo Perez is an early, early adopter that one can argue it's a signature of his.
Another trend that sits in the intersection of various nostalgic fashion periods, denim gets new life by, well, becoming literally everything on the shelf. This is nothing new for the iconic fabric, as it has been shaped into literally everything before, but the 2023 iterations include silhouettes and patterns that are more experimental, more capital-F fashion. Need a clue on what we're talking about? Check the runways of JW Anderson, Dsquared2, and Y/Project or shop HA.MÜ. If you want to go more tame, then a '70s Western-inspired double denim look is the way to go.
Let's not flip-flop on this trend. If everything from those decades past are coming back, we might as well embrace the footwear they came with, too. Besides, we live in the tropics, so there should be no shame in embracing the footwear movement that's been on the womenswear shows of Loewe, Jil Sander, The Row, and more. Just be intentional with your style choices and religious with grooming, and you're good to go. We've spotted interesting options from Marshall Columbia, in case you felt your Havaianas weren't cutting it.
Let's not deny the fact that we all tuned in to Emily in Paris late last year. The fashion savvy among us were sure to catch that color-blocked mini skirt paired with thigh high boots. Even if it's not something we'd wear ourselves, it drove home the point that metallics are in—and they're pretty wearable, too—with silver being the forerunner of this as seen on No. 21, Gucci, and Ludovic de Saint Sernin. But easier ways to wear silver clothing is through sneakers or a satin jacket.
2022 saw the ultra-bold colors of fuschia and kelly green. 2023 pivots towards more muted shades whose names can be found in nature. There's been an uptick in lime and matcha, apricot and terracotta, and WGSN and Coloro's color of the year Digital Lavender. If we were to list the ways you can wear this trend, we'd probably end up citing the entirety of Vogue Runway. Please feel free to Google this yourself.
Get your chesticles ready as this one is pretty self-explanatory. Just skip the dress shirt and put on your suit as seen on Prada, Fendi, Amiri, and many, many other runways, but also celebs on red carpets. Timothée Chalamet or Harry Styles has top billing here. If your pecs are feeling cold, you can use a silky scarf to cover the bare areas a la Giorgio Armani or a bandana a la Ami.
While we're not ready to commit to full-on mesh, Y/Project's collab with Jean Paul Gaultier has shown us just how it can add movement and depth when worn as a top layer. Sporty tops, especially those long-sleeve running shirts in the spirit of MISBHV or Dior, will continue going strong in 2023. An open-knit sweater however sounds like a good compromise for our weather and our tastes. Take inspiration from Wooyoungmi, Acne Studios, and No. 21. Layer accordingly.
Our prediction for the sloping and exaggerated shoulders of the catwalks of Valentino, Louis Vuitton, and Egonlab: drop-shoulder jackets. We've all been living in Uniqlo U oversize tees anyway, so why not take the silhouette to outerwear? The looser fit means maximized airflow anyway, best suited for our tropical climate. It also looks more relaxed, so you can go straight to whatever it is you're going to after the office.Â
We're pretty bored of this by now, but the desire to peacock and name drop seems to be alive as ever. Branded—literally bearing the brand name in an unmissable way—tank tops in white or black are the new monogram belt buckle. The worst part is the two items can be worn together in the same outfit. We get that it's a great layering move, but really, who are you trying to impress?
Despite all the news outlets reporting the rise of personal style thanks to the trend cycle imploding, the innumerable microtrends with cutesy -core nicknames, or what other things the media always loves to say, globalization and capitalism are the true winners in this trend report. The uniformity of style in the schools of Aimé Leon Dore, Kith, and the ever-accessible Uniqlo are what will actually dominate the offices, bars, insert any possible place real, virtual, or imagined here. Who said normcore was dead? It only rebranded. We all just want to be told we're so cutting-edge by blending in apparently.
