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As the year draws to a close, it’s only natural to mull over the major highlights of 2023. For some it might be their Spotify Wrapped playlists but for Vogue editors, it’s our year in shopping—those covetable items that were instant, must-have purchases. Whether these were trends taken from the streets, runways or both, the major items of the year took us by storm, topping our wish lists or tantalizing our inboxes while waiting for their restocks. Although many trends arose over the course of the year, one major theme that dominated was wearability.
Vogue’s 2023 Top 10 It Items:
- The Statment-Making Red Sweater: Everlane The Felted Merino Oversized Crewneck, $148
- The Crystal-Embellished Ballet Flat: Alaïa crystal-embellished ballet flats, $1,250
- The Fabulous Faux Fur: Toteme faux fur coat, $1,800
- The Chunky Loafer: Reformation Agathea leather loafers, $270
- The Oversized Wool Coat: The Frankie Shop Gaia oversized double-breasted coat, $485
- The Chic City Sneaker: Adidas Samba OG leather and suede sneakers, $120
- The Minimalist Handbag: The Row N/S Park small textured-leather tote, $1,390
- The Best in Belts: Khaite Benny studded patent-leather belt, $550
- The Denim Skirt: Tory Burch deconstructed denim midiskirt, $368
- The Metallic Flat: Aeyde Delfina metallic-leather ballet flats, $288
Our favorite fashion It-girls, such as Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, and Hailey Bieber, were regularly seen in most of these major moments—think everything from ballet flats to maxiskirts and Uggs. And while street style influencers and editors alike picked up on the boldest shade of the season—cherry red—in no time flat, along with other eye-popping pieces such as embellished flats and sequin midi skirts, the quiet luxury movement and balletcore really enveloped the year as a whole. The best basics were instant hits, such as the classic cardigan inspired by Miu Miu’s Fall/Winter 2023 runway, an oversized wool coat à la Jennifer Lawrence, or the editor-coveted denim midiskirt. Somehow, these wardrobe essentials seemed surprisingly fresh when styled in new, exciting ways. The best part is—although they might have had their moment in the spotlight this year, all of these items can all be carried into 2024 and beyond thanks to their everlasting appeal.
Read on to discover the 30 top-shopped items of 2023 that may be trends now, but have a long-lasting appeal that you’ll love for years to come.
Whether on the runway or peppered on the street, cherry red was the color of the year, and we don’t see it going anywhere anytime soon. Knitwear is a sure-fire way to lean into the trend (also seasonally appropriate!) and we can’t help but gravitate towards these minimalist-in-design sweaters—albeit maximalist in color—from Toteme, Everlane, Tory Burch, and &Daughter.
Long gone are the days of wearing actual fur in favor of modern reinterpretations in the faux variety that are just as fabulous as the real thing. We saw a crop of neutral, statement-making moments (reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw’s iconic, vintage topper) available at every price point. Our favorites range from Mackage and The Frankie Shop, with their belted silhouettes, to front-fastened options from H&M and Toteme.
There was something in the air this year, and embellished flats, especially the studded pair from Alaïa, were either on every editor’s feet or in their shopping cart wish lists. They were also spotted on Rihanna. Not only practical and comfortable, they are downright versatile and able to be worn for day or night. Who doesn’t love an item that plays double-duty in their closet? Get them before they sell out… again.
Call it The Crown effect, but fair isle sweaters were definitely a thing this year. Whether of the super luxe, cashmere variety from editor-favorite brand Khaite or the classic, “Prince of Wales” version that inspired Ralph Lauren, these countryside-chic knit pullovers were made to feel like those cozy cabin moments you dream of on the weekend or après-ski, but also work for the city too, when paired with trousers or a midi skirt and boots.
There is no denying the power of balletcore this year and it only makes sense that ballerina flats were at the top of the comeback list. Emblematic of the Y2K era, this year’s crop included covetable, strapped Mary Janes from The Row, a Tabi interpretation from Maison Margiela, and affordable classics from Aeyde and Everlane to round out the mix.
Nineties minimalism is nothing new but clean-lined maxiskirts, inspired by those of yesteryear Calvin Klein and Jil Sander, dominated as the must-have shape for 2023. A bit of structure and only the best fabrics possible, made for this clean and simple staple, the easiest piece for dressing up.
If 2022 was all about the western boot, then 2023 was the year of the lug-sole loafer. For those who craved a little more height than the many flat trends we saw this year, the chunky loafer was the antidote. Beloved by Hailey Bieber, who’s been spotted in various iterations over the year—we couldn’t get enough of these styles either. From Gucci’s horsebit throwback to Proenza Schouler’s topstitched, patent pair (Bieber’s personal choice), the options are limitless.
Efficiency was a major mood in 2023, and the two-in-one dress hits the nail on the head for this. Blending two styles in one—minimal styling is necessary to carry off these looks. Generally a knit blended into a soft skirt, our favorites include options from Christopher Esber, Sea NY, Sacai (designer Chitose Abe is a master at this art), and Polo Ralph Lauren.
Certainly nothing new, but important nevertheless. Kitten-heel boots in ankle-length height are another extremely walkable shoe style and were certainly running hot when produced by sought-after brands like The Row, Toteme, and Khaite, whose variations regularly sold out in no time flat. If these are out of budget for you (or you’re waiting for a restock), Cos has a more purse-friendly option that’s just as good.
It-girls everywhere, from Emily Ratajkowski to Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid, were spotted toting clean, minimalist handbags this year while out and about. Maybe it was the quiet luxury trend’s influence, or maybe just the practicality of it all, either way—investing in one of these luxe buys from Gucci, The Row, Toteme, or even Cuyana is a fool-proof purchase.
If you were lucky to get your hands on a pair of Adidas Samba trainers this year, you were surely #blessed, but there were plenty of other chic, city-appropriate sneakers that filled out our wish lists. Loewe and The Row’s retro-inspired, leather versions and New Balance’s classic dad kick round out our must-haves that you can scoop up now.
Whether party-ready or office appropriate, bold red dresses made a lasting impression in our minds. We couldn’t get enough of the fiery shade atop gorgeous, draped midis and maxis like those from Toteme and Cos, one truly jaw dropping silhouette from Proenza Schouler featured in our holiday dressing shoot, and Staud’s daytime-appropriate shirtdress.
Sequin midiskirts were seen on the street style set during Paris Fashion Week in September, long ahead of the holiday dressing months, proving this is one trend that can be worn no matter the season. Style them with the best basics from blue, poplin button downs to cashmere sweaters and loafers for a menswear-inspired twist.
If you haven’t noticed yet, 2023 was the year of the flat. Another style that popped onto the scene and became an instant hit was the mesh shoe. The Alaïa style stole the show, worn by celebs such as Jennifer Lawrence on the street, and both customers and editors were smitten. It wasn’t all about this wider mesh, though. The Row, Dear Frances, and Le Monde Beryl all had micro interpretations that were just as enticing.
Forget about the TikTok skinny jeans debate of 2021, this year, commentators became heated over an unusual shape that has been sported by Gigi Hadid, Blake Lively, Camila Morrone, and more—the barrel jeans. The cylindrical shape could be found in every collection from top-tier Alaïa to the more attainable Citizens of Humanity, Agolde, and Nili Lotan and is surprisingly easy to wear.
Again this seems like a no-brainer, but after all, in the winter months, a wool coat is all you need—and the fashion crowd couldn’t get enough of these oversized versions. Perhaps another result of the quiet luxury movement, brands such as Banana Republic (who saw a major reboot this year), Mango, Frame, and The Frankie Shop all make amazing, quality options that won’t break the bank.
Buying into the best basics is smart shopping and belts are worth the investment. Whether you’re craving an editor-approved, studded version like Khaite’s Benny belt, or a clean and classic, high-waisted version à la Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, or Bella Hadid, belts are definitely trending and don’t seem to be losing steam anytime soon.
Yes, we know, another flat! Who can blame us when they are so comfortable and easy to wear? If embellishments are not your thing, but you are still looking for something with a little more oomph, might we suggest the metallic flat? Many of our favorite brands took to the trend this year, including Le Monde Beryl, Aeyde, Proenza Schouler, and Mansur Gavriel, for a shiny interpretation that feels exceptionally wearable.
Perhaps the trickle effect of the western trend of 2022, suede bags were plentiful in rich, chocolate brown on the runway and on the street. Of course, The Row mastered this moment with their mini crossbody, but if you prefer something heftier, contemporary brands such as Savette, Little Lifner, and Reformation offered their own spin on the modern classic.
We may have mentioned kitten-heeled boots above, but the short and sweet heel height catapulted across other footwear categories as well. A pointy, slingback rendition took center stage, seen across the runways of Prada, Miu Miu, and Gucci, and by trickle effect, on the street from the likes of Alex Chung and Hailey Bieber—giving us major retro fever.
Who can forget Mia Goth opening the Miu Miu Fall/Winter 2023 show in Paris at the start of the year wearing a plain, gray cardigan, polka dot pencil skirt, and kitten heel slingbacks? Almost half of the looks in that collection featured simple cardigans in various colors, signaling it’s revived appeal—and must-have status. If you haven’t yet grabbed one for yourself, Nili Lotan, &Daughter, Dôen, and The Row are good places to start.
Boots are the bread and butter of cold-weather dressing, and we could not get enough of the ’60s-inspired, over-the-knee versions that came from the Fall/Winter 2023 runways. New York Fashion Week highlights included low-heeled styles from Proenza Schouler and Khaite, while commercial options from Staud and The Row were immediate yeses.
Although many of most loved ready-to-wear trends were minimalist, our top jewelry picks were the opposite. Trading dainty, personal earrings for graphic, oversized stunners this year, we welcomed the return of the power earring. Saint Laurent, Khaite, Balenciaga, and Aurem make a few of our choice picks that have a strong ’80s feel to them.
Oversized, boxy blazers have been dominating for awhile, but 2023 brought us the return of cinched waists. We saw structured and tailored blazers at Stella McCartney’s equestrian-themed show for Fall/Winter 2023, while Proenza Schouler featured a belted version, worn by none other than the house’s friend Chloë Sevigny on the runway. Whichever way you choose to sculpt your waistline, Tory Burch, Toteme, Mango, and Proenza Schouler White Label have covetable options.
Larger-than-life bows, teeny-tiny ribbons—the way to complete to any party look this year wasn’t a set of pearl earrings or a lab-grown diamond rivière (though we won’t say no to either). It was with a charming hair accessory. An homage to the spring 2024 runways and the ribbon-aissance that it spurred, these whimsical accents brought coquettish charm to any dress code. Not to mention that the sweet style was especially street-style beloved with fashion-girls near and far showcasing their cherry red bows from Sandy Liang and more.
Gigi Hadid broke the internet during Paris Fashion Week in October wearing a baseball cap, maxi skirt, ballerina flats, and topped with one of the year’s biggest outerwear trends—a distressed leather jacket. What was most surprising was the fact that this jacket didn’t come from a large design house, but was in fact from Mango, making it totally attainable. Zara, By Malene Birger, and Isabel Marant also made It-girl approved options, as well.
Statement jewelry stole our hearts this year and bold cuff bracelets were back en vogue. The chunky, sculptural pieces are like wearing a piece of art on your arm. Elsa Peretti’s Bone cuff for Tiffany & Co. is a classic that has been in the house’s permanent collection for over 50 years and worthy of any jewelry collector’s box. However, Ben-Amun, Agmes, Saint Laurent, and Alexis Bittar offer equally stunning styles in both silver or gold, depending on your metal preference.
The denim midiskirt swept both the street and runways everywhere, quickly becoming the defining style of 2023. Both extremely wearable and accessible—you won’t have to shell out major cash on this item to get the look—it’s a versatile item that can be dressed up or down and worn across the seasons. Achieve fashion insider status with styles from Victoria Beckham, Citizens of Humanity, Tory Burch, and Agolde.
What did we say about comfort this year? No trend roundup would be complete without the addition of the coziest footwear trend—Uggs. Celebs couldn’t get enough of them, being regularly spotted on fans such as Lily-Rose Depp, Emily Ratajkowski, and Blake Lively, who often incorporated them into stylized looks, not just sweats or activewear. Take your pick from updated platforms to minis, slip-ons and more.
Sleek, chic, and easy is the name of the game here. Jennifer Lawrence, Olivia Rodrigo, and Kaia Gerber were all seen in Khaite x Oliver People’s collaboration sunglasses this summer, solidifying them as the It sunglasses of the year. An oval, tortoiseshell pair from Prada, Bottega Veneta’s stylized aviator, and Loewe’s chunky cat-eye all topped the list, as well.
