Were You A 2023 Fashion Cliché?

We’ve identified the 11 biggest fashion cliches of 2023 - but how many made it beyond your ‘gram feed and into your wardrobe?

Fashion cliches

by Emma McCarthy |
Updated on

Barbie’s necklace

Barbie (aka Margot Robbie) was this year’s style muse. If you didn’t spend the summer dressed top-to-toe in shocking pink, chances are you snapped up Missoma’s bubble heart necklace, which had a starring role in the film.

Missoma's heart-shaped pendant necklace featured very prominently in Barbie, which was all anyone talked about for, well, basically the entire year.

Acne’s bomber jacket

Hailey Bieber, Rihanna and Elsa Hosk all declared Acne’s perfect padded leather bomber jacket the only outerwear to be seen in.

Acne Studios' padded bomber jacket has been repeat-worn by Hailey Bieber.

Baseball caps

The humble baseball cap became an A-list must-have. The best-selling style among mere mortals was M&S’s £12.50 grey cotton style, as seen on Sienna Miller.

As well as being stylish, this cotton baseball cap will save you on days when you forget your brolly.

Ballet flats

The shoe getting us all in a spin? The ballet flat. Special shout out to Miu Miu’s pink satin pair and Alaïa’s crystal-encrusted pump – so popular there was a wait list for the wait list.

Miu Miu's leather flats reignited our love for ballet pumps and, whatever you thought about the originals, it's hard to resist those elasticated straps.

Cargo pants

Tammy Girl circa 1996 was the vibe for 2023’s cargo parachute pants obsession. Raey’s version were the ones all the cool girls coveted, leading to widespread stock shortages all summer.

Introducing, the sell-out cargo trousers of 2023.

Bag battles

It was Uniqlo’s £14.90 nylon crossbody versus COS’s £40 quilted shoulder bag. Two icons went head to head. Whose side were you on? Or did you buy both?

Uniqlo's round mini shoulder bag now comes in corduroy, with four shades currently available.

This bag might have 'mini' in its name but you'll be surprised how much you can squeeze inside.

Quiet luxury

Fuelled by Succession and Phoebe Philo’s return, the discourse surrounding the quiet luxury trend was deafening. Think conspicuously inconspicuous and eye-wateringly expensive – basically, anything by The Row.

Birkenstock Bostons

If you didn’t buy a pair, how did you even make it through 2023?

These clogs are the extra cosy version with shearling. Don't mind if we do.

Football shirts

Which team? Who cares! As far as fashion fans are concerned, this year’s football shirt infatuation favoured vintage strips or designer collaborations, à la Mia Regan sporting Stella McCartney’s Arsenal Women’s away kit.

adidas Sambas

These were everywhere this year... except in-store, where demand routinely outstripped supply. (Psst... the ubiquitous monochrome was in stock at Farfetch as Grazia went to press.)

These 'It' trainers will be the envy of every fashion girlie.

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