How do you a measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets – NO. The correct answer is in iconic fashion moments. This year was a particularly memorable one when it came to sartorial moments – from red carpets and street style, to music videos to on-screen ensembles. Below, we round up some of the most unforgettable moments in the culture of fashion from 2023.
Rihanna's red jumpsuit at the 2023 Super Bowl
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Who could forget Rihanna's iconic pregnancy announcement in this blindingly cherry red Loewe jumpsuit as she headlined this year's Super Bowl Halftime Show? In fact, it was a cultural moment so significant it warranted a plethora of Halloween costumes (the true marker of sartorial success) – including her marshmallow back-up dancers.
Succession's quiet luxury looks
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On the other end of the spectrum we had the final season of Succession's quiet luxury looks beaming into our living rooms for a couple of months – and not without influencing what seems like the entire of Hollywood's crop to follow suit. Logo-mania was replaced with Stealth Wealth trends that saw brands like The Row, Khaite and Bottega Veneta rise up the ranks of fashion houses this year.
Jocelyn's style from The Idol
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The Idol may have been a flop in a lot of ways – but not in the wardrobe department. Lily Rose-Depp's portrayal of the hyper-sexualised pop star Jocelyn was iconic mostly for her impeccable wardrobe. There was that sheer blue mini dress, or the teeny-weeny black bikini look. And fans were left scouring the internet for Depp's vintage Chanel accessories.
Doja Cat's bedazzled red body paint at Schiaparelli’s Paris Fashion Week show
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Never one to do things by halves, Doja Cat stole the show at Paris Fashion Week by covering herself entirely in red body paint and 30,000 crystals for Schiaparelli's show (the same show where Kylie Jenner donned life-life lion's head front row). Makeup artist Pat McGrath was behind Doja Cat's beauty look, calling it 'Doja’s Inferno' on her Instagram.
Anok Yai at the Met Gala
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This year's Met Gala was not one of the most inspiring red carpets we've had in recent years, with most guests opting for monochromatic, pearl-laden Karl Lagerfeld and Chanel references that felt a little too easy and surface-level. Model Anok Yai stood out as a fashionable favourite from the evening, standing out from the sea of black and white in her dramatic paillete-covered, sculptural gown by Prabal Gurung.
Gigi Hadid is Jacquemus's puff ball 'ChouChou'
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One of the most memorable moments in the world of high fashion this year was this promotional Jacquemus shoot where Gigi Hadid was made to look particularly spherical in the lead-up to their 'ChouChou' fashion show in June. The silhouette seems to have become a bit of signature for the House – even putting K-Pop star Jennie in a similar ensemble for a cover shoot in October too.
Beyonce's Renaissance custom tour outfits
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Aside from Taylor Swift's Eras tour, our feeds have been largely dominated by photos and videos of Beyonce's Renaissance world tour. If we weren't cheering on 11-year-old Blue Ivy as she danced her way through the first leg of the tour, we were cheering on Queen Bey's iconic custom couture looks that punctuated her shows – from Brandon Blackwood and Coperni to Valentino and Mugler (who could forget that bumble bee outfit?).
Rawdah Mohamed at the Cannes Film Festival
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Somali-born model Rawdah Mohamed's Cannes red carpet look masterfully reinterpreted modest dressing – seeking to demonstrate the hijab as a means of personal expression rather than restriction The trompe l'oiel scorch marks on this Robert Wun couture gown lent to its iconic name 'The Scorched Bride'.
The Matildas paint the country green and gold
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Iconic fashion moments come in all shapes and sizes – and it's hard to overlook the sartorial significance of the Matildas' World Cup bid this year. The country donned the national jersey – both in its green and gold and aqua blue iterations – en masse for about two months straight. Now that's influence.
Troye Sivan's Got Me Started music video look
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You know a look has made a splash when SNL parody it with none other than Timothée Chalamet and boygenius. This iconic cut-out tank and blue parachute pant look has become one of Troye Sivan's most recognisable – alongside his iconic drag look in One Of Your Girls of course.
Margot Robbie's Barbie premiere looks
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Margot Robbie (and her stylist, Andrew Makumal) gave us a masterclass in filmic dressing when the actress embarked on the world premieres of Barbie this year. Each carpeted look and promotional appearance was expertly crafted to mimic the look of an iconic Barbie of years past – from the 1960s 'Solo in the Spotlight' Barbie, to 1992's 'Totally Hair' Barbie.
Saltburn-core
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Emerald Fennel's modern masterpiece Saltburn is one of the film world's best wardrobe moments this year – from Felix's eyebrow piercing and angel wings, to Poor Dear Pamela's red fringe and tattoos. But one look in particular really caught our eye as iconic, and that would be Oliver's birthday party antlers and embroidered button-up shirt – we get the feeling we'll be seeing plenty recreations for the next twelve months.
Jacob Elordi's street style
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Speaking of Saltburn, we'd be remiss to mention its star Jacob Elordi's street style. Yes, we'd already gotten a taste of his coveted bag collection in 2022 – from Bottega Veneta's Andiamo to Celine messenger bags, but in 2023 it became a full-on obsession with his sense of style. This airport look in particular was a stand out.
Balenciaga's polarising towel skirt
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After Demna's public declaration that he would be 'returning to the basics' for his upcoming season for fashion house Balenciaga, fans and fashion critics were caught off-guard by the release of this 'unisex' 'adjustable' $925 towel skirt. The release spawned many comedic spoofs and DIY recreations – but who knows, perhaps we'll be donning our own versions in 2024?
