I try to hold onto things just as long as the next person, knowing all too well that the trend cycle has dramatically shortened due to the combined impacts of social media and fast fashion, allowing trends to come back in vogue far quicker than they once would have. The smart thing would be to store everything rather than get rid of anything. And yet, my complete lack of storage in New York City begs to differ. I just moved and am in desperate need of additional space, leading me to only one possible action item: spring cleaning.
Over the last week, I've had to take a long, hard look at my wardrobe in order to decide what trends for the season ahead just don't do it for me anymore and which ones still deserve a spot in the closet (i.e., the large, metal rack I now hang my clothes on). And after examining the spring/summer 2023 runways for the umpteenth time and hours of sorting, I finally settled on 7 spring trends that, to me, have lost their spark. Scroll down to discover each one, as well as the warm-weather trends I'm prioritizing instead.
The '90s called, they want their tube dresses back. Luckily, designers like Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen at The Row and Miuccia Prada at Prada aren't so keen on handing them over, allowing us to bask in their glory for the entirety of the upcoming spring and summer seasons. One dress silhouette, however, that isn't feeling the love in 2023 is the nap dress. Once the most popular in all of fashion, the cottagecore-era frocks haven't received quite as much attention in recent years, meaning that I'll be storing mine away for their next big moment and using that space to prioritize all things strapless.
$79? For this dress? I'll take one in every color.
Need is an understatement.
This deep-brown shade is even better in person.
There was a time not too long ago when everything—and I mean everything—was Kelly green. The color was inescapable. And while I had a soft spot for the vibrant shade there for a bit, it didn't take too long for it to start feeling stale. These days, the only eye-catching color that's taking over my headspace is bright red. Showcased all over not only the spring/summer 2023 runways but the fall/winter ones too, the shade is having more than just a moment.
By making a simple tee red, it instantly becomes 10x cooler.
I clicked on this bag the other day and my coworker Jasmine audibly gasped.
If a French girl walked into Nordstrom, these would be purchase number one.
As much fun as pearl necklaces were to layer with colorful, beaded chains a few summers back, jewelry trends are now steering away from the playful, kitschy look and towards a far more refined, elevated aesthetic. Such is why '80s-inspired cuff bracelets like those displayed at Saint Laurent's spring/summer 2023 show are experiencing such a high right now in the fashion world. Though the season's only just beginning, this wrist accessory is already one of its most sought-after pieces, with ones by Saint Laurent, Alaïa, and Elsa Peretti for Tiffany & Co. dominating on the luxury front, while brands like Ben Amun, Agmes, and Alexis Bittar succeed with a more mid-range price alternative. Hell, even Zara and Mango are getting in on the trend.
Try styling your cuffs on top of your sleeves.
This one just arrived on my doorstep.
This shape and texture are too pretty to pass up.
Gingham's long been a springtime regular, but I haven't seen a take on the warm-weather print that I'd consider calling exciting in some time. Snakeskin, however, is one pattern that's been refurbished in a shockingly elegant manner, leading to it becoming almost impossible to miss in recent months, with the animal print being especially highlighted in Khaite and 16Arlington's spring collections. From sandals and belts to trench coats and dresses, there's really no wardrobe item that hasn't been touched by 2023's growing python trend.
These are selling fast.
Trust me, this is belt is more than worth the high price tag. The quality is on another level.
Do it. You know you want to.
Last year, Y2K-inspired fringe attachments and accoutrements were all anyone seemed to want to wear. But now that the craze around the early aughts is waning a bit, I'm readying myself to wave fringe of most kinds goodbye and focus my uninterrupted attention toward all things studded. Khaite, A.W.A.K.E. Mode, Alaïa and more brands featured elevated takes on the grungey baubles attached to handbags, shoes, and outerwear, leading to plenty of viral pieces and sell-out items.
I've never received more Instagram DMs than when I posted a photo of me wearing these from the Reformation dressing room.
Comfortable and cool.
Now this is a real find.
Despite Rihanna wearing one last November, giving them one last chance at a comeback, high-low skirts have officially reached "out" status. One skirt style that is feeling the love right now is the pencil skirt, a once-boring silhouette that brands like Prada, Miu Miu, and Victoria Beckham have given new life to with modern, elevated offerings for spring.
The styling possibilities are endless.
I've had my eye on this skirt for weeks, and now that it's on sale at Shopbop, it's finally time for me to go for it.
Consider me obsessed.
Revealing trends have run the gamut in the '20s, with one of the longest-standing ones being dramatic cutouts. And while I've certainly played around with an exaggerated cutout or two in my day, the styles still being released have lost their edge in recent seasons. More alluring are the sheer, gauzy knits that were seen on the spring runways at Prada, Miu Miu, and Tory Burch. Transparent, but in an elegant, hyper-elevated manner, this trend is quite simply too pretty to not get in on.
BRB, running to Zara.
Tory Burch's spring collection's been haunting me since the brand's runway show last September.
