Top investment pieces in fashion for 2023

 

Putting together curated shopping edits that you'll enjoy and collating the new-season trends you need to be aware of are two things we're particularly adept at Who What Wear. Therefore, the first place we seek for inspiration as we contemplate the greatest pieces to buy and wear for the upcoming year (and beyond) is to the runways.

Fashion month occasionally doesn't give us the most wearable or practical items (sorry, Loewe), but it always manages to give us a fresh perspective on trends, and in 2022, nostalgia was the big takeaway.

It was good news for our wardrobes and wallets that many of the trends presented were continuations of those we adored from the previous spring/summer (such as luxurious leather, manly tailoring, and the '90s redux), as we are always most interested in essential purchases that will stand the test of time. After all, fashion is cyclical. So, what can we anticipate for 2023?

I've selected 5 classic trends below that you can easily adopt into your wardrobe and will keep you looking great for many years to come. Some of them are classic wardrobe pieces with a contemporary twist, while others are buzzier trends that reappear every few years but still have the same impact as when they initially appeared. In conclusion, everyone can find something.

1. MINIMALIST FIT

Suits were formerly thought of as stodgy formalwear that was exclusively worn at work, but thanks to '80s power dressing, '90s minimalism, and '10s androgyny, the casual suit is now a reborn classic. The runways were full of simple, clean outfits that included blazers, skirts, and loose trousers, put together in business/casual layers and now best worn big and slouchy (even with flip flops!).

Style Advice: To pull off this effortlessly stylish style, less is always more. Reduce your accessory game and stick to large shirts, structured blazers, and pleated pants as your foundational pieces (we find wide legs the most universally flattering).

2. BLOCKING OF MUTED COLOR

If your eyes have recovered from the neon shades and pink that gave rise to Barbie core, here is a palette cleanser. Every season, a colour trend takes over the catwalks, rules street style, and permeates the high street. The unanticipated, unexpected colour trend of S/S 23 was the pairing of energising pastels with firmly rooted greens and browns. Take inspiration from Tibi, Dries Van Noten, and Deveaux by layering up beautiful tones of pink and yellow for a look that is simple to recreate but has major reward.

Style Advice: The best seasons to wear layers are a chilly winter and a cool spring, so stick to a similar colour scheme (think pinks and reds, blues and greens, oranges and browns) and add an unexpected pop with a long coat, leather bag, or statement boot.

3. UTILITIES

Cargo pants have resurfaced and are now bringing the utility jacket with them, just when we thought the Y2K trends were over. The fundamental components of the safari-meets-workwear trend that was displayed everywhere from Fendi to Coperni are pockets, khaki, and more pockets.

The white tank top, one of the must-have items from the previous spring/summer, goes perfectly with the baggy, low-rise cargo pants. AllSaints is wilder and less Spice Girl from the 1990s.

Style Advice: Contrary to what you might immediately think, there are chicer ways to wear utility, as evidenced by the street style community's enthusiastic embrace of the cargo pant. If wearing khaki from head to toe isn't quite your thing, consider dressing up a plain pair of pants with your favourite knit and a heel à la Grece Ghanem. It's the simplest method to follow the fashion without sacrificing your own sense of style.

4. THE MAXI DRESS 

The ankle-grazing—or perhaps floor-skimming—maxi hem is the antithesis of 2022's miniskirt trend for 2023. The maxi is the effortless style we wear throughout the summer as well as the dressy evening piece for party season  styled with gemstone pendants, thus the longer the skirt, the better, whether you choose an everyday jersey dress or a sleek party piece.

Style Advice: The key to the maxi dress is its adaptability; the same garment can be dressed up or down significantly depending on the occasion. For lunch, pair a straightforward cotton maxi dress with chunky shoes and a blazer; for dinner, switch to mules, drop earrings, and a little baguette. It doesn't get any simpler to dress.

 5. OUTFITTED DENIM

A more wearable trend (finally) develops for 2023 after the 2022 runways constantly tried to persuade us that we should be wearing low-slung, supersized, damaged denim. This is denim for after dark; it's been polished, adorned, and accessorised with lots of glitz. Straight-leg jeans, fitted shirts, and even longline dresses are essential staples. Wearing basic heels and sparkling jewellery from head to toe will give you a night-time appearance that puts comfort first.

Style Advice: Keep an eye out for denim that is well-fitting and has embellishments. This outfit makes the most of feathers, crystals, and leg-lengthening forms. When paired with razor-sharp shoes, it rivals the LBD (long black dress).