As much as this year has been, well, a lot, it’s also brought us a lot of things in abundance… and by things, we mean looks! While it may have been one of the most stressful years on record, pressure seems to have created some veritable diamonds when it comes to style. Picking out seven of this year’s top fashion moments was no mean feat – and the deliberation process in our office has led to bust-ups that’ll make your annual festive family Monopoly meltdown look like a playground tiff – but such is our duty! Below, you’ll find our definitive list of the seven chicest, distinguished, most iconic looks of 2023.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s court looks
Granted, celebrity court looks are hardly a new thing; whether it’s Winona Ryder’s Marc Jacobs dress or Naomi Campbell’s Alaïa twinset, there’s a long precedent of celebrities scrubbing up their best for the judge. At the start of this year, though, Gwyneth Paltrow blew all the other law-infringing stars before out the water when she turned up to her civil case investigating her responsibility in a skiing accident in Utah in a series of looks that were cause enough for acquittal in and of themselves. A flurry of cashmere, muted tweeds and buttery nappa leather all from the likes of Prada, The Row, Celine and her own brand, G.Label, Gwyneth’s single week of reckoning served up more fire looks than most fashion months. Her day one look was a particular slay: a full The Row get-up paired with a pair of aviators and a Celine boot. She may have lost half a day’s skiing, but she damn well didn’t lose her style, Gwynnie!
Jacob Elordi’s handbags
The thing with being really, really tall and really, really ridiculously good-looking is that even the most basic of sartorial gestures will be perceived as a daring dress choice, and a bellwether for trends that, frankly, were well underway for some time. That was well proven this year when Euphoria and Saltburn star Jacob Elordi stepped out time and time again with some of this year’s hottest it-bags in hand – elevating what were often pretty quotidian and unremarkable looks to ones worth being on this list. Perhaps the most emblematic examples of Jacob’s pioneering style hack are the quilted Chanel chainstrap flap bag he was papped with next to Sofia Coppola, styled with a simple white shirt and a pair of grey slacks, or the Bottega Veneta Andiamo he toted while ambling the streets of LA in a jersey sweater and some Nike. Granted, Jacob Elordi is not the first man to carry a handbag, but, this year, his commitment was a welcome reminder of the power of accessorising.
Doja Cat’s Schiaparelli show look
Anyone willing to spend five hours in glam really is, in our eyes at least, doing God’s work. At the start of this year, Doja Cat proved herself a faithful soldier in the service of fashion when she arrived at Schiaparelli’s SS23 Haute Couture show in a lavishly beaded scarlet gown from the house, though it wasn’t the dress doing the look’s leg work. Rather, it was Doja’s skin – or rather, the red body paint and 30000 hand-applied Swarovski crystals covered out. Executed by none other than the Pat McGrath, the look reportedly took four hours and fifty-eight minutes to execute – which seems like a fair price to pay when you consider how much a spot on this list is worth! You earned it, Doja!
Kendall Jenner in Phoebe Philo
The drop of Phoebe Philo’s first ‘edit’ for her namesake label last month was one of the year’s biggest fashion moments, prompting a flurry of hysterical spending on incontestably chic (and controversially expensive) totes, Argos-redolent ‘Mum’ jewellery, and rigorously constructed trenches, bias-cut pleated skirts. One person who went particularly big with her haul was Kendall Jenner, who in recent weeks has emerged as the brand’s unofficial ambassador. Taking up the mantle from when her older half-sister Kim became Phoebe’s Celine acolyte back in 2012, Kendall was clocked in Aspen sporting a ski-resort-appropriate, hulking sable-hued fur coat from the London-based house shortly after news broke that she and Bad Bunny had called time on their relationship. With its price tag coming in at a cool $28k, we can only assume that this purchase was part of a necessary post-break up retail therapy programme that we wholeheartedly encourage her to continue with.
Troye Sivan in the “One Of Your Girls” video
It’s been a big year for Troye Sivan (and for twink advocacy more generally). From poignant ode to poppers “Rush” to “Got Me Started”, the video for which was lovingly pastiched by fellow top twink (well, Troye’s vers, actually) Timothée Chalamet on SNL, Troye has released one gleefully f-slur-y hit after another, providing the soundtrack for pride celebrations and messy house parties the world over. The looks he’s pulled in the videos have lived up to the hits themselves, most often reading like chicer, gayer versions of outfits lifted from NSYNC’s sartorial back catalogue. But the one that took the biscuit was his get-up in the video for “One Of Your Girls”. Taking a step into what we all hope is his drag era, Troye dolled up as an early-noughties pop princess à la Britney, styled by Dara Allen in sensual lingerie and layered slips from Tom Ford-era Gucci. Not just one of your girls – Troye proved himself one of the girls.
Kendrick Lamar in Martine Rose at the Grammys
The rich intersection of fashion and hip-hop isn’t something we really need to elaborate on at this point (and if you think we do, here’s a podcast all about it!), but one person who really proved themselves a pioneer this year is Kendrick Lamar. A renowned fashionphile, this year saw him remind the world of his unparalleled taste level when he rocked up to the Grammy’s to pick up his award for best rap album in a look straight off Martine Rose’s AW23 runway, complete with the latest edition of the brand’s viral riff on Nike’s Shox. A winning look for a winning moment – a paragon of dressing for success!
Lily-Rose Depp & 070 Shake
The union of two style supremes is a special thing, and this year brought together two of the most stylish girlies we know – i-D cover star and The Idol icon Lily-Rose Depp and ultimate lo-fi cool girl 070 Shake. First spotted together during Paris Fashion Week back in March, the context that spawned their relationship has seemingly gone on to define it, with the pair turning the streets of cities all over the world into their own personal runways. Choosing one look from their seemingly endless repertoire is a challenge, but since we have to, we’ll pick one that embodies their impeccable, complementary vibe – Lily giving gothy-femme in a black crop-top and miniskirt combo sporting wraparound sunnies and a baguette, 070 Shake giving soft butch in an oversized tee with patchwork quilted trousers and a stompy boot. Chef’s kiss!