If there was anything worth celebrating about this year, it is, of course, how goddamn CHIC it was! Indeed, even when things felt like they were falling apart, the fashion world strode down the runway as if its life depended on it. With such an abundance of standout moments, recalling all of 2022’s most stylish happenings is a pretty tough task. Fortunately for you, however, it’s one that we have gladly taken upon ourselves — we really do spoil you, don’t we! From blockbuster campaigns to destination shows strewn across the four corners of the world, viral runway stunts to breathtaking designer debuts, here are the i-D team’s favourite fashion moments of the year.
Alastair McKimm, editor in chief
Mahoro in Chopova Lowena. Case closed.

Olivia Singer, global editorial director
Watching the Dior Men’s runway file past the illuminated Giza pyramids to the sounds of a live Max Richter symphony was as good as this all gets. It was a hard moment to beat, surpassed only by Mahoro’s LFW debut.

Felix Petty, executive editor
Raf’s first and last London show this September, underscoring his brand’s importance and uniqueness to the last thirty years of fashion history. That also highlighted the feeling of transitoriness in fashion this year. Things were changing, in flux, Alessandro Michele leaving Gucci, the ascent of Matthieu Blazy at Bottega Veneta, Daniel Lee joining Burberry, Maximilian Davis joining Ferragamo… And then the thousand tiny and meaningless microtrends conjured up in the eyes of bored TikTokers that erupted and disappeared. So a year defined not by a garment or a collection but by hyperbolic scandals and a feverish lack of attention spans.
Osman Ahmed, fashion features director
2022 was a great year for fashion. One of the things that sticks out to me is the return of the full-out fashion SHOW — entertaining, spectacular, collaborative displays of theatre and showmanship. There were so many genuinely jaw-dropping moments, from John Galliano’s incredible coup de théâtre for Maison Margiela Artisanal, to Matthieu Blazy’s trippy Gaetano Pesce set and can’t-believe-it’s-not-denim leathers, Maximilian Davis’ red-hot debut at Ferragamo, Saint Laurent building a sci-mirage in the Moroccan desert, Chanel’s history-making show in Senegal, Jonathan Anderson’s exploration of nature and technology with his Loewe menswear show, Grace Wales Bonner reframing Medici opulence in Florence, to a giant peach-coloured ‘flower moon’ eclipsing the Gucci show in Puglia, which took place around a castle lit up with constellations. Each of these were full-blown fashion moments — and most importantly, each one was brimming with brilliant agenda-setting clothes to match the spectacular settings. Thinking about it, this might be the year that fantasy came back into fashion. What’s not to love about that?

Mahoro Seward, fashion features editor
There have been many moments this year that have elicited the sort of instinctual, pulse-quickening response that good fashion does – and I’m not just talking about my little runway excursion! There was Alessandro Michele’s masterful Kubrick campaign for Gucci, Rick Owens’ poetic spectacles in March and June, Prada’s Depeche Mode-backed AW22 show which, to me, really felt like the moment when Raf and Mrs Prada really found their rhythm… The latter, though, is also responsible for the moment that really sticks out in my mind — Miu Miu’s SS23 show. The irreverently sensual, bunched-up knits; the biscuit-y leather shorts with the giant pockets; the thong sock boots – I instinctually wanted it ALL on my body, right there and then. Add to that the glitchy, ethereal soundtrack and neo-natural video installation by Shuang Li, one of my favourite artists right now, and it all made for a truly transcendent fashion moment that my mind still drifts to months down the line.

Bojana Kozarevic, senior fashion market editor
My top moments were: Mahoro in Chopova, Paloma in Miu Miu on the cover of i-D, Paris Hilton walking for Versace, and anything Loewe.

Louis Prier-Tisdall, associate fashion editor
Loewe – all of their shows this year!
Danil Boparai, social media director
CK1 Palace – In an era of relentless ‘street x fashion’ collabs, this was one that actually made sense and melded everything we all love about London and New York perfectly, with one of the best campaign films (soundtracked by The Pet Shop boys) in recent memory starring Unknown T, Precious Lee, Willem Dafoe as a taxi driver – and a cameo from Joan Collins. As you do!
Bella Hadid at Coperni — from a socials perspective, this was hands down the biggest fashion moment of 2022, from the biggest model of the year.
Aaand another one from Bella! The i-D Fall 2022 cover star created one of THE viral fashion TikTok sounds of 2022 with this moment from her episode of My i-D.
Fiona Hartley, head of social video
Rick Owens’s SS23 men’s show set blew my mind. I would love one of the fireballs to crush me.
Bottega Veneta SS23 was the most spectacular end to Milan Fashion Week, seeing Kate Moss strut down a huge Gaetano Pesce sculpture in a leather shirt and jeans is something I didn’t realise was on my bucket list to see until the moment I saw it.
My favourite TikTok icon Alex Consani took us behind the scenes of THAT Coperni show and it was full of chaotic goodness.
I will never get these courtroom sketches of The Kardashian-Blac Chyna trial out of my mind. From Khloe’s inch-long acrylics to Kris Jenner’s thick-rimmed glasses, Mona Shafer Edwards left no fashion detail unturned.

Nicole DeMarco, US editor
Seeing the SS23 shows in Paris IRL for the first time! Miu Miu was a highlight. Bella x Coperni. Comme, Issey and Rick literally took my breath away. Then again, so did bumping into Cher.
Frankie Dunn, international editor
The creased clothing trend seen across SS23 runways. Who has time to iron? Who even cares? I’m so pleased the rest of the world has finally caught on.
Dan Sablon, i-D France senior fashion editor
My fav moment so far is Rih’s baby wearing Chrome Hearts leather diapers!!! And his top, an ode to the amazing outfits worn by Michael and Janet in their iconic music video for “Scream”!

Giorgia Imbrenda, i-D Italy fashion editor
Miu Miu’s iconic miniskirt and mini sweater worn by supermodel Paloma Elsesser on the cover of i-D for The Out Of Body Issue. The brand really defined the return of Y2K style!!

Roisin Lanigan, editor
Did Kate Moss walking for Bottega Veneta SS23 become a viral fashion moment this year because she’s an ageless, timeless icon of the catwalk? Perhaps. Was it because her normcore look was a salve to 12 months of truly batshit post-pandemic, ever more extreme, ever more indie sleaze, ever faster spiralling trend cycles? Her tartan shirt, jeans and a white tank combo did recall her mid-90s “all I need are my red gazelles” normcore peak, so perhaps. Was it because that entire understated look was actually created intricately and expertly, creases and all, entirely in leather? Perhaps! Whatever it was, it was a huge moment, and one Kate took in her signature not-even-bovva’d stride, looking bored and listless on the runway while Twitter went wild for her return. Wouldn’t expect anything less from our monosyllabic queen.
Jenna Mahale, contributing editor
The phrase “break the internet” is undeniably overused, but it’s probably the best way to describe what happened this past summer, when Julia Fox took the low-rise waistline further than any Y2K resurgence enthusiast could have dreamed. Best known for her role as Adam Sandler’s partner-in-crime and mistress in A24’s Uncut Gems – a film by the Safdie Brothers that gave everyone heart palpitations in 2019 – Julia has, in the years since, come into her own as a figure in the pop cultural imaginary, going on bizarre dinner dates with Interview Magazine in tow with her, becoming a KNWLS girl; telling Ziwe she thinks “white people should be scammed the most”. Wearing a style by sustainable designer Liza Keane, Fox cut a stallion-like silhouette in a pair of upcycled leather “Beast” trousers, sporting a deep-V waistline and a coordinating leather bikini top for a night out on the town with Christine Quinn on her arm. Horse-themed photoshop jobs abounded. At the time, the question on everyone’s lips was: Why does Julia Fox look like a centaur? Why not!
Douglas Greenwood, contributing editor
With red carpets in crisis, the arrival of Taylor Russell at Luca Guadagnino’s Bones and All’s Venice Film Festival press conference reminded me that not all was lost. From late summer into autumn, the Canadian actor — who’d made her first mark in Trey Edward Shults’ Waves — translated the dark beauty of her cannibal love story into the clothes she chose to wear to promote it. What’s more, while most get wrapped up in a coveted brand deal that sees them through the whole run of appearances, Taylor switched it up. In Venice, it was Balenciaga: pantaleggings at that aforementioned press conference; a kelly green AW22 couture gown at the world premiere. For the UK premiere in London, couture Schiaparelli: gold corset, pagoda-shouldered jacket, and a wide-brimmed boater hat tipped to one side. In Los Angeles, at the Academy Museum gala, it was a leather look from Alexander McQueen. Now, she’s settled into the welcome hands of Loewe, both walking their SS23 show and acting as a brand ambassador. More excellence is bound to come from that collaboration; it’s another opportunity for her to return to that moment where she brought gasp-worthy outfits to a space in dire need of them.

Tom George, staff writer
With fashion very much in its slutty aesthetic this year, and menswear being the queerest it has arguably ever been, it seems almost destined, then, this year would also bring the runway return of the beloved cult British designer Mowalola for SS23. The Fashion East alumna gave us ‘Burglarwear’, her first collection in three years that played on the concept of theft as an innate taboo desire amongst us all as much as lust or other vices. Trousers and mini-skirts were so low-rises they framed the models v-cuts. Tight and bound comic book supervillain-inspired baby tees looked like they were from a Men.com Avengers porn. Meanwhile, rosary bead-fringe naked dresses, rope-tied latex nun’s habits and crucifixes cutouts gave a new meaning to taking the body of Christ. It spoke to those whose favourite movie is Cruel Intentions; those who left home and switched morning prayers for PrEP; those who periodically watch Lady Gaga’s “Alejandro” music video as an act of rebellion against their entrenched Christian shame. The collection gave all the controversial, sexy, blasphemous (and klepto?) fantasies any slut (non-practicing), with severe main character syndrome and unfoundedly saying they’re in their villain era, could dream of. It’s a collection for me and Julia Fox.