All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, StyleCaster may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Between ankle socks, knee-highs, fishnets, and fleece-lined tights, our leg wear drawer is already looking pretty full. But since we have a little room to spare, this season we’re choosing to add leg warmers into the mix. This awesome ‘80s accessory has been trending again in 2023, partially due to the rise of balletcore, and we’ve been itching to get in on the fun — for a reasonable price, that is.
Many people have been styling leg warmers with their UGG boots and platform slippers, while others are getting more literal by pairing them with ballet flats. However, a quick Google search for cute, influencer-backed styles and you might be taken aback by the cost. Some luxury leg warmers will have you shelling out over $100 — which yes, does seem like a lot for such a small piece of material. But those hoping to add leg warmers to their fall and winter outfits aren’t totally out of luck. There are plenty of pairs out there for under $20, just waiting to be paired with mini skirts, sweater dresses, and the occasional pair of leggings.
Urban Outfitters, American Eagle, and H&M have all been on top of the leg warmers trend, selling cute, affordable pairs that look way more expensive than they actually are. Whether you’re into soft seasonal colors, prefer the ribbed look over cable knit, or enjoy fuzzy details, we’re rounding up five options worth adding to cart in the near future.
Out From Under Ribbed Long Leg Warmer
So many cute leg warmer outfits consist of a cream colored pair. This one from Urban Outfitters is simple, yet will pop against your new UGG Tazz slippers and other platform shoes.
AE Leg Warmers
If you’re really ready to lean into the balletcore trend, invest in some light gray leg warmers. This soft shade complements baby pink clothing and will look super sweet when styled with ballet flats.
Monki Ribbed Leg Warmers in Black and Gray Stripe
If you’re someone who enjoys making a statement with your outfit, dare yourself to try a print. We’re partial to a pair that features stripes, which stands out yet still seems classic.
H&M Fluffy Leg Warmers
‘Tis the season for fuzzy socks, so why not fuzzy leg warmers? You might find yourself rocking these around the house and styling them with plaid pajamas.
Forever 21 Ribbed Knit Leg Warmers
Colorful accessories can help spice up your outfit, so if you’re looking to add some interest to chunky pair of oxfords or an everyday legging look, this blue pair will do the trick. Plus, you can’t beat that $7.89 price tag.
Photos: Courtesy of Gucci/Collage by Brooke Frischer
Nearly two months after Alessandro Michele‘s (seemingly non-amicable) departure from the brand, Gucci presented its Fall 2023 men’s collection in Milan, designed by the label’s in-house team.
The show took place Friday in a dimly-lit roundabout theatre where the trio Ceramic Dog sat center stage playing rock music that got progressively louder and edgier as the show neared its close. In the show notes, Gucci said, “[the] circular formation [of the stage is] symbolic of the collaborative spinning wheel of the creative community at the heart of Gucci.”
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
As the first model appeared on the runway, the overall message of the collection was clear: Gucci is going back to basics. With a simple white, cotton T-shirt and a pair of mossy-hued slacks, the age of Michele and his unmistakable maximalist aesthetic came to an end. (Though his best-selling fur-lined slipper was featured in the show.) In fact, the collection drew from multiple pre-Michele eras of Gucci, highlighting archival staples such as the Piston Lock (originally created by Tom Ford), the Horsebit and the Cross.
Photos: Courtesy of Gucci
The casual-ization of formalwear is the common thread throughout the looks. Boxy suit ensembles made their way down the runway in a variety of iterations. Double-breasted blazers and long suit jackets were laid atop more basic white tee shirts with raw, stretched-out hems — described as “improvisational styling” in the show notes.
Photo: Courtesy of Gucci
Scroll to Continue
Suits with detachable elements followed, enabling them to go from long-sleeve to short, or pants to cut-offs. Furthering the idea that masculinity can be malleable, specifically through dressing, the notes read, “The free and boundless facets of contemporary masculinities are observed in garments cross-pollinated – either in construction or styling.”
Photos: Courtesy of Gucci
Perhaps most surprising was the incorporation of fashion’s favorite niche aesthetic of the moment: balletcore. Muscle tank tops were layered under loose, off-the-shoulder knits and leggings were tucked into none other than leg warmers — not to mention the oversized bags big enough to fit all your dance-class necessities.
Photos: Imaxtree
Though the collection includes a few confusing additions (see: the oddly slouched boot that looked very uncomfortable to walk in), any goal of drawing a harsh line between Michele’s Gucci and what comes next was certainly achieved.
As the industry anticipates the brand’s upcoming womenswear collection, only one question remains: Who will be chosen to officially lead Gucci into its new chic, sexy and minimalistic era?
Browse the full collection below.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
As with the years that preceded it, 2023 is sure to introduce a few dominating fashion items and aesthetics. It could be the result of a TikTok video repeatedly going viral (see: Matilda Djerf‘s voluminous hair and just as voluminous blazers), or the It-girls of the moment cementing something as the next highly-coveted piece (see: the Balenciaga Le Cagole, pre-controversy). These trends all start somewhere, and are often more predictable than we realize.
After a year ruled — arguably more so than any other fashion era — by micro-trends, some of the most notable niches, like balletcore and gorpcore, are poised to go macro in 2023, having already made their ways to runways. To get a solid sense of what’s on the come-up, we asked industry experts about what pieces they predict will take off and how they think we’ll be dressing in the next twelve months. Whether you’re into the edginess of the denim resurgence or prefer a ballet-style cutout dress, there’s something for any and every aesthetic out there.
Balletcore-Inspired Dressing
Photo: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images
Though fashion pulling inspiration from ballet isn’t necessarily new, 2022 certainly saw this become more mainstream than ever before.
Collections from Molly Goddard and Simone Rocha featured plenty of ruffles and floaty tulle that inspired a year’s worth of red-carpet fashion. Florence Pugh embraced this more than anyone else: The actor called on designs from the likes of Rodarte and Valentino to play with billowing tutu-like skirts and voluminous tulle sleeves, taking the typically minimalist aesthetic to a whole new level. Alison Stiefel, general manager of ShopStyle, says we can expect this level of “airy dressing” to transition into a more wearable trend into 2023.
Nensi Dojaka Spring Summer 2023. Photo: Imaxtree
“Searches for [lace, tulle and sheers] remain on an incline heading into 2023,” she says. “Sheers were big in 2022, and we will be seeing this style extend into feminine, lingerie details on a variety of pieces like lace bottomed skirts, tulle sleeves on tops and mesh dresses.”
Brands like Nensi Dojaka offered some of the most convincing arguments to incorporate these more feminine aspects of the style into our everyday wardrobes, not just for a red carpet moment.
Scroll to Continue
Utility Over Everything
Photos: Imaxtree
With Y2K styles such as cargo pants and gorpcore-style sneakers on track to maintain their chokehold over the industry into the new year, there are plenty more utility-based trends to look forward to.
In 2022, we saw lots of multi-functional fashion become more popular than ultra-trendy, one-time-wear pieces, suggesting the prioritization of longevity and practicality. Trend forecasting group WGSN believes this will continue to resonate: Per a report shared with Fashionista, “survivalist, protective design and performance attributes” are the new luxury. People are looking for clothes that don’t just look pretty, but also serve purpose in their everyday lives.
Rickie De Sole, women’s designer fashion and editorial director of Nordstrom, is buying into the idea of “the ‘new uniform,’” which she defines as “practical functionality and relaxed tailoring combined for a polished uniform of elevated basics with subtle Y2K details.” This idea of “practical functionality” can also translate to the impending big-bag revival, where many are opting for more storage in their purse, rather than a cute micro-bag that forces you to pick between wallet or phone.
Reimagined Denim
Photos: Imaxtree
Denim was a big trend on the Spring 2023 runways, but these weren’t your average blue jeans. JW Anderson showed tops with denim collars while brands like Diesel and Masha Popova presented refreshing takes on the construction of the well-loved material. Stiefel sees “reconstructed and deadstock design denim” playing a major role in the trend cycle: “[Brands] are doing a great job recycling old denim and turning them into fresh, creative styles.”
Fresh takes on the denim jacket are proving to be where people can find creative spins on a classic favorite. This trend is no coincidence: The utility factor pushes the piece further.
“As we continue to think about hard-working pieces that build the perfect wardrobe, a denim jacket is key,” says Jodi Kahn, VP of luxury fashion at Neiman Marcus.
From denim corsets and repurposed waistbands to expertly manipulated ruching, there are apparently plenty of new ways to enjoy denim (another regression into Y2K-era fashion).
Amid throwbacks to the noughties and a propensity for hot pink (preferably Valentino Pink PP), playful experimentation and forward-thinking collections were alive and well in 2022: The mini skirts were even tinier, the gloves more operatic and the shoes more and more artful. We saw a resurgence of wardrobe staples, some of which were buried in the depths of our closets, like ballet flats and ribbed white tanks. (Did they ever truly go out of style?) Then, there were the newer fashion gems that went from our feeds to our shopping carts, like Luar’s Ana bag and Aritzia’s faux-leather Melina pants.
Ahead, check out the biggest fashion items we couldn’t stop seeing (or thinking about) over the past 12 months.
Miu Miu Ballet Flats
Photo: Imaxtree
There’s something about balletcore that we just can’t get enough of. The dainty, ballerina-inspired trend is all about making a statement through fluffy tulle skirts, bow ribbons and satin pieces. But for many, the entry point was something more familiar — especially from the 2010s: ballet flats.
Miu Miu’s largely responsible for the footwear style’s resurgence. Its riff on the ballet-inspired shoes pre-dates the trending TikTok aesthetic (it was introduced in Spring 2016), but it went extra viral in 2022 thanks to a few stylish celebrities and fashion influencers. The brand was named the biggest of the year by Lyst. And now, it sells many variations on the silhouette, from the original mismatched ribbon style to ones in leather, satin, even embellished.
A white tank top is — and has always been — a closet staple. But there was something about it that fashion couldn’t get enough of in 2022.
The reign of the white tank was solidified during the Fall 2022 season, when the sartorial icon usually purchased in a pack of 10 at Target was amped up on the runway at Prada, Bottega Veneta and Acne Studios. It was re-imagined with logos and new fabrications, and elevated with office-friendly trousers or ballgown skirts. And if you’re still not so sure of the fashion week impact, stars like Emma Chamberlain are huge fans of the Hanes-inspired classic.
Rising from the Y2K time machine is none other than the mini skirt, their hems shrinking to their shortest iteration yet in 2022.
When Miuccia Prada debuted the itty-bitty, low-waisted bottom at Miu Miu’s Spring 2022 runway, little did she know (or perhaps she very much did) that the fashion crowd would absolutely eat it up. The skirt was instantly a show-stopper, with supermodels, celebrities and influencers alike wearing it almost straight off the catwalk. It was such a huge success the designer brought it back again the following season (plus an array of micro shorts) — and, yes, that too was a hit. Other brands caught on, and released their own takes on mini skirts soon after.
These days, the very cropped bottoms are styled a number of ways: dressed up with heels, worn casually with oversized tops, belted low at the waist or even paired with bloomers peeking underneath.
Another brand has joined the list of viral “It” purses. First released in 2021, Luar’s Ana bag is a sturdy, compact carry-all inspired by the women in his family.
“The handle is kind of a nod to the fifties and sixties, like mod era,” Raul Lopez told Fashionista about the design inspiration back in May. “And then the body of the bag was kind of a nod to my mom, with the briefcase era…. It’s beautiful that people can carry my story around, which is kind of what I want.”
Originally designed for sports performance and trendy in the 2000s, wraparound sunglasses are back in the fashion zeitgeist, thanks to pre-controversy Balenciaga and the general Y2K resurgence.
The futuristic style is almost alien-like, with much of its inspiration coming from the ’90s-style Oakley shades. Aside from Demna and his muses, other brands at the forefront of trendy eyewear silhouette include Heron Preston, Maison Margiela, Marine Serre, Rick Owens and Ray-Ban.
Stylus’ fashion trend forecaster Katie Devlin told Fashionista that wraparound sunglasses are back in style due to the industry’s demand for functional-slash-performance-led design: “We’re seeing a kind of a sporty retro-future element, almost like a Matrix-inspired approach to Y2K.”
One of Pierpaolo Piccioli‘s biggest gifts to fashion in 2022 was his headlining Pink PP, which first made its runway debut in the later half of last year.
Created in collaboration with the Pantone Color Institute, the color then washed over the designer’s Fall 2022 collection for Valentino. Piccioli’s philosophy was to use a restrained yet powerful color palette to draw the eye to signature motifs he developed at the house.
Naomi Campbell, Florence Pugh, Anne Hathaway and many more have worn PP Pink on the red carpet. Meanwhile, the striking color has fueled the Barbiecore trend.
Crocs has been a re-emerging fashion favorite since as far back as 2018. (Did I just say 2018 was far? Omg.) What makes these cloud-like slippers so in vogue — aside from their comfort — are its sought-after collaborations with designers, artists and pop-culture icons, whether that’s Vera Bradley, Salehe Bembury and SZA or franchises like Pokemon and Harry Potter. Nothing seems to stop Crocs from remaining part of the fashion conversation, ever since we fell in love with the brand’s all-over strawberry versions in 2020, and, honestly, we hope it stays that way.
The pleated plaid skirt has always been (and maybe will always be) one of those season-less pieces that doesn’t go away. Still, it can be updated and made to feel current and exciting; leading that revolution is London-based Chopova Lowena.
Since the label’s inception, designers and Central Saint Martins grads Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons have created buzz around its signature hardware-focused skirts made from upcycled fabrics, inspired by their 2017 joint thesis collection. There’s something about the grunge-inspired piece, ranging from $800 to $1,000, that editors, stylists and celebrities can’t get enough of, especially in 2022. Most recently, the brand duo added adjustable waistbands to its most-wanted bottoms, making them all the more irresistible.
We know Jonathan Anderson loves “trompe l’oeil,” but nothing has been quite as impactful as the sculptural heels he introduced as part of Loewe’s Spring 2022 collection.
The now-inescapable shoes incorporate “ready-made” motifs — a cracked egg, a squished balloon, a rose, a bottle of nail polish — into slick sandals and pumps. The designs “suggest fragility and spontaneity,” the designer said at the time. The cheeky, almost trippy adornments are exactly what people love about them.
Since Glenn Martens took the Diesel throne in 2021, the Milan-based label has risen to the very top of the brands-to-watch list. Aside from its innovative runway looks and ultra-cool denim pieces, Diesel has also re-entered the sartorial chat with a must-have accessory: its logo belt.
Like many others on the market, the original Diesel belt comes in an array of patterns and is adorned with the shiny “D” emblem at the buckle. But what got people really talking this year was its new iteration for Fall 2022 — one so thick, it can be worn as a mini skirt. The currently sold-out piece went viral for its disputed reviews on TikTok. Fashion isn’t always the most functional,but that’s what we love about it, am I right?
Shows like Netflix’s “Bridgerton” (and ensuring “Regencycore”) have helped bring back some of fashion’s most dramatic silhouettes, from rigid corsets to opera gloves. The latter’s definitely a statement-maker, as it’s made to accentuate the movement of your arms and complement your outfit no matter the weather. These days, they’re made with fabrics ranging from mesh to leather, and can be styled with anything from an over-the-top gown to a simple top and jeans. A favorite of celebrities like Beyoncé to rising darling Taylor Russell, long gloves have been all over the red carpets, as well as street style.
The rise of Aritzia’s Melina pants has been a long build: Back in 2020, the brand’s faux-leather pants were trending all over TikTok. But in almost three years, it hasn’t caught a break at all.
From the university hallways to the nearest “going-out” hotspots, the Melina pants are practically anecessity at this point. The Wilfred-brand bad boys are coveted for their high rise, straight leg and flexible waistband. Thanks to a combination of the internet’s “clean-girl” trend and their sleek appearance, these pants really won over Gen Z this year. When they happen to be in stock, Wilfred offers it in 28 (!!!) colorways, including burgundy red and sage green.
There are perfectly good celebrity style moments, and then there are the looks that really stick with you, the ones you try desperately to recreate at home. In ‘Great Outfits in Fashion History,’ Fashionista editors are revisiting their all-time favorite lewks.
Before Lily Collins was “Emily in Paris,” she was (and still is) the headlining style sensation. She’s had plenty of memorable outfits, many of which hail from the early 2010s. (Remember when Tumblrcore and Alexa Chung twee trends were at an all-time high?) Circa 2013, the then-23-year-old starred in films like “Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” — naturally, that meant she was making a lot of awards show appearances.
Out of the Lily Collins fashion archives, though, her ensemble from the 15th Annual Costume Designers Guild Awards was just too good to pass: That year, Collins arrived at Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles wearing a floor-hitting black gown by Paule Ka, featuring a deep V and an oversized white bow at the back.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for CDG
Scroll to Continue
While her now-infamous Netflix character is known for her experimental (and at times, controversial) taste in fashion, Collins went the complete opposite route on this carpet, keeping things classic. Accessories were pared back — diamond earrings and rings, letting her gigantic bow make the ultimate statement. She completed the look with a bold red lip with matching scarlet nails, her thick eyebrows brushed to messy perfection.
Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images for CDG
The big bow trend never went out of style, and with TikTok’s balletcore trend (and everything –core, for that matter), the slouchy ribbons are going stronger than ever. Collins clearly agrees: She recently wore a shimmery bow mini dress from Valentino to the premiere of “Emily in Paris” Season 3 in the French capital.
As a certified balletcore fan – so much so that I even wrote about Hayley Williams’ all-over bow outfit the first few days on the Fashionista job – I firmly believe bows are destined for fashion greatness especially. While we tune into the latest season of “Emily in Paris,” shop the trend in the gallery, below.
House of CB Jana Black & Ivory Bow Mini Dress, $269, available here (sizes XS-XL)
Selkie The Porcelain Marshmallow Puffer, $339, available here (sizes XXS-6XL)
Mach & Mach Crystal-Embellished Bow Top Handle Bag, $715, available here
Betsey Johnson Guliana White Multi Heels, $35 (from $99), available here
Moda Glam Boutique Angelina Oversized Bow Gown, $380, available here (sizes 0-14)
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. This in no way affects our editorial decision-making.
We know it’s hard to find the right gifts for your loved ones, so we’ve compiled a ton of fashion and beauty-focused gift guides tailored to a range of interests and budgets. Check out our latest below and find more right here.
Thanks to Gen Z and TikTok’s never-ending churn on trends, a bevy of –core aesthetics have completely dominated both our feeds and our wardrobes.
There was the escapist, pandemic-driven rise of cottagecore. Balletcore reignited fashion’s love for tulle skirts and slippers. Barbiecore has taken over both the runway and the red carpet.
Rosalía‘s “Motomami” era refueled the grime and thrill of all things bikercore, while a growing interest in Formula 1 birthed the sport’s inevitable motorcore. The list goes on and on.
With the holidays right around the corner, it’s only right to think of these trends through the prism of gift giving. So, whether you’re shopping for a loved one or checking off your personal wishlist, check out some of our favorite pieces based on TikTok’s biggest -core aesthetics.
