5 vintage fashion trends for 2023, as predicted by Vestiaire Collective’s co-founder
IMAGE VIA @vestiaireco/Instagram
WORDS BY MAGGIE ZHOU
What goes around, comes around.
There’s a certain smugness that accompanies buying clothes secondhand. You’ve not only scored a unique piece, but it most likely came with a cheaper price tag and the invaluable burst of satisfaction of doing good for the environment.
According to Klarna, one in three Australians bought a secondhand item in the past 30 days. It’s widely accepted that in pre-fast fashion days, clothes were simply made better. It’s another reason why people seek out preloved garments and accessories.
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We asked Sophie Hersan, the co-founder and Fashion Director of Vestiaire Collective, for her predictions on this year’s biggest vintage and secondhand fashion pieces. The global, online, preloved marketplace is a hotbed for emerging trends, as well as a playground to experiment with current ones. Below, see the top five aesthetic trends on her radar.
Quiet luxury
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With the rise of refined stylings of brands such as Celine, The Row and Totême, ‘quiet luxury’ has been dominating our social media feeds over the past few months. Fashion icons such as Sofia Richie and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley are championing the timeless style [through] subtle brand identity and colour palettes.
When purchasing these elevated basics, it’s key to select products that have timeless appeal and understated elegance, while also being made from high-quality materials. To build a capsule wardrobe to this trend, it’s important you’re curating a selection of high-quality wearable pieces that seamlessly work with the rest of your wardrobe.
A great way to start is with a clenched blazer such as the Wardrobe.NYC Contour Double-Breasted Blazer or Jil Sander’s Double-Breasted Tailored Blazer. [Then add] a pair of trousers (check out The Row), a classic white T-shirt or tank and a button-up shirt. A brand to watch in 2023 is Khaite. It has been making amazing strides within the industry over the past few years and continues to deliver elevated classics, perfectly aligning with this trend.
Futurism
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Futurism takes inspiration from space and the Metaverse, [and] was reintroduced through designs around the timings of lockdown as a way of escapism. The trend can be seen through silver and cool hues, digital prints, chain detailing and avant-garde silhouettes. [This is] seen through the collections of Courrèges, Loewe and Paco Rabanne.
Vintage Courrèges jackets, in every tone from neutrals to very bright colours, continue to trend within the preloved market. Over the past year, consumers have been adding a touch of futurism [to] their looks… Poppy Lissiman [and] Bottega Veneta come top of mind when on the search for futurist eyewear.
Y2K
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Y2K is here to stay with Diesel and Levi’s championing the trend throughout their recent collections. Inspired by the mid-’90s and early 2000s, the trend experiments between the fine line of futurism and retro edge. The launch of Diesel’s 1DR bag is a great example of the futuristic Y2K trend.
It has also brought a rise in baguette bags; the return of the Fendi Baguette 1997 bag has been seen across Instagram feeds. A baguette bag can add the perfect finishing touch to any look. Pleated skirts are also having a moment this season, being featured throughout Miu Miu and Peter Do runway shows, and are a perfect transseasonal staple for autumn.
Everyday vintage
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There is a recent revival of certain classic and iconic styles. As buying secondhand goods continues to grow in popularity, more well-known fashion influencers and individuals are seen incorporating vintage into their everyday dressing.
By adding a touch of classicism [to] your wardrobe, it can complement any style, while also making a statement. This could be done by throwing on a vintage Burberry trench coat or Acne Studios leather jacket on a brisk autumn day or adding a gorgeous vintage Fendi Peekaboo bag to the handbag rotation.
Individualism
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We’ve seen that Gen Z has shown a much larger appetite for vintage pieces than we’ve seen in a while, which has led to the growing demand for secondhand products. With that comes the rise in individualism where consumers are now seeking preloved goods that fit within their own personal style, rather than trying to fit within the masses.
Consumers are now exploring vintage stores (both in-store and online) and sifting through the archives to find the perfect piece that speaks to their personality and vision. I envision seeing more playful and conceptual fashion pieces mixing extravagance and reductionism like the Loewe collection from designer J.W. Anderson. Rotate is also a brand to keep an eye on for next year.
For advice on shopping vintage online, head over here.
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