According to Editors, These Are the Only Trends You Need to Know for Spring 2023

It's been two weeks since the fashion crowd finished yet another month of runway shows, press dinners, presentations, and street style, leaving just enough time for us to settle in and actually evaluate all the collections we just witnessed debut. Speaking for the Who What Wear team, we've spent much of the post–fashion month break online, digitally scanning every last look and categorizing each one into trends so that come spring, we'll be ready for all that's new in the sartorial space. 

Though we'll certainly ramp up the reporting when spring actually arrives, it felt wrong to not give you all a bit of a sneak peek into the trends we've all settled on for next season. So I called on my fellow editors, asking them to gush about the one trend they're backing not only with their words, but their wallets too, once spring rolls around. Scroll down to see and shop them all ahead of time. 

"We're in the full swing of the '90s fashion resurgence with many cool, minimal pieces recirculating that you could have found in the closet of the late Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy. On the S/S 23 runways, this momentum continued but the standout piece to know is the tube dress—designed in midi and maxi lengths and cut with slightly loose silhouettes. Designers including The Row, Khaite, and Prada perfected the piece, each opting for sleek satin for the ultimate take on understated elegance."—Kristen Nichols, senior editor

Shop the trend:

Metallic fabrics aren't exactly groundbreaking in fashion. Rather, a season without them would be more offputting than one stock full of them. Nonetheless, the selection of gold and silver pieces for spring felt alarmingly fresh and different from all those that have come before. Especially alluring was a knee-length gold car coat from Tory Burch's much-talked-about NYFW show as well as the handful of silver, sequin-covered dresses, tops, and skirts that debuted at Nensi Dojaka in London. Classic yet modern, a metallic accessory, pair of shoes, or trousers can make a big difference, and even better, supply a never-ending source of compliments.

"I know pastels seem like an obvious choice for spring, but the icy pastels that came down the S/S 23 runways offer a cooler element than your average easter-like colors. Brandon Maxwell's collection embodies these colors in the perfect manner and I haven't stopped thinking about that runway show."—Yusra Siddiqui, assistant market editor

Shop the trend:

Ballet Flats

"A footwear style that has truly made a resurgence this year is the ballet flat. It's hard to label it as a trend because it truly is an evergreen piece, but it's definitely having it's moment. As I write this to you, I am actually sitting in my new pair of ballet flats with a very thick pair of socks as I'm attempting to get them broken in a bit before wearing them out and about. This is a trend that will be big in both the fall and spring, and I am so here for it. After all, when Miu Miu, Chanel, and the majority of the street style stars agree on something, we listen."—Sierra Mayhew, associate editor

Shop the trend:

"Sheer garments in various forms have been around for a few seasons now, but I honestly wasn't a fan until I saw them on the spring/summer 2023 runways. What I love about this reenvisioning of this trend is that it's a much subtler take on sheer clothing that's less focused on baring it all but rather creating visual interest. We saw that through how opaque organzas were used at Tory Burch to play with layering, how tulle was tailored at Rejina Pyo to create the perfect silhouettes, and even how sheer crystal mesh was used at Fe Noel to create pieces you can't help but stare at (for all the right reasons)."—Jasmine Fox-Suliaman, editor

Shop the trend:

"For the past few seasons, there has been no shortage of delicate and frothy designs—an overarching trend we've referred to as 'all the pretty things,' from shimmering sequins to billowing ruffles and sweet satin. The spring/summer 2023 runways are only doubling down on the theme with an exciting new element: rosettes. We spotted these 3D floral embellishments across plenty of collections, from Prada's rose-adorned totes to the floral chokers that featured in Mirror Palais' debut runway. It may be a small detail, but I'm certain it will make a big impact on spring fashion."—Anna Laplaca, editor

Shop the trend:

"I know much fuss was made about Coperni's finale, but I also had my eyes peeled on the asymmetrical hemlines. The brand was one of several during the spring/summer 2023 fashion calendar to make a case for the Y2K-inspired detail. Blumarine also featured asymmetrical hems heavily within their denim heavy collection—one of which a Barbie-pink dress I already can't wait to buy."—Indya Brown, market editor

Shop the trend:

"I'm a big accessories person, so I'm excited that belts are a trend again. The runways of Saint Laurent, Chanel, and Versace were just a few that showed them. Most were decorative but some were looped through jeans for a more casual take. Unlike a few years ago when in-your-face logo belts were all anyone cared about, the new wave of belts is far more subtle. I plan on wearing them with baggy, low-rise jeans."—Allyson Payer, senior editor

Shop the trend:

Next: According to Editors, These Are the Highest-Impact Trends for Fall 2022