11 Trends That Will Define the Summer 2023 Fashion Aesthetic

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With summer on the horizon and spring already in full swing, we're getting some early glimpses at which fashion trends will define the upcoming season. Standout trends from the spring/summer 2023 runway collections are already taking shape in the closets of fashion insiders, with pieces ranging from '80s jewelry to '90s minimal designs to raffia bags that are winning out right now. 

Brands such as Celine are fueling the momentum for directional tennis dressing, while Aimé Leon Dore's latest collaboration with New Balance is laying the groundwork for what promises to be the biggest sneaker trend in the coming months. If you're planning upcoming summer travels, the internet has been buzzing about Sofia Richie's recent wedding, which was stocked with pre-wedding seaside looks for the South of France, which will no doubt serve as inspiration for where vacation style is headed this summer. Ahead are 11 key summer 2023 fashion trends to shop now.

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(Image credit: @sofiarichie)

Sofia Richie's stellar wedding-weekend wardrobe has already inspired viral TikToks discussing her chic looks, including this maxi-skirt outfit. Tapping into one of the biggest trends for spring and summer, Richie demonstrates how to carry the piece into summer by adding a vest top, strappy flat sandals, and eye-catching accessories.

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(Image credit: @tylynnnguyen)

If there is one bag trend to know for summer, it's raffia bags. Brands including Khaite, Prada, and Celine are debuting raffia bags for summer, and we're already predicting they will be season defining. If you're already shopping for an upcoming summer vacation, rest assured that this is a smart buy to add to your suitcase.

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(Image credit: @matteau)

We've seen '90s minimalism on the runways for several seasons, and it isn't slowing down anytime soon. To usher the trend into the upcoming season, add pieces such as sleek one-piece swimsuits with barely-there straps and tube tops into your closet. Christopher Esber has a draped strapless top that is particularly noteworthy.

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(Image credit: @iliridakrasniqi)

The color of the year? Undoubtedly, it's red. While the trend was big on the spring/summer 2023 runways, it is continuing in an even bigger way into the fall/winter 2023 collections, which means that it is a great investment. We're seeing shades ranging from deep cherry red to bright, fiery hues, so you can find the color that works best in your personal wardrobe.

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(Image credit: Celine)

Celine recently launched a tennis collection with pieces such as Triomphe canvas tennis racket bags, terry-cloth visors, and polo dresses finished with gold buttons—a designer take on the preppy athletic pieces that have come to define a new era of luxury sportswear. We've seen momentum for tennis fashion on and off the courts with brands like Tory Sport and Sporty & Rich, and that isn't slowing down anytime soon.

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(Image credit: @federica.labanca)

Thanks in large part to Anthony Vaccarello's S/S 23 Saint Laurent collection, '80s jewelry has seen a major resurgence recently that will continue long past summer, in fact, as the fall/winter 2023 collections embraced the jewelry trend in an even bigger way. The pieces to wear now? Chunky cuff bracelets and earrings finished in gold or silver that make a major statement.

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(Image credit: @josefinehj)

This summer, white trousers just may replace jeans as the go-to pants for the fashion set. Instead of dressier trousers that are intended for an office setting, these trousers are more casual and styled with looks that incorporate pieces such as tank tops and flip-flops. Look for straight-leg, tailored styles in easy, relaxed fabrics like linen and cotton.

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(Image credit: @clairerose)

Wedges have proven to be a divisive shoe silhouette, but their comeback is stronger than ever. Bottega Veneta has continued to bring back its cult version season after season, but in 2023, we're seeing them dominate the shoe space in an even bigger way. If you buy one pair of shoes for summer, make them wedges.

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(Image credit: @sophiaroe)

Brands including Prada and Loewe ushered in the 3D-floral trend in their S/S 23 collections with sculptural flowers that inject a fresh take on the traditional floral prints that we typically see for spring and summer. It has become one of the most coveted trends of the year so far, with styles ranging from rosette-embellished heels to tops adorned with delicate camellias, and we expect to see it dominate this summer.

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(Image credit: @helsastudio)

We're seeing signs that a new wave of preppy fashion is making yet another comeback with the influx of pieces like crisp button-down shirts. What feels fresh about them for summer is the way we're seeing them styled—tucked into shorts or pants with a belt, then unbuttoned nearly to the waist.

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(Image credit: @deborabrosa)

The fashion set has already been snapping up the latest Aimé Leon Dore x New Balance 860V2 sneakers—an athletic style that is set to move the needle in sneaker trends if the prior cult collabs are any indication. Now is the time to add them to your cart before they sell out.

Next: Sofia Richie's Wedding-Weekend Looks in France Are Defining Cool Summer Style

Associate Director, Special Projects

Kristen Nichols is the Associate Director, Special Projects at Who What Wear with over a decade of experience in fashion, editorial, and publishing. She oversees luxury content and wedding features, and covers fashion within the luxury market, runway reporting, shopping features, trends, and interviews with leading industry experts. She also contributes to podcast recordings, social media, and branded content initiatives. Kristen has worked with brands including Prada, Chanel, MyTheresa, and Luisa Via Roma, and rising designers such as Refine and Tove, and her style has been featured in publications including Vogue.com, Vogue France, WWD, and the CFDA. Before Who What Wear, Kristen began her career at Rodarte, where she worked on assistant styling, photo shoots, and runway shows, and at Allure, where she moved into print and digital editorial. She graduated from the University of Southern California, where she studied art history and business, and currently lives in New York.