Long-Haul Report: 12 Spring Trends That'll Be Around for the Rest of 2023

Lately, I can't stop thinking about one specific concept: impermanence. In some popular philosophies, there's an idea that the only permanent thing in life is change itself. It's a relevant sentiment, especially within the fashion industry, where something "new" is always considered à la mode—whether that's trends, designers, or buzzy items. Transformation is an inevitable part of what makes fashion, well, fashion. 

But for those who aren't fans of change, much less the prospect of continuously updating our closets, keeping up can be tiring. At the same time, sticking to a capsule wardrobe forever isn't for everyone. So how does one strike a balance? It all lies in identifying which trends will be around for the long haul. It's not about adopting every niché item you see on the internet. Instead, it's about investing in a few pieces that will carry from one season to the next. Are you wondering which trends transition from spring to fall?

In search of that answer, I scrolled through countless spring/summer 2023 and fall/winter 2023 collections to identify trends that will be around for the rest of the year. Change may be unavoidable, but so is the continuity of these 12 trends. These trends prove that as much as things change, they stay the same. 

1. Sweeping Coats

Maxi hemlines first bubbled up last fall and have continued to evolve since. But possibly the most sweeping iteration of this trend was longline maxi coats. They were prominent in The Row and Saint Laurent's S/S 23 collections and Luar and Brandon Maxwell's F/W 23 shows. And while summer may be on the horizon, those thinking about what they can buy now and still be wearing in the fall may find this the ideal long-term purchase. My tip is to opt for an iteration of this trend that lends itself to being seasonless—e.g., one that comes in neutral hues and more lightweight fabrics like satin, cotton, corduroy, or velvet. 

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2. Shades of Saffron

Let's be frank: most of us consider neutrals like beige or black to be the colors that carry over from season to season. But when shifting through runway collections, it became impossible to deny the prevalence of one specific color trend: red. But we didn't just see shades of saffron across S/S 23 and F/W 23 collections; even runway sets were decked out in color. For instance, a model walked down a red carpet wearing a matching suede set in a zestful shade of saffron at Ferragamo's spring show. Similarly, a model strutted in front of a bright red backdrop at David Koma's fall show, donning a longline coat adorned with red feathers. Multiple shows across seasons showed that this punchy primary color could be considered a neutral hue in its own right. 

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3. Sleek Snakeskin

Every season there's always a print trend that manages to slither its way into relevance; such is the case with the return of snakeskin. We first saw this print return to the runways in S/S 23 collections. But unlike past iterations of this trend, its former costumey feel was shed, and in its wake, we were left with ultra-sleek iterations. For example, we saw leather coats in various shades at Khaite, Tod's, and 16Arlington spring collections. While in fall collections, it was given a more femme-fatale feel with the adoption of form-fitting pants with cutouts and pretty pleated dresses (see: Rokh and Puppets and Puppets's collections). Looking at both seasons, it's clear that this print will have us wrapped up for the unforeseeable future. 

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4. Colossal Clutches

If you recall, we first saw designers shift away from tiny purses to oversize silhouettes last fall. And it seems they haven't looked back since. While most may associate the return of large bags with more traditional silhouettes such as carryalls or shoulder bags, this year's collections proved that no bag style is safe from being super-sized. Surprisingly, there was a wide embrace of colossal clutches across S/S 23 and F/W 23 collections. For example, a matching chocolate brown teddy set at Brandon Maxwell's autumn show was accessorized with an oversize clutch. But we didn't just see this silhouette blown up; designers took different styles like jumbo shoulder bags and totes and had models carry them down the runway as if they were clutches (see: Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, and Y/Project). The overall result was a handbag trend that (excuse the pun) is bigger than ever. 

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5. Peplums Strike Back

What comes to mind when you think of the trends that reigned supreme during the '10s? Bandage dresses? Or flower crowns, perhaps? I always reminisce about one trend in particular: peplums. One could argue this style was so beloved back then that it almost became too saturated, which led to it being avoided for years...until now, that is. Across recent collections, this style was not only reincorporated into the mix but given a grown-up spin. For example, Tory Burch's S/S 23 collection had multiple high-neck tunics with subtle peplum hems. While in Balmain's F/W 23 collection, we saw an off-the-shoulder velvet top with a dramatic contrasting white peplum. The new versions of this style are less about being overly frilly and more about focusing on simple tailoring that's striking. 

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6. The Comeback of the Column Skirt

As I mentioned, maxi hemlines have made a major comeback. However, if you're not looking to invest in the outerwear department right now, there's another trend worth adding to your warm-weather wardrobe: column skirts. This silhouette was first popularized in the '90s and has been reenvisioned in recent runway collections. We saw wearable denim column skirts at Tibi, Burberry, and Altuzzara's S/S 23 shows and ultra-elegant silk versions at 16Arlington's spring show and in Gucci's autumn collection. But my favorite was the black leather column skirts spotted in Tod's S/S 23 collection and Brandon Maxwell's F/W 23 collection—they felt like the ultimate transitional piece. Whether made from leather, satin, linen, or denim, a column skirt always looks good. This skirt's prevalence proved the best trends come back in style because they're versatile enough to withstand the test of time. 

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7. Bold Bracelets

Compared to other wardrobe items, jewelry is far less trend-influenced—after all, diamonds are a forever thing, amirite? Jokes aside, even with so many heirloom-worthy pieces in the world, jewelry trends still bubble up from time to time. And if you were to scroll through countless runway images (like I did), you'd likely glean bold bracelets were the accessory of choice for many designers this season. We saw them in every form, from layered sculptural arm cuffs in Tory Burch's spring collection to single arm cuffs in Rokh's fall collection. At the same time, Brandon Maxwell's fall collection featured looks with chunky oversize bangles at Brandon Maxwell. Then, there were shows from legendary fashion houses like Ferragamo and Saint Laurent, where stacks of arm cuffs and bangles were styled together. Overall, the feeling of the season was that jewelry will always be relevant, even more so when you embrace stacking on the bling. 

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8. Sharp Shoulders

Like jewelry, suiting doesn't live within the confines of trends because it's always stylish. Nonetheless, certain silhouettes can dominate from season to season—the most recent being sharply-tailored suiting. Across S/S 23 and F/W 23 collections, we saw designers shift away from an oversize fit to focus on tailoring the waist and shoulders to create a dramatic silhouette that feels '80s-inspired without going overboard. For example, a simple black blazer was given a subtle edge at Lanvin's spring show with slightly-padded shoulders. While at Rokh's show, the blazer was dramatized with the addition of a built-in belt and shoulder pads. And then, there were Saint Laurent and Versace's fall collections, which featured blazers with dramatic shoulder pads balanced with natural hues, sublime tailoring, and styling. Overall, subtle tailoring details across several collections showed that looking sharp while on the clock can be easy if you opt for a fitted blazer.

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9. Delightfully Draped Dresses

With warmer days ahead, I'd be remiss to skip over dresses. While many types of dresses make great long-term investments, you'll want to consider buying a draped style if you're interested in being aligned with runway trends. Draping played a major role in S/S 23 and F/W 23 collections by designers from around the world. For example, there was an ultra-slinky draped dress in Versace's spring show and a bright-pink linen dress with draping around the waist and bustier at Jacquemus. Bottega Veneta showed a mint-green draped dress in its fall collection. Ferragmo had multiple draped pieces, including a navy-blue draped minidress with a high neckline in its fall show. Though each show played with different draping techniques and used different fabrications, each iteration of this trend was utterly delightful. 

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10. Transitional Tights

I know what you're thinking, "Tights, really?" But hosiery is a staple everyone should have in their closet. Plus, pantyhose played a significant part in S/S 23 and F/W 23 collections, so it would be a failure on my part if I didn't mention it. Despite being one of the most underappreciated undergarments, we saw countless runway looks where tights were either the main focus or a noticeable component. For example, we saw more traditional styling in Khaite's spring collection, where dresses were paired with opaque hosiery. At Trussardi's fall show, they peeked out from underneath long-line coats.

But the trend-forward element of this otherwise timeless intimate is the more risqué styling we saw. For example, Bottega Veneta's spring collection featured a pantless look where sheer tights were layered underneath hot pants and styled with a sweater and slingback pumps. In Victoria Beckham's fall collection, an oversize blazer was styled as a dress and paired with fishnet tights and platform heels. The wide adoption of tights in 2023 collections is a reminder that the key to nailing transitional dressing always comes back to taking those tried-and-true pieces and getting creative with their styling.

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11. On Point 

If you thought your footwear for spring would have to be vastly different than your fall wardrobe, think again. While there are some shoe styles you'll likely want to invest in for spring (e.g., sandals), that doesn't mean there aren't a few options you can wear year-round. In fact, after scouring multiple collections, I'm happy to report one style will remain relevant for the rest of the year: pointed shoes. Rather than focus on one specific type of pointed-toe shoes, we saw designers embracing the shape in general.

For example, we saw pointed pumps adorned with zipper-inspired hardware in Coperni's spring show. At the same time, Bottega Veneta sent mules and wedges down the runway with sharply pointed toes. And then, in fall collections, we saw pointed kitten heels at Miu Miu and Prada adorned with buckles and 3D flowers. Though pointed-toe shoes ran the gambit across both seasons, it was a great test case for the style's versatility and a reminder that looking on-point from season to season doesn't require a million pairs of shoes. Sometimes you only need one great pair. 

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12. Back to The Basics

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the most fundamental part of all wardrobes: basics. No matter what changes are happening in the world (or on the runway), everyone has a few items they turn to for everyday wear. Of course, the concept of ready-to-wear pieces isn't life-altering, but across the board, we've seen designers embrace a theme of getting back to basics. In spring collections for Tibi and The Row, there were looks featuring trousers, simple button-downs, tube tops, and well-tailored blazers. This focus on "basics" was also a theme in F/W 23 collections. For instance, a model wearing a white tank and matching trousers made their way down the runway at Ferragamo. At Tove, there was a look where a beige turtleneck was styled underneath a blazer with a nipped-in waist.

While so many of the staples spotted in recent collections may not seem groundbreaking, it's their innate longevity that makes them special when compared to more fleeting trends. When there's so much impermanence in trends, it's sometimes nice to have something you can hold on to for a while. Change may be a fact of life, but this trend, and so many of the others listed in the story, give us a chance to slow down and relish in the things we love for a little bit longer—who wouldn't want to do that?

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Next up, The Spring 2023 Shopping Guide: Where to Buy the Biggest Trends of the Season