In keeping with the morality resolutions of the new year, it is time for us all to take a good look in the mirror, and admit to a long held secret: most of our beloved fashion ensembles come from paparazzi snapshots, and not the runway. Sure, we saved the highlights from all of the incoming Spring 2023 Ready-to-Wear collections, but that is because we admire the artistic performance of those shows. We enjoy being transported into the creative minds of designers the world over; viewing their productions, but rarely desperate to replicate them ourselves. The looks of Moschino models during the Jeremy Scott Grand Manse-inspired collection from this past February come to mind as an answer to anyone still wondering why (Hint: The grandfather clock, and golden harp are must-sees).

With this truth laid bare, let us reflect on this past year’s Best In Show: Streetwear Edition. Below you will find some of yesteryear’s top trending match-ups like bucket hats and fur-lined long coats, as well as low-rise cargo pants and wife-beater cut-offs. With micro-trends dominating the past twelve months (and I suspect the next twelve to come), it is only fitting that we reflect on their success in becoming outfits we are proud to don for our everyday lives.

Monochromatic Sweats & Bucket Hats

This was the outfit of the year, and I am ready to fight anyone who says otherwise. We all did it. Everyday. All day. Many of us still do. The amount of money we all pumped into looking like a bunch of ruggedly-chic vagabonds with an affinity for the block color palettes astounds me…and I mean literally because I just checked my bank account logs.

They do make for great future-daughter-hoards-mom's-clothes options should, or when, a little me decide to go “vintage” in roughly twenty years time. At least this is what I tell myself as I prepare to hit the confirm button on my next e-shopping haul basket. I advise that you do as well.

The bucket hats gave our marbled claw clips some nights off, but really both should be highlighted here. It took me a while to get on board with the hat trend, but I did come around eventually. What can I say? They are cute, and versatile. Despite being one standard cut, these hats come in a surprising variety of colors and fabrics from frenzied fur to lean leather. I love them, and hope they stick around longer than some of the other nineties-influenced ensembles have this past year.

Leather & Denim

Not necessarily together, although I do group them under the same 2005-2010 grungy butt-rock aesthetic (gosh, I wish we, as a society, had collectively chosen a better nickname for that sub-music genre). 

Leather jackets came back in a massive way, and trailing slowly behind them were the Levi’s. Curve-love jeans, and modern flares received high-praise from fashion-savvy New Yorkers, while trucker hats became the go-to accessory for the month of May. Where did they go? Why did they leave so soon? I do not know, and purely because I failed to ever pull off Von Dutch’s prized baby, I do not care. However, those co-eds sporting them with their oversized puffers, and wide-leg pants made this fleeting fad look amazing.

Cargo pants & The Little Tee

There was a serious uptick in low-rise bottoms starting—oddly enough—as the weather turned cold. What comes low-rise, and hits the y2k obsession right at its core? Cargo pants. And what can only naturally complete a cargo pant look? Mini-tops. Mini basic tops reminiscent of Jennifer Aniston circa 1998. The paparazzi picture sling-shotting between my frontal and temporal lobes is one of her and Brad Pitt walking to their cars. You know the one, and yes, she does look unbelievably gorgeous. In 2022, we spotted this outfit on the likes of Hailey Bieber, Emily Ratajkowski, Lori Harvey, and pretty much every other twenty-something living the good life between The Hills and Hudson Yards.

Gorpcore—I Said It

If you asked me last January if I thought the name of a top trending fashion aesthetic would have “gorp” in the title, I would have asked where the hidden cameras were. Gorp? Ew. That doesn’t sound appealing—except that it is, and to inner circle celebrities at that. We are talking about Bella Hadid, Billie Eilish, Ariana Grande, and Rihanna amongst a sea of their neighbors, colleagues, and friends all strapping up with outdoorsy-glamp appreciation garb. From the Peruvian Chullos and industrial gloves, to the North Face jackets and mountain shoes, it really seems like you took the favorites from tech-wear and granola-girl camping gear, and blended it all up. Since layering is crucial to achieving a gorpcore ensemble, it makes sense why it was such a popular trend to float with. However, something tells me next season will host its expiration date…or at least its hibernation.

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