The Most (And Least) Feminine Fashion Trends From 2023

Whew. What a year. After a few years of utter mayhem in the earlier part of the decade, 2023 felt both like a return to normalcy and also somehow crazier than ever. We saw men dressed as women, women dressed as animals, and feminine fashionistas dressed as the frilliest, froufiest fancy pants on the planet. Needless to say, fashion in 2023 was anything but boring.

But which trends from 2023 are actually worth remembering? Which trends celebrated, instead of diminished, our blessed femininity? And which trends made us supremely, sublimely happy to be women in this common era? Because if tying our outfits up with ribbons and bows isn’t one of the best ways to outwardly celebrate womanhood, I don't know what is. 

So to all my fellow girly girls out there, if a perfectly tied bow gives you butterflies, this one is for you: the most (and least) feminine fashion trends of 2023.

The Most Feminine Fashion Trends of 2023

Bows

Bows remained a feminine fashion mainstay in 2023, and for that we give thanks. Pinned atop clothing, hair clips, and bags, the enduringly girlish embellishment reigns supreme. The embodiment of pretty, we hope the bow sticks around for 2024, and beyond – during an election year that is sure to be filled with lots of masculine energy, we’re going to need it.

Ballet Flats

Miu Miu owned feminine fashion’s favorite footwear in 2023: the satin ballet flat. A shoe that fits into many niches, from balletcore to “old money,” it’s as artistic as it is refined. Pulling together any number of outfit combinations, the ballet flat was indeed an essential staple in closets far and wide last year. 

Off-Shoulder Tops

We’ve been patiently waiting for this trend to reemerge. What’s more feminine than a tasteful display of full collarbone and upper décolletage? (Nothing.) And with the sweater version, you get to stay cozy while showing some of that beautiful skin. It’s a win win win. 

Penny Lane Coats

Penny Lane coats also made a welcome resurgence in 2023. Named after Kate Hudson’s character in the 2000 film Almost Famous, the coat was a staple in Y2K fashion. Luckily for us, it’s one of the early aughts trends to resurface at present. Feminine but make it big money. The fur lapels and cuffs give coquette, and don’t require you to sacrifice anything in the comfort department – a must for any self-respecting woman.

Seeing Red

We’re not just seeing it, we’re also wearing it, head to toe. Red came out swinging in 2023 and became the new pink, black, and every other statement color of the past. In every shade from poppy to deep cherry, the hue was found on dresses, coats, bags, shoes, and re-recorded original music (well, Speak Now, technically).

Genuinely Comfortable Shoes

If the fact that genuinely comfortable shoes dominated 2023 doesn’t convince you that women are finally masters of our own fate, I don’t know what will. Especially when compared to the podiatric contraptions (also known as stilettos) women have historically been forced into, this comfy trend is a dream. Given that we see celebrities and influencers sporting loafers and trainers regularly, what more proof do we need of true liberation? It is here. And it’s about time.

Ruffle Dresses

Ruffle dresses were abundant in 2023, which made us feel very blessed indeed. And when it came to the quantity of ruffles, you couldn't have too many. What used to be a sensible single ruffle at the bottom of a skirt or sleeve was multiplied exponentially and crisscrossed all over the garment from neckline to hem. Maximalism, but make it ruche-y. 

The Least Feminine Fashion Trends of 2023

Aggressive Cutouts

A little cutout is sweet, surprising, alluring. An aggressive cutout in 2023 apparently looks like the ribbon you usually wrap around your Christmas present, but instead you wrapped it around yourself and forgot to put on anything underneath. Personally, I don’t know how you even move in this without multiple wardrobe malfunctions. But that’s just me. 

Too Transparent

When the name of a trend begins with the word “too,” it’s pretty much always a red flag. As with the previous trend miss, a little transparency is curiosity-sparking. But leaving absolutely nothing to the imagination is just too much. Like telling your entire life story to someone you met five minutes ago, there’s typically a reason we hold some things back. Mystery is intriguing. Exhibitionism, not so much.

Excessively Oversized

I’ll be the first to admit that maximalism is queen, but even I draw a line when it comes to extreme excess. Oversized can be cute if you style it right, but, when exaggerated, just looks drown-y. In the wise words of any mother importing fashion advice to her teenage daughter: just wear clothes that fit. 

Tabis

This really should go without saying, but despite how hard 2023 tried to convince us, shoes that make your feet look like hooves aren’t it. Indeed, the strange inclination to appear part human, part animal is generally one to be avoided. In similar response to drugs and stripey bleached highlights, when it comes to Tabis, just say no. 

Honorable Mentions

We’d be remiss not to include a few opinions on 2023 trends from the holy grail of style, Fashion Reddit.

On quiet luxury: “In the early 2010s I miss how hipsters all tried to look poor, and now everyone wants to look rich, like it’s so much worse in comparison.”

On the “TikTok-ification of fashion”: “The hyper-specific aesthetics and -cores” are out for 2024.

Closing Thoughts

2023 was a good one in the world of feminine fashion. Out with the old and in with the new, with some of the trends coming down the pipeline in 2024, this year will surely be as good as the last. Because, in reality, the way we dress is so much more than the clothes we put on our bodies; it’s one of the most personal forms of self-expression. And for feminine girlies who love to class it up, this is the best news ever.

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