We’re only a handful of weeks into spring, but summer is well underway. As the sun defrosts the ground to make way for flora, fauna, and the best summer 2023 fashion trends, I can simply feel it. And, because time has a funny way of passing by so quickly (wild, I know), the hottest season of the year will be here before we know it. Luckily, there’s still ample time to shape your warm-weather wardrobe, which includes everything from summer wedding guest dresses and crescent bags to the best clogs. Now, the real question is...with what?
To give you a starting point for your summer looks, I turned to Libby Jane Page, the market director at Net-a-Porter, to share her insider insights on the fashion trends that’ll be everywhere come June. The key point: this summer, you get both sides of the coin. “The spring/summer 2023 season was clearly a tale of two halves, proving pared-back elegance and sleek black styles can be just as high impact as the lustrous liquid shine pieces and standout floral moments,” she tells me. There are sheer fashion looks perfect for humid, 100-degree forecasts as well as luxe pieces to combat the flowing A/C, plus a few other eye-catching ones in between. (All of these will pair perfectly with the best summer 2023 jewelry trends, too.) Scroll on to see what Page is eyeing for this summer’s biggest trends.
Quiet Luxury
In case you haven’t heard, quiet luxury—also known as “plain luxury,” per Page, is very much in. And if you needed more proof, you need only look at the tsunami of press Gwyneth Paltrow’s ski trial courtroom style merited. “This season marked the reinstatement of simplicity into our everyday wardrobes, proving pared-back elegance is the height of luxury,” Page shares. “The Row, Bottega Veneta, and Savette are leading the plain luxury trend and searches for these have increased by over 185 percent, 75 percent, and 550 percent respectively.”
Reiss Holly Double-Breasted Linen Blazer
Savette Symmetry Pochette Leather Tote
The Row Fisherman Sandal
Back to Black
No matter the season, you simply cannot go wrong with black. According to Page, it’s a “mainstay fashion favorite.” And while you might be surprised that black is the new, er, color, the market director noted that head-to-toe black is at the forefront of fashion trends for summer. “Black is not a color we tend to associate with summer, but this season it proved its reign as fashion’s favorite color is still very much in place following seasons of dopamine dressing.” Page suggests slinky slip dresses and cutouts to beat the heat in black this summer.
Bottega Veneta Draped Silk-Chiffon and Twill Dress
h:ours Sammy Mini Dress
Skims Soft Lounge Long Slip Dress
Best Undressed
Hot summer nights? Take them on and dress in less. “This trend is a new wave of eveningwear dressing—a complete shift away from the high-octane glamour that has dominated the space for the past few seasons to a more understated approach that embraces nudity in a subtle and chic way,” she explains. “Saint Laurent owned this mood, continuing the theme from its pre-spring 2023 collection and showing 10 revealing dresses on the runway.” Of course, not all your looks have to be for nighttime; you can always opt for semi-sheer pieces during the day.
Bardot Mesh Bustier Top
Reformation Will Oversized Sheer Shirt
Maryam Nassir Zadeh Beige Sublime Mini Skirt
Magpie Moments
Now, just because understated, undressed looks are trending for summer doesn’t mean those shimmering, eye-catching pieces are completely cast to the side—so don’t put that sparkling summer cocktail dress in storage just yet! Page tells me that the spring 2023 runways glistened with sequins, paillettes, and crystal. “We saw a new guard of designers coming through and leading the way in the eveningwear space, from Nensi Dojaka, who exemplifies outstanding brand evolution, to 16ARLINGTON and LaQuan Smith,” she says.
Vanina Nuit Scintillante Sequin-Embellished Bag
Nadine Merabi Kendal Gold Dress
Flower Power
This last one comes as no surprise, because what would summer be without its colorful flowers? “Florals for spring and summer is nothing new, but this season, take your florals to the next level with 3-D designs that literally stand out from the likes of Magda Butrym. And if you are not feeling quite so garish with your fashion choices, dial it down with a chic rosette necklace,” Page shares. This will also be one of the biggest fall 2023 fashion trends once the temperatures cool down, making it a great investment for your closet.
Mango Maxi Flower Choker
Magda Butrym Cutout Ruched Floral-Print Jersey Mini Dress
Dale Arden Chong is the Senior Fashion Commerce Editor at ELLE.com. Previously, she was an editor at MensHealth.com and has written for Who What Wear, GLAMOUR, The Coveteur, and more. She loves fashion, food, and art, among other things—but her greatest love is K-pop idol V of BTS.
