As 2023 draws to a close, it ends with its fair share of memorable moments in all aspects of culture and society. From politics to art, this year has been one to remember. In honor of that, here is a Year in Review centered around a topic that certainly made an impact this year: Fashion.

Rihanna’s Halftime Reveal 

While February 12th marked the end of the Eagles Season and a Super Bowl loss, the night was a cause for celebration in other ways. Taking the stage during halftime in a bright red body suit from Loewe and a puffer jacket from Alaia, Rihanna not only enthralled fans with her outfit, but also took the opportunity to make an important announcement during her performance. The choice of bodysuit revealed her baby bump, announcing her pregnancy.

Sophia Richie’s Quiet Luxury

If you’ve been on Tiktok in the past year, chances are you’ve heard about Sophia Richie’s elaborate wedding this past April. Giving her fans what they asked for, Richie debuted her TikTok account just days before the celebration to document the preparations. In a matter of days, her wedding shot her into social media stardom as fans obsessed over her “quiet luxury” or “old money” aesthetic that continues to influence style to this day.

An Ode to Karl

Probably one of the most important fashion milestones every year, The Met Gala and its illustrious red carpet draws some of the most celebrated fashion icons and stars to the Metropolitan Museum in New York. This year’s theme, “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty” focused on honoring Karl Lagerfeld’s legacy following his passing in 2019. Although many of the celebrities this year found current ways to embody Lagerfeld in their outfits, some, including co-host Dua-Lipa and Penelope Cruz as well as the likes of Margot Robbie and Nicole Kidman, pulled their dresses straight from Lagerfeld’s early collections. This vintage revival was a very unique way to present a theme; next year’s title, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion,” suggests a similar focus.

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

Taking the stage in sparkling bodysuits of varying colors, Taylor Swift and her 40+ different outfits were the perfect way to bring uniqueness to the already jam-packed performances of her Eras Tour. With looks from Versace, Roberto Cavalli, and Alberta Ferretti, not only did Taylor’s vibrant and imaginate costume choices amaze fans with their sheer splendor, but they also created more depth to the tour. Each era was represented by different types of costumes ranging from the many ball gowns in Speak Now to the iconic Lover bodysuits. During the Red era of the performance, Taylor took the chance to sport a throwback outfit inspired by the “22” music video. She changed the words on the shirt throughout the shows ranging from “We are never getting back together like ever,” to “Who’s Taylor Swift Anyway? Ew.” These classic lyrics evoked additional nostalgia from a tour that already featured her old albums. Fashion statements were made not only from Taylor herself, but from the crowd as well, with fans dressing up as different albums, songs, or even lyrics in a show of creativity,

Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour

This summer not only featured the “bejeweled” outfits of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, but also marked the end of Beyoncé’s worldwide Renaissance Tour where she gave a total of 57 shows. “The disco- themed show embodied everything from female empowerment to Black pride.” From gowns to bodysuits, Beyoncé wore it all, featuring more than 140 costumes from brands like Diesel, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Alexander Mqueen being just a few that were featured. In Kansas City during the last night of her tour, Beyoncé wore a custom made Baliencaga ball gown embroidered with over 9,000 crystal rhinestones.

Something Worth Mentioning…

Although the conflict has been resolved for the most part, the SAG-AFTRA strike’s effect on movie releases had an undeniable effect on the fashion industry. The lack of actors meant no movies were being produced, and as a result, films and press tours were pushed back. Stylists, tailors, and other fashion industry professionals were out of work with no celebrities to style for red carpets, press tours, and other events.

The Rebirth of the Birkin

Among all classic handbags, the Birkin may be the most prestigious either for its price tag or history in the fashion industry. On July 16 2023, the bags’ namesake, Jane Birkin, passed away. Celebrities and fashion influencers caused the Birkin to rise in style and were commonly photographed wearing the classic bag in the same overstuffed, accessorized way that Jane had done centuries before. As well as being featured in Gilmore Girls, Gossip Girl, and other pop culture moments, the bag trended in a TikTok named “The Jane Birkin Effect” with just under a billion views.

The Return of the Fab Four

Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Cambell, and Christy Turlington were featured everywhere this year. The supermodels have been famous since their debuts to runways in the late 80s, but recently they have been in the public eye more than ever. The Apple TV series The Super Models came out this year telling the story of their collective rise to fame. Later, the models were featured in Vogue September, the first shot of the four of them together in years.

While this year has certainly had many interesting and beautiful moments in the fashion industry, that is not to say there weren’t a sufficient number of issues as well. Like I mentioned previously, many people in the fashion industry struggled to find work while the actors’ strikes in California were up for major debate. Overall, I think reviewing how style has changed and this year’s popular trends has allowed me to realize that a number of these fashion moments were influenced by real world events. Evidently, what is happening in the world reflects many aspects of society and this year, unique fashion moments were a big part of the result.