If you’re looking to find out which were the hottest fashion brands and pieces when it came to 2023, we’ve got the answers. A new report compiled by global fashion shopping platform Lyst reveals the luxury labels and pieces shoppers haven’t been able to get enough of this year, from Miu Miu being crowned brand of the year for the second time to Loewe’s anagram tank top and Alaïa’s mesh ballet flat. Read on to find out all about this year’s must-have fashion brands and items.
The Glossary Edit
The hottest fashion brands 2023
The Brand: Miu Miu
For the second year in a row, Italian fashion house Miu Miu has been crowned Lyst’s brand of the year, taking the top spot for fashion 2023. Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’ buzzy label has had a jam-packed year, from launching talked-about collaborations with New Balance and Church’s to creating compelling campaigns starring the likes of Gigi Hadid and Kendall Jenner.
According to data compiled from 200 million fashion shoppers in the past 12 months, Lyst reveals that Miu Miu’s online searches have increased by 39% year-on-year, while the label’s librarian-core logo cashmere cardigan received a 12% spike after appearing on the AW23 runway. Meanwhile, global demand for their cult ballet flats – the shoe shape of the year – has continued to rise, increasing 75% between March and September.
The Logo: Loewe
The current Loewe mania shows no signs of abating, with their distinctive quadruple-L insignia coming in top for fashion logos in 2023. That’s largely down to the runaway success of the brand’s Anagram tank top, which was one of this summer’s hottest fashion buys and has been largely sold out ever since Kylie Jenner wore it to Paris Fashion Week last year. In April, it became the hottest product of Q2, with searches rising 132% year-on-year.
But it’s not just Loewe’s tank tops that have been flying off the shelves. The brand’s ever-popular Anagram basket bags have now secured cult status too, with searches up 170% year-on-year, while demand for their Anagram jeans reached an all-time high in June.Â
The Trend: Hot Pants
If last year saw the micro mini skirt take centre stage, this year it’s all about the hot pant. Searches for the ultra-short shorts have increased 133% year-on-year, and Emma Corrin created a viral moment when she walked down Miu Miu’s AW23 catwalk in a pair of gold sequin knickers – afterwards, searches for the brand spiked 257% in 24 hours.
It isn’t just Miu Miu who’s been taking hemlines sky high – the underwear-as-outerwear trend has been seen on the SS24 runways at Tom Ford, Chloé and Stella McCartney, which means this is a trend that’s set to carry on over into next year. Hardly surprising, when it’s already been embraced by the likes of Bella Hadid, Hailey Bieber and Rihanna.
The Shoe: Alaïa’s Mesh Ballet Flat
There’s no debate over what was the undisputed fashion shoe of 2023: the mesh ballet flat. And though everyone from Bottega Veneta to The Row brought out their own versions of the ‘naked shoe’, every true fashion fan knew the only pair worth investing in was from Alaïa.
You’ve likely spotted the French’s maison’s fishnet ballerinas on Jennifer Lawrence, Sofia Richie and Elsa Hosk, who have made them so insanely popular they’ve been sold out pretty much everywhere all year. The hard-to-buy shoe quickly rose to cult status, entering The Lyst Index’s hottest products ranking in 7th place in Q2, with searches for the style increasing 56% in February.
The Trainer: Adidas Samba
The award for the casual shoe of the summer goes to Adidas Samba trainers. The celebrity-approved, 73-year-old sneakers have been spotted on some of the biggest names in fashion, from Bella Hadid and Kendall Jenner to Kaia Gerber and Rihanna, and according to Lyst searches for them have increased by 43% over the past four months alone, with the popular trainers searched every 1.7 minutes on the platform.
But it’s not just celebrities and influencers that love them. The trainers have earnt plenty of points with the fashion crowd this year thanks to a series of cool collaborations, including with Pharrell Williams and London-based designer Grace Wales Bonner. In November, searches skyrocketed 13,227% for the Adidas by Wales Bonner ponyskin Samba in the week the shoes were released, proving these are set to become a truly cult buy.Â
The Brand to Watch: Dilara
Wondering what – or who – is going to be the next big thing in fashion for 2024? According to Lyst, the label to watch is young London-based brand Dilara. Founded by Turkish-British designer Dilara Findikoglu, the brand has made a name for itself with its fantastical gothic romance looks, which have already been worn by Margot Robbie, Emma Corrin and Zendaya.
Despite the fact the label didn’t show at London Fashion Week in September, Dilara was nominated for the coveted New Establishment womenswear designer at the Fashion Awards 2023, and year-on-year searches for the brand have increased 89%. Expect to see Dilara’s striking, figure-hugging looks on every red carpet next year.
