Here at Who What Wear, we focus a lot of our energy on the biggest trends of the season, and while we’ll never stop covering the heavy hitters, there are several micro-trends worthy of honorary mentions. These aren’t making major style moves yet, but we firmly believe that it’s only a matter of time until they graduate from micro to macro or, in other words, from niche to mainstream.
After hours of studying the runways and, of course, online shopping (all in the name of research!), we’re sharing the micro-trends on our radar at the moment. We’ve spotted these pieces on the feeds of the most influential women we know and stocked at several key retailers, which tells us that each is on the brink of becoming huge. Keep reading for fashion’s most exciting micro-trends of spring 2023, from the silver jeans we raced to order after seeing the recent runways at New York Fashion Week to the cheap but impactful red tights that have all our editors in a tizzy.
Delicate bows are the small detail that’s having a major impact on style this season. Whether they’re adorning a dress like this Mirror Palais stunner or styled as hair accessories like they were on Sandy Liang models, pretty little bows are the micro-trend that’s winning over our hearts (and carts) right now.
Goodbye, miniskirts. Hello, balloon skirts! Full-volume midi skirts are the fresh style our editors can’t stop talking about (and trying out IRL), and because the tides have leaned so skimpy recently, the arrival of these retro ’50s-inspired styles feels especially fresh. Just last week, Prada sent several looks down its fall/winter 2023 runway that featured full skirts, solidifying them as the style to know now.
Last fall, Bottega Veneta’s Drop Earrings just about lit the internet on fire with their oversize, elongated shape and celebrity buy-in. Now, designers high and low are sending out similarly oversize studs, and the options have never been cooler (or more accessible, for that matter).
What do French women, Chanel, and J.Crew have in common? This latest micro-trend, which is easily spring’s chicest. Whether it’s via a simple tank top or bouclé jacket, black-and-white contrast stitching is the classic detail we’re suddenly spotting everywhere, and luckily for our wallets, even the lowest price points rival the highest.
Metallics have officially reached a fever pitch, with high-shine accessories selling at the speed of light these days. Well, let us introduce you to everyone’s next obsession: metallic jeans. Proenza Schouler and Gabriela Hearst both showed styles during NYFW last month, and they immediately caught our attention for their oddly low-key feel, especially when styled with wardrobe mainstays like blazers and ankle boots. Ever since then, we’ve spent hours researching the best pairs to shop now.
When it comes to jewelry, the coolest insiders are favoring sculptural styles with organic shapes. Standout pieces include Tiffany and Co.’s Bean Clutch that was created in collaboration with Elsa Peretti and the sculpted cord pendant from NYC favorite Agmes.
If you read our stories on the regular here or even follow some of us on Instagram, you’d already be aware that our editors are collectively going through a big red phase (backed by the runways, of course). A pop of red is our styling of choice, and above all, a pair of opaque tights in shocking chili pepper–red is the item that has our full buy-in. Wearing them with your pretty dresses just might be the savviest way to weather the awkward transition from winter to spring.
As people who bought way into the off-the-shoulder trend in 2016, we were surprised to see it bubble up again this season. Sure enough, the pretty collarbone-framing style is undergoing a resurgence, but this time, it’s in the form of sleek styles thanks to cool-girl brands Khaite and Tory Burch that are behind 2023’s push.
Let us introduce you to the cheap drugstore accessory that can transform your whole outfit. Wide elastic headbands inspired by the ones Brigitte Bardot was famous for wearing with her high-volume hair bring a cool touch to just about anything—this $7 five-pack on Amazon is a relatively microscopic investment.
Some micro-trends seemingly pop up out of nowhere, while others take a minute to fully develop. The latter is true for menswear ties, a detail we spotted in Louis Vuitton’s F/W 22 collection exactly a year ago, and we have been patiently waiting for fashion people to adopt the trend ever since. Well, the time has finally come, and the looks we’re spotting in our social media feeds that feature tailored suits and button-downs with ties were definitely worth the wait.
With all things retro being fashion’s guiding force these days, the latest piece of the throwback movement has just arrived: corduroy. In rich chocolate brown and even vibrant fuchsia, we’re spotting some of spring’s coolest tailoring in the ’70s texture, especially this standout skirt suit from Helsa.
Who could forget the micro miniskirts that had such a chokehold on us last spring? If, like us, you were invested in the Miu Miu–inspired style, consider this styling idea to be your fast-track to making the ultra-short hemlines, well, actually wearable. Fashion’s experimental crowd has been wearing their miniskirts layered over jeans and trousers, and the look was mirrored in Fendi’s fall/winter collection as well, solidifying its impact in our minds.
