Ahead of the Trend: Streetwear Inspiration for 2023

Fashion is clothes, but style is how you wear it, and you don't wanna be caught slipping with any of your fits in 2023. High fashion brands have continued to appropriate and take cues from those brands operating at a street level when delivering new collections, inadvertently placing the streetwear scene at the forefront of today's trends. 

Whether via collaboration, like KITH x Moncler, Undercover x Valentino, Supreme x Louis Vuitton, or through 'homage' and 'inspiration' the relationship between streetwear and high fashion is more symbolic than ever. Here, we take a look at some of the trends you can expect to see - and wear- in 2023.

The Alt/Grunge look resurgence will continue, but not as you may know it. Vintage, baggy and oversized styles are in, propelled by the modern alt/emo aesthetic of US artists like Lil Uzi Vert and Playboi Carti. You're gonna see frayed detailing, acid washing and unpolished aesthetics with a nod to the '90s fashion choices of grunge fans and bands like Pearl Jam and Nirvana.

Likewise, 2023 will be a big year for denim, with this year's looks harking back to the relaxed 90's aesthetic. Look for laid-back, big jeans and jackets in airy mid-and stone-washes, and whether you're a lover or hater of it - you're gonna see double-denim vibes. Don't hate the messenger...

Techwear and GORPCore is set to remain extremely popular in 2023 thanks to NPC's on TikTok. The popularity of brands like And Wander and Arc'Teryx doesn't look like abating and those with a trust fund from daddy will continue to pile in on Acronym. There's also decent new drops from heritage brands like Nike ACG and The North Face's Black and Purple Labels.

Tech styles and light, waterproof fabrics are likely to be adopted by a growing range of brands and across all departments, from trousers to accessories. 2023 will see plenty of zips, utilitarian pockets and statement straps, buckles and clasps - most of which will never be used by the average consumer. Mad.

Big, statement pieces will be a key component of the 2023 streetwear scene, with oversized prints and logos at the heart. Your favourite brands are likely to be heavily using spellout logos in untraditional places as well as use of straplines and street tagging aesthetics incorporated into print.

Classic football shirts are also on point, with various designers creating their own versions on stone-cold classics. What looks like a vintage football shirt might, at closer inspection, turn out to be a streetwear homage. West Ham, if you're reading this, you know what to do....

Streetwear has never really been gender-specific and shows no signs of changing. Practically all of the fits and 'mens' patterns in the KING stable can and are adopted just as easily by women, and there are no rules when it comes to fabrics and pantones. It's pretty much anything goes - and as things get looser and oversized, 2023 will be no different.

With the advent of the Lunar New Year a number of streetwear and high fashion brands have marked the occasion with capsule collections dedicated to the Year of the Water Rabbit. Gucci's new collection incorporates the rabbit into their knits, tees and shoes, whilst Tommy Hilfiger partnered with Miffy for a more minimalist take on rabbit-inspired branding.

Meanwhile, Adidas, Juventus and Manchester United collabs have incorporated Chinese-style branding into streetwear staples such as bomber jackets, football shirts and backpacks. You can do a lot worse than looking to the Far East for new research inspiration.

KING Creative Director and co-founder Paul Linton said: 

"The trends coming strong in 2023 have been moving for a while now, but we're gonna see them go more mainstream. There is definitely a move towards unpolished looks and that's always a good thing as it encourages variety and originality which is pretty much what all traditional streetwear brands are built on."