Budget-Friendly Fashion Trends for 2023
Staying on-trend is an important part of looking stylish, but it can be expensive. Luckily, there are many ways to stay fashionable without spending a fortune.
One way is to mix high-end and affordable pieces together. For example, you can buy a designer bag and pair it with a budget-friendly chiffon dress.
Maxi Skirts
If you’re looking to switch up your casual everyday outfit, consider swapping your jeans and joggers for a maxi skirt. This versatile style can be dressed up with a dressy blouse for work or dressed down with a simple tee and sneakers for a day out. Regardless of how you style it, a maxi skirt is sure to become your new go-to wardrobe staple.
Whether you’re looking for a strappy floral skirt or a midi skirt with ruffles, there are plenty of budget-friendly options to choose from. Easily dress up a floral or lace maxi skirt with a pair of dainty heels and a blazer, or dress down your long skirt with flat sandals and a floppy hat.
For more outfit inspiration, head to 4th and Reckless or Storets for affordable yet trendy fashion in sizes 12-22. Both sites carry a wide range of styles, from going-out essentials to office wear to cozy knits. You can also shop inclusive-size looks from City Chic, which carries everything from pretty cocktail dresses to summery rompers in sizes 14 to 32.
Crochet
While it may seem like crochet was a summer trend only, the handmade fabric has proven to have staying power. You’ll find plenty of elevated crochet in the collections of spring/summer 2023 designers, from open cobweb-like weaves that look almost unraveled to ultra-dainty rosette appliques (think: Victoria Beckham, Interior, and Jil Sander) to the whimsical ’60s shift shapes seen at Marni and Proenza Schouler.
If you’re unsure of how to wear the crochet trend, start small and work your way up. For daytime, try a cute crochet crop top or swim cover-up that you can pair with denim shorts, and for evening, opt for a chic crochet knit sweater. A fun crochet tote is also a great option for adding a unique touch to your linen beach dress. Or, you can try your hand at making something from scratch—it’s actually easier than it looks. Crochet stitches are created by piercing through previous rows of stitches, so your finished product will have more texture and holes than knitting.
Metallics
Metallics made a big statement on the 2023 fashion week runways with shiny silver body suits and crinkled chrome maxi dresses. But this trend can easily work its way into your wardrobe in more affordable ways, such as a shimmery top or a silver pair of heels.
To stay on the right budget track, look for brands that use sustainable and ethical sourcing for their materials. And when shopping online, sign up for newsletters to be notified of sales and discounts. You can often find great finds from a variety of retailers at a fraction of their original price.
Another budget-friendly way to stay on the latest Fashion Trends is by coordinating your hardware color. This means wearing shoes with gold buckles with a blazer that has gold buttons, for example. It makes for a cleaner, more polished outfit.
Denim
Fashion icon Diana Vreeland once said, “Blue jeans are the most beautiful thing since the gondola.” And with denim as one of this year’s biggest Fashion Trends—whether you opt for skinny or baggy silhouettes or updated outerwear—this wardrobe staple will never go out of style.
Wide leg silhouettes are a not-so-basic take on this season’s true blues trend, as designers look to channel the late ’90s club aesthetic and Gen-Zers get their first taste of the look. Brands like CLOSED and Levi’s use a mix of cotton and polyester (usually with ramie, a plant fiber that reduces wrinkling) to create oversized pants paired with tight body con tops.
Blinged out denim has moved past its cheesy origins, with embellishments and treatments by brands like Who Decides War, Kseina Schnaider and GCDS elevating the look from Y2K leftovers to directional street style staple. Darker blues, like those seen at Altuzarra and Khaite, are also gaining popularity for their workwear-inspired details, from hammer loops to patch pockets.
