From head-to-toe red to Mary Janes: These are the 2023 trends we're taking into 2024

1. High-low styling of party pieces

2023 was the year we all turned into crows. Drawn to the sequinned and sparkly, we no longer wanted to keep our best for the occasional night out, instead plucking inspiration from the runways to sport our evening wear during the day. Chanel bedazzled its cardigans and styled them with loose fit bouclé trousers, Gucci paired sheer sparkly tops and skirts with statement stockings and Miu Miu matchedi its soft roll neck knits with sequinned mini-mini shorts.

The Vogue Scandinavia take on the trend? To style sequins with even more laid back layers. Dazzling floor-length skirts was worn with oversized hoodies and beat-up sneakers. Beaded see-through dresses were poked out under puffed-up outerwear, and disco ball shirts were layered under loose-fit knitwear. Every single look a testament to why we should all dust off our best party wear in 2024.

2. Rocking top-to-toe red

While Valentino's vivid Pierpaolo Piccolo Pink was the pivotal colour of 2022, we experienced a tidal wave of all-red looks in 2023. Valentino was yet again at the forefront, leaving fuchsia behind in favour of scarlet shades. The Italian fashion house was joined by the likes of Balenciaga, Ferragamo, Hermès and Marni, to name a few.

In the pages of Vogue Scandinavia, this 2023 trend appeared in homage to 'Falu röd' – a colour that hails from the Swedish mining town Falun and dots the Swedish countryside by way of quaint cottages and barns. Styled by our senior fashion editor Maria Barsoum and shot by Angelina Mamoun-Bergenwall, we see no let-up of this top-to-toe look. Especially not when Acne Studios, Burberry and Cecilie Bahnsen return to the shade for spring/summer '24, lest we forget Sarah Burton's final show for Alexander McQueen strewn with blood-red rose prints. Simply put, we can't wait to continue this trend in 2023.

3. A sheer delight for transparent styling

2023 has been the year we brought sexy back. Not only have we seen a surge of lingerie sported outside the bedroom, with corset details, negligees, lace-lined nighties and sultry silk slips becoming tone-setting for the year's evening wear. We've also seen tastemakers like Kendal Jenner and Elsa Hosk shedding their layers – opting to wear see-through dresses and skirts or going entirely trouser-less when stepping out in public.

At Vogue Scandinavia we completely endorse this Risky Business approach. In fact, we are keen to see sheer layers and sultry styling become even more common in 2024, prompting our readers to revel in unveiled looks during the daytime as well. And there's no better place to source inspiration for this look than in our March/April issue, where fashion director Robert Rydberg teamed up with renowned photographer Hasse Nielsen to capture 'winter pastels' on the sandy dunes of Denmark's beaches.

1. Set your sights on silver shadows

Mermaid beauty had its peak during the summer of 2023, with glossy skin and slicked-back 'just-out-of-the-water' hair. The spring/summer '23 catwalks gave us our first glimpse of the look, as models at Gucci sported undone, waist-skimming hair, their faces painted with holographic highlighter and Dries Van Noten's models looked like they'd just stepped out of the surf onto the runway.

One aspect of the seasonal beauty trend that will survive into 2024 is the use of shiny metallics: in particular a silver lid. This high-impact, low effort pigment peaked our interest on the Copenhagen Fashion Week runway during the autumn/winter '23 season and has carried on into 2024. The metallic mermaid look made its way into print, where it was presented on the pages of Vogue Scandinavia for the May/June issue alongside wet-look waves and dewy 'siren skin' that looked out of this world. At the time we tapped makeup artist Riku Campo on just how to nail this look when it was first debuted.

Related: Make a splash with mermaid 'siren skin' and wet-look hair – here’s how to get the look

2. The many-sided bob is thriving

Among the many trendy haircuts we saw in 2023, the bob came out on top. It comes as no surprise, really, considering what a successful year this cropped chop has had: Elsa Hosk decided to forgo her signature beachy waves for a shoulder-skimming cut while Zendaya single-handedly made the phrase 'butterfly bob' trend on search engines around the world with her short feathered 'do.

The beauty of the bob lies in its versatility. A many-sided make that we explored on the pages of Vogue Scandinavia's March/April issue in the editorial 'What About Bob?'. So whether the luxe, liquid look of a sleek straight-cut chop, the French, Italian or the LOB (long bob), we find ourselves calling the salon for a 2024 cut, as there is no sign for this trend to peter out soon.

3. The soft grunge look has us sorted

We've all developed a notion of nostalgia as of late. Icons of the naughties and the early aughts have been popping up in pop culture: gaucho jeans and thin eyebrows, the renaissance of flip phones and rom-coms. One of the most prevalent trends to take up space in 2023 was grunge. Striped, shredded sweaters, faded military jackets, and tartan-printed skirts crept onto the catwalks of Acne Studios and Vivienne Westwood, just to name a few.

We've, of course, seen the era's influence in the world of beauty as well. Beyond the powdered matte base, unbothered and pale, we've seen a prevalence of brown and burgundy shades. Recently dubbed 'latte' or 'espresso' makeup, these trends are just a contemporary take on the classic grunge look – smudged lipstick, blurred liner and all. A look that was perfectly pictured in Vogue Scandinavia's November/December issue and that we bet will stick around in 2024.

1. Round out your year with personal pieces

Interiors tend to follow a slower trend cycle than fashion and beauty, with furniture considered a more long-term investment. That's why the chubby, rounded shapes we first picked up on in 2022 are still sticking around in 2023 and, no doubt, into 2024. Led by curvy couches and curvaceous coffee tables, the influencer-approved trend started with the reintroduction of B&B Italia's 1970s Camaleonda couch and Swedish furniture designer Gustaf Westman's wavy mirrors cropping up on our Instagram feeds.

Since then, we've seen more and more personalised interiors claim the space of once monochromatic design choices, with 'Danish pastel' replacing the all-beige homes of the past. Returning to expressive design, 2024 will no doubt be the year of individual interiors, and we plan to make it easy for ourselves by hitting up second-hand stores on the hunt for curvy light fixtures and statement vases in punchy colour schemes to start.

2. Focus on focal point art pieces

Over the past few years, the quintessential 'photo wall' has ruled our interior decorating. Whether bought in one go at your pick of print shops or accumulated over time, this mash-mash of eclectic art pieces has ruled supreme in our decorating tool kit. That said, 2023 saw the rise of the extra sizeable focal piece, with tastemakers on TikTok even framing statement wallpaper into humongous pieces of art.

These larger pieces can be pricey, but they add a lot of oomph to your space. Best suited for a home's social rooms like a living room or a dining room, these XL pieces have also popped up on the pages of Vogue Scandinavia. For example, our feature Danish artist Oh Land's colourful home was on the verge of bursting with interior inspiration, featuring a poppy piece of art that has us investigating making our own blown-up art investment in the New Year.

3. Wood belongs one more than the floor

Texture, texture, texture was key when it came to interior decorating in 2023. Think terracotta, stone, organic tiles, and wood – so much wood. We've keenly followed industry insiders as they've redone their homes, especially their summer cottages, helping the renaissance of traditional Scandinavian wood grains like fir along, boosting the popularity of these classic materials.

As for 2024, we know this touchable, sensorial trend is bound to continue. We see more and more wood-panelled walls crop up, even growing onto the ceiling at times. If you're considering renovating in 2024, look to Vogue Scandinavia's January/February issue for ample inspiration on incorporating this look into the heart of your home.

1. XL carry-all to carry us into 2024

This was the year when Scandinavia's most discerning tastemakers settled upon 'capacious' as its handbag size of choice. Following the last season of Succession, The phrase 'ludicrously capacious bag' swept the zeitgeist, leaving us all craving extra large carry-alls. Take Loewe's sizeable puzzle bags, presented on the autumn/winter '23 runway, or Jil Sander's blown-up signature hobo bag with a twisted shoulder strap. In the pages of Vogue Scandinavia, this trend had a whole story dedicated to sized-up accessories and frequently popped in fashion editorials – such as this look from the November/December issue.

As for why we want to continue carrying larger-than-life handbags next year, just look to Swedish supermodel Kelly Gale grasping an oversized chocolate brown shoulder bag on Bottega Veneta's spring/summer '24 runway. These handbags have already proved their staying power. And that's before we've even discussed how these pieces combine function and fashion, making them just the thing for our busy 2024 lives.

Related: 'Ludicrously capacious' bags still reign supreme among the Scandinavian style set

2. Statement rings that pack a punch

This year has seen a slew of statement jewellery trends spanning avant garde earrings and Princess Di inspired pearl chokers. That said, the one trend we plan to take with us into 2024 is the statement ring. Our hands have long been ruled by dainty links of silver and gold, but lately we've been coveting knock-out signet rings and scene-stealing gemstones to weigh down our index fingers.

As for the specific type of statement ring to pick in 2024, our choice falls on the pinky ring. Brandished by celebrities with both casual street wear and on the red carpet, it is a way to add even more dazzle to what you're wearing. Need proof? Just look at the impact on this glistening beauty spotted in the pages of Vogue Scandinavia's November/December issue.

3. Mobilising our many Mary Janes

In the phaeton of footwear, the charm of a simple pair of Mary Jane shoes is perennial affair. These reasonless staples, most often rendered in a sleek pump with a single strap, is particularly popular in autumn – and 2023 was no different. Fendi and Dior both showcased their versions of the shoe, while Roger Vivier upped the ante with checkered styles bedazzled with crystal clasps.

The trendiest Mary Jane pump of 2023? Margiela's Tabi style. The star of one of 2023's most memorable pop culture moments – when a TikToker had her coveted pair stolen after a Tinder date – the demure shoes also popped up on the pages of Vogue Scandinavia's September/October issue, further boosting their popularity for 2024.