Fashion

From layered lace to acid florals: The 8 trends to know and buy now

By Robert Rydberg & Josefin Forsberg

Backstage at Lovechild 1979 spring/summer 2023. Photo: Colette der Kinderen

It's time to set up your warm weather wardrobe. Vogue Scandinavia's rounds up of the 8 must-know spring/summer 2023 trends to shop now – plucked straight from the Nordic runways

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Are you staring at a closet full of clothes but still reaching that common conclusion that you have nothing to wear? Fret not, Vogue Scandinavia has the answers to your wardrobe woes. When craving a refresh, fashion director Robert Rydberg first urges us to consider how we can wear the clothes we already own in new ways, be it through inventive layering or transformed with accessories and brooches.

If you're still set to invest in a seasonal refresh, we suggest taking cues from the catwalks in Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo. From flowing fringing to barely-there hemlines, we've scoured the Scandinavian runways to uncover the key trends to know – and the pieces to shop right now – when embarking on a fashion face-lift for spring/summer 2023.

1

Soulland spring/summer 2023.

Akris spring/summer 2023.

Rotate spring/summer 2023.

Layer with lace

As far as materials go, we have lace to thank for some of the most iconic looks in the latter part of the 20th century, from Madonna's angelic lace ensemble in the Like a Virgin music video in 1984, to the sinfully sultry bodysuit Naomi Campbell wore on Alaïa's 1994 runway. For spring/summer 2023, however, we're seeing a new era of lace on lace.

"This season, we see masculine cuts made out of lace," says Rydberg, pointing to Rotate's impeccable pink suit made from the delicate material. "We want to embrace that merger of masculine and feminine fashion."


Layer with lace

Lace shirt

Ganni

SHOP NOWEUR 225
Lace off-shoulder bodysuit

The Attico

SHOP NOWEUR 390
Guipure lace pants

Saint Laurent

SHOP NOWEUR 2190
Cotton lace crop top

Self Portrait

SHOP NOWEUR 315
Lace turtleneck maxi dress

Alaia

SHOP NOWEUR 2300
2

Stine Goya spring/summer 2023.

Moschino spring/summer 2023.

Helmstedt spring/summer 2023.

Acid florals

We all know florals are a spring fundamental, but this season we keep our eye specifically on vivid versions to transform our wardrobe. Whether psychedelic, pop-art, or soft-edged, these prints have one thing in common: punchy colour palettes. Apple green merge with poppy purples, while buttery yellows are cosy up to Klein blues – a veritable rainbow of colours to choose from.

"Invest in a full look, like the Stine Goya suit and shirt," says Rydberg. Even if the thought of top-to-toe prints is daunting, it is a great investment as you can always break up the different pieces and wear them individually. " Wear the cargo trousers with a t-shirt and blazer," continues Rydberg. "Or maybe pick up on one of the colours in the print and pair the printed jacket with a yellow dress."


All over flowers nappa leather crop top

Moschino

SHOP NOWEUR 1100
Asima jacket

Helmstedt

SHOP NOWEUR 225
Judea Unikko

Marimekko

SHOP NOWEUR 450
Kiana jacket

Stine Goya

SHOP NOWEUR 145
Floral-print sateen sleeveless dress

Jason Wu Collection

SHOP NOWEUR 759
3

Burberry spring/summer 2023.

Gestuz spring/summer 2023.

Baum Und Pferdgarten spring/summer 2023.

Feminine denim

"In the past, we've seen a mainly sheet and A-line denim dresses from brands like Acne Studios," says Rydberg. This season, however, he points to a feminisation of the silhouette – seen in the corset seams, ruched shoulders and flowing fabric were everywhere on the runway.

Gestuz and Baum Und Pferdgarten led the pack in Copenhagen with shortened hemlines, cinched waists, and puffed sleeves to accentuate hourglass silhouettes, while Burberry's lace negligé layered atop denim trousers caught our eye on the international stage.


Denim peplum top

See by Chloé

SHOP NOWEUR 380
Denim midi dress

Alexander McQueen

SHOP NOWEUR 2190
Denim mini skirt w/ cascading flower

Magda Butrym

SHOP NOWEUR 990
Milla organic denim top

Mara Hoffman

SHOP NOWEUR 411
Mid blue Umatillagz denim dress

Gestuz

SHOP NOWEUR 100
4

Rotate spring/summer 2023.

Versace spring/summer 2023.

Stand Studio spring/summer 2023.

Colourful (faux) leather

A seismic shift has been rocking the foundations of the leather-working industry, with brands moving away from using animal derived products in favour of sustainable alternatives. Yet while California is banning fur and mediterranean brands are only now beginning to step away from leather, Scandinavian brands have been spearheading the change.

"Just look at Stand Studio," says Rydberg. "They started out focusing on fur, and today they've all but eliminated it from their collections." It is a shift that also allows designers to be more playful with their designs, making way for the colourful looks seen on the spring/summer 2023 runways.


Domino faux leather straight pants

Staud

SHOP NOWEUR 257
Caisana strapless faux leather top

Rotate Birger Christiensen

SHOP NOWEUR 93
Constance jacket

Stand Studio

SHOP NOWEUR 449
90s Pinch high-rise faux leather pants

Agolde

SHOP NOWEUR 448
Faux leather miniskirt

Courrèges

SHOP NOWEUR 390
5

Mark Kenley Domino Tan spring/summer 2023.

Bottega Veneta spring/summer 2023.

The Garment spring/summer 2023.

On the fringe

Heading into the new '20s, we're very keen to emulate the euphoric ensembles of the era with fringe en masse. The full fringe look was incessantly popular in 2022, celebrating any festive occasion with a sense of razzle-dazzle, but for 2023 we find ourselves honing in on the details.

"Look at the hemline of Mark Kenley Domino Tan's coat," says Rydberg, pointing our the ensemble's ineffable allure. "A bit like 'old Celine'." A trim of fringe swishing by our knees or sweeping from our crop-tops has never been more au courant.


Fringe-trimmed jersey bra top

Norma Kamali

SHOP NOWEUR 60
Leather Fringed Jacket Brown

Remain Birger Christensen

SHOP NOWEUR 699
Nili fringe-trimmed cotton cropped top

Dodo Bar Or

SHOP NOWEUR 334
Satin western shirt w/ leather fringe

Tom Ford

SHOP NOWEUR 2308
Draped fringe dress

Acne Studios

SHOP NOWEUR 1900
6

(Di)vision spring/summer 2023.

Baum Und Pferdgarten spring/summer 2023.

Coperni spring/summer 2023.

The barely-there bottoms

Not to be mistaken with Daisy Dukes, booty shorts, or Bermudas – the resurgence of hot pants on the runway has caused this specific style of short-shorts to return to our wardrobes in 2023. Originally a means to protest modest dress codes in the '50s, today we're seeing these barely-there shorts as a must-have in warmer temperatures.

But for Rydberg, it is important to get your proportions right when rocking these mini-minis. "Wear them with a large shirt or suit jacket to balance them out," he suggests. And if you're keen to get your legs out in our cold climate, a pair of stockings are your best friend. "You'll instantly feel more covered and it looks amazing layered with knee high socks or boots."


Ribbed-knit stretch-cotton briefs

Marine Serre

SHOP NOWEUR 110
Cable-knit wool shorts

Toteme

SHOP NOWEUR 80
Cashmere and silk jersey shorts

Loro Piana

SHOP NOWEUR 650
Checked virgin wool shorts

Miu Miu

SHOP NOWEUR 850
Printed high-rise leather shorts

Alessandra Rich

SHOP NOWEUR 1065
7

Rodebjer spring/summer 2023.

Remain spring/summer 2023.

Max Mara spring/summer 2023.

Scandi beige

When it comes to fashion, Scandinavians will eternally favour a handful of things: great denim, impeccable tailoring, and quirky prints, just to name a few. But most of all we love updated suiting, especially if it comes in an innately luxurious shade of Scandi beige. From Rodebjer's soft two-piece, to the utilitarian crispness at Remain, our local designers have truly mastered the look – with Max Mara getting an honourable mention due to its surprisingly Nordic nature.

"To succeed with an all beige look, I would suggest to really consider the cut of your clothes," says Rydberg. "Look for more modern silhouettes. Instead of a classic trench coat reach for an updated jacket, for example," he concludes.


Cotton Poplin Pleated Back Shirt Beige

Remain Birger Christensen

SHOP NOWEUR 161
Racer back knit tank top

St. Agni

SHOP NOWEUR 193
Emilou pants

Rodebjer

SHOP NOWEUR 300
Taranto oversize viscose blend blazer

The Garment

SHOP NOWEUR 435
Organic cotton blend gabardine coat

Toteme

SHOP NOWEUR 762
8

Raf Simons spring/summer 2023.

Alexandre Vauthier spring/summer 2023.

Rotate spring/summer 2023.

Back to the '80s

The riveting return of the '80s truly deserves its own trend report for the coming season. The decade was everywhere, from the colourful tights and thin belts at Raf Simons' last show for his eponymous label (RIP), to the aforementinoed colourful faux leather.

Alexandre Vauthier created a particularly enticing homage to the decade for the brand's spring/summer 2023 collection, featuring acid washed denim, oversized biker-inspired jackets, metallic finishes and extra wide shoulders. The last two details were also present in Copenhagen – take, for instance, Rotate's gleaming purple get-up with statement-making shoulder pads. The '80s piece Rydberg is most keen to see return? Era-appropriate Donna Karan inspired power suits, layered with a sultry roll neck of course.


Snow denim mini dress

Alexandre Vauthier

SHOP NOWEUR 1700
shoulder-pad double-breasted blazer

Dolce & Gabbana

SHOP NOWEUR 2450
Taft Pleated Mini Bow Dress Black

Rotate Birger Christiensen

SHOP NOWEUR 276
Jamie high-rise stirrup leggings

The Attico

SHOP NOWEUR 490
Embellished stretch-jersey leggings

Giuseppe Di Morabito

SHOP NOWEUR 537