From Barbie-core to Spider-Man: film and fashion moments we may see in 2023

There are so many iconic fashion moments throughout the history of cinema, from classics like Marilyn Monroe in The Seven Year Itch and Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, to cultural smash hits like Olivia Newton John in Grease and Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, to the ones that inspire Halloween costumes every year, like Alicia Silverstone in Clueless and now Jenna Ortega in Wednesday. Trends in fashion often come from costumes like these (think the return of the corset, Bridgerton-style), and although it’s easy to look back and see the links between trends and tv shows, is it as easy to predict them?

Looking forward to what is being released in 2023, I think there are lots of films and shows that could have the potential to be trendsetting. The first that comes to mind is Oscar-nominated director Greta Gerwig’s star-studded Barbie, out in cinemas in July. ‘Barbie-core’, including neon pinks, rhinestones, micro-handbags, wild 80s prints, and roller skates, started gaining popularity when the first stills from Barbie were released last summer, showcasing Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling in those outfits… but it is expected to explode in popularity this summer when the film is released.

The superhero genre is set to dominate the box office this year too, with potential hits from both Marvel and DC with new instalments for Ant-Man, Guardians of the Galaxy, Shazam, and the Flash, and the eagerly-anticipated animated Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse. Whilst these trends are a little less obvious than blinding-Barbie pink, streetwear and superheroes often go hand in hand, commonly in the form of graphic tees and high top trainers. Nike, for example, have celebrated the upcoming Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse by releasing a special edition of their ‘Air Jordan 1 Retro’ sneakers, in the colours worn by the film’s hero Miles Morales. Not only this, but couture has recently dipped its toe into the genre – fashion innovator Iris van Herpen helped create costumes for last year’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. This collaboration poses the question, how else will superheroes influence fashion this year?

There could also be returning trends with sequels and reboots of some popular favourites. Bridgerton season 3, for instance, will be streaming on Netflix at some point this year, and although there is no confirmed date yet, I’m pretty confident that as soon as the first trailer drops, corsets and ‘Bridgerton Blue’ will be available from every fast fashion giant. A childhood favourite is getting the live-action treatment from Disney this year, with Halle Bailey’s The Little Mermaid hitting cinemas this spring – could Ariel provide fashion inspo? At the very least, I’d expect Ursula to become a popular Halloween costume again this year, perhaps alongside Timothee Chalamet’s Willy Wonka and Chris Pratt’s Mario (from Wonka and The Super Mario Bros. Movie).

I think there’s plenty coming out this year that could have a part to play in the trends of 2023, from high fashion couturiers, right down to a pair of Groot pyjamas from Primark. There could be a surprising trend from a show no one expected much of, or maybe we’ll see the expected Barbie pink everywhere this summer, but I think it could be quite exciting to find out.

- Tegan