2023 — as I began the year as an overconfident senior in high school and ended as an equally confident freshman in college — I was fashionably filled with new and nostalgic additions to my collection. The resurfacing of my love for pink, the reintroduction of true pop stardom, and the re-emergence of the OG Juicy Couture tracksuit engulfed my first year as a legal adult. For the majority of 2023, I channeled my mom in 2003. Back then, fashion was low-rise everything: along with micro mini skirts, graphic tees, french tips, platform shoes, and my favorite fad, the babydoll dresses. Though I possess the superior fashion sense in my family, I must admit that my mother’s clothes are a hefty contribution to my wardrobe—which I hope to grow larger than RuPaul’s drag closet. With the combination of the current revival of Y2K-related trends and the lacy ‘coquette’ style (seen in the form of a dainty little pink ribbon tied around every possible object), my fashion sense has never been so fierce. To demonstrate my expertise, I’ve compiled a list of my fashion inspirations for 2023—a banner year of femininity.
Sabrina Carpenter
The only acceptable person to put first on my list of icons is the present princess of pop and platforms, Sabrina Carpenter. This past year, the singer and actress rolled out her newest studio album, “emails i can’t send” and followed it with a sold-out tour in North America, South America, and Europe. Not to mention Carpenter’s surprise reveal as an opener for the Latin American leg of Taylor Swift’s “The Eras Tour” and the upcoming dates announced around February 2024. One of her most iconic outfits, aside from the stunning pieces she wore while opening the highest-grossing tour of all time, was in the music video for her hit single “Feather.”
In the elevator scene of the video, Carpenter modeled a light blue satin lace-up mini dress from Poster Girl. The dress itself was phenomenal, but accompanied by a chartreuse rhinestone-studded belt and matching handbag, and the perfect addition of a light pink feather hanging from her ear, this look was jaw-dropping.
It subtly embodied a past craze with the incorporation of the feather—a double entendre in the sense that it’s the song title and a strangely popular trend (that I, unfortunately, fell victim to) in the 2010s. The belt around her waist is also reminiscent of something my mother would have worn back when I was docile enough to be silenced by a pacifier. Carpenter perfects this nostalgic look as she mixes it up with modern styles I see every day on a college campus.
Betsey Johnson
Betsey Johnson has been a staple brand since the beginning of my girlhood. From the first time I spotted a BJ purse, a hot pink rotary phone crossbody with an auxiliary cord so you could make calls and speak through the telephone on the bag, I knew Betsey would be my best friend. I vividly remember being at our local Dillard’s, a store that will certainly outlive humanity, and begging my mom and aunt for the purse. As the firstborn child, I was destined to struggle to understand the concept of the word ‘no.’ So when that was the answer to my pleas, I was devastated. Flash forward to today; I don’t have my purse yet, but it’s in my cart online, so to anyone who truly loves me, my birthday is three short months away!
Due to the insurgence of the coquette and bow trend, vintage BJ pieces have once again proven themselves relevant and worthy. BJ is one of the few brands capable of combining the delicate bow design with that of something like ruffles. From their Instagram, I’ve gotten countless ideas on how to play and incorporate texture into an outfit. Contrasting textures, like a silk top compared to a fluffed-up tulle skirt, allow for more visible distinction and make the outfit more eye-catching.
Thanks to my beautiful and attentive mother, I was gifted my first pair of Betsey Johnson earrings. In Spring 2015, the “Prenup” collection hit the runway. The collection was phenomenal, of course, but in this show, all the female models rocked chunky necklaces that read “PRENUP.”
In August of 2023, Betsey decided to cause a cultural shift by reintroducing the necklace to fans, in addition to a pair of earrings and a charm bracelet. As I was ten years old and unaware of the significance of BJ, when the jewelry was initially dropped, imagine the tears that flowed when I woke up to the most fabulous earrings I have ever owned under my Christmas tree. With one earring reading “PRE” and the other “NUP.” I am certain that one day, they’ll make the perfect wedding accessories.
Miss Pinky
Through my vigorous obsession with the Betsey Johnson Instagram account, I recently discovered an all-pink pop star named Miss Pinky. After my initial discovery of her, it felt like I was looking at a version of my reflection, but she was much pinker, and her outfits were more uniform. A fellow lover of all things the early 2000s, like her detailed duck nails, Hello Kitty, mini handbags, cheetah, and zebra print displayed throughout her clothing, Miss Pinky has a sense of self that cannot be swayed.
When she isn’t being a real-life Bratz doll, she’s a hairstylist, so she frequently switches up her hair. My favorite style she’s worn was during a photo shoot in which she rocked some intense neon pink liberty spikes.
No matter the color, though it will most definitely be pink, the length, or the style, she pulls off every look effortlessly. Whether this month holds a short baby pink pixie cut or a big bright pink afro, Miss Pinky will show up and show out.
Not only has she taught me how to continue dressing like an animated character, but she has also given me enough confidence to write this article. Sometimes, it can be challenging to look around and see that you’re the only one dressed to walk in a fashion show, but Miss Pinky reminds me this is what fashion was made for. Fashion was created to demonstrate the individuality of humans. Some may dress through typical, traditional clothing to assimilate into a specific group, while others may dress to stand out. No matter the rhyme or reason, fashion is a crucial force for self-identity, originality within a community, and a reflection of our inner beauty.