As we’ve just recently entered a new year, there’s no better time to flip through last year’s eclectic style diary pages. From flirty frills to the crochet craze, we decide which fashion trends are allowed to crossover and be seen in 2024.
Frills and Ruffles
The girlies absolutely loved Frills and Ruffles in 2023, and we loved it too. The resurgence of long flowy tendrils and elaborate gathered pleats came with a fun, super flirty and whimsical feminine vibe. But the Fanci Club dress (Yes, I said it) went mainstream and led to the creation of a gazillion other design variations that somehow ended up looking the same. My eyes got tired of seeing that style everywhere. It totally ruined the vibe.
Verdict: This trend instantly elevated the simplest outfits into the most enchanting look, so yes, we are team more ruffles and frills in 2024. Be forewarned though- anything that remotely resembles the Fanci Club dress, anything at all, has been banned indefinitely.
Corsets (Asoebi-core, specifically)
I do not understand the choke hold that Corsets has had us in for a while now. The pressure cannot get werser in 2024. So, I will take it upon myself to grant us all permission to be free: Sis, let you and your stomach breeve.
Verdict: What do you think? Is it time to do away with aso-ebi corset lewks, or should we mind our business?
Mini Skirts
Mini Skirts made a comeback in 2023 and for some reason, I think we have Nigerian Popstar, Ayra Starr to thank for it. From casual and sporty to chic and sophisticated designs, miniskirts have become symbols of girlhood, freedom and confidence. That’s the energy we crave all through 2024.
Verdict: Only ‘sabi’ girls standing on business are carrying their belt-sized skirts into 2024. Choose where you belong wisely.
Chunky Heels and Wedges
Fashion pieces that combine style and comfort will forever have our hearts. Wedges were a 2023 classic, coming through for us in the casual moments, and even not-so-casual moments. As for its ugly step-sister, Chunky Heels, the experiment lasted, it was fun but it’s time to pack it up.
Verdict: Wedges, you will forever be famous. Chunky Heels? Not so much.
Sheer Clothing
For moments where sultriness was needed, mesh emerged as the fabric of choice. This prominent trend witnessed Nigerian designers, including Bfits, Gbemi and Kai Collective, experiment with patterns and textures to create an alluring visual dynamic.
Verdict: What else are the girlies gonna wear whenever they want to feel sexy and confident? Long live naked dressing!
Cargo Pants
I have a love-hate relationship with cargo pants. It’s either a hit or miss and here’s how they should be judged: volume, colour and pockets. I’m super strict on the last two.
Verdict: If your cargo pants aren’t in a neutral or muted colour, and if it has a ridiculous amount of pockets, you still have time to burn it.
Pink
Many thanks to the box-office hit movie, ‘Barbie’ for declaring 2023 the year of pink. Designers infused femininity and happiness into their collections with a vast pink palette—fuchsia, magenta, pastel— and the fashion girlies ate it all up on all occasions, without leaving a single crumb behind. As girls, a lot of us were influenced to dislike pink because it was deemed ‘too girly’, and anything ‘too girly’ was automatically scoffed at. The 2023 Pink Renaissance put an end to that lie from the deepest part of misogynistic hell.
Verdict: For helping women embrace ‘girly’ and ‘hyper-feminine’ things without feeling silly, the pink trend must live forever.
Crochet
From swimwear to full-length dresses, we were thrilled to watch crochet and knitwear dominate 2023’s fashion scene. The crochet trend is perfectly in line with the cool-girl, clean-girl aesthetic. It’s unique yet still effortless, fresh, and attainable.
Verdict: The styling potential for knitwear is off the roof and 365 days were clearly not enough to explore even half of it. We will be needing more of it in 2024.
Rosettes
Let’s face it, the femme girlies won in 2023, and the Rose trend which bloomed last year is yet another testament to this. Rosettes adorn clothing pieces with an extra layer of chicness, elegance and romance. What’s not to love?
Verdict: it’s crossing over, duh!
Cut-outs
A little skin reveal never hurt nobody, and in 2023, fashion girlies agreed with this by getting into cutouts. But things started getting bizarre when many (fast) fashion brands started shoving it down our throats. In 2023, you literally couldn’t go shopping without more than half of your clothing options having a chunk of fabric missing from it in unflattering places. Like, excuse me, where is the remaining cloth?
Verdict: We are quickly running out of appealing ways to achieve a good cut out look, let’s pause this trend and reconvene in two years. For now, let’s trend: #bringbackmaterial2024
Share with us your favorite fashion picks of 2023 and and the ones that shouldn’t survive 2024!
