THE JOURNAL

From left: Mr Vassili Schneider in Berlin, 12 June 2023. Photograph by Mr Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images. Mr Antwaun Sargent in New York, 8 November 2023. Photograph by Mr Zach Hilty/BFA.com. Bad Bunny in New York, 1 May 2023. Photograph by Getty Images
Even when you work in fashion, trends can be unpredictable. This week purple is cool, but next week, we may be onto something else. Orange, perhaps? That being said, there are some trending items that we’re not ready to let go of just yet. Beautiful Bottega Veneta bags, distressed leather jackets and wear-everywhere adidas sneakers were big in 2023 and are not going anywhere in 2024. Read on for the items that stole hearts and made people actually commit – for another year at least.
01. The Bottega Veneta bag

From left: Mr Antwaun Sargent in New York, 8 November 2023. Photograph by Mr Zach Hilty/BFA.com. Mr Dew Jirawat in Beijing, 20 July 2023. Photograph by Mr Yanshan Zhang/Getty Images for Bottega Veneta. A$AP Rocky in California, 30 Oct 2023. Photograph by Broadimage/Shutterstock
Bottega Veneta bags were the menswear accessory of 2023. Drawing inspiration from the ladies’ classic style, Bottega bags for men are an elevated upgrade from your go-to backpack or that free canvas tote. An early adopter of the style – and one of our men’s style icons of the year – Mr Jacob Elordi, has been avidly showing off his Bottega collection, especially that one brown Andiamo.
But it’s not just Elordi enjoying the convenience of handbags. An array of celebrities have been demonstrating the versatility of Bottegas. A$AP Rocky, who has just been announced as the new face of the brand, is also an Andiamo fan – we love his bubblegum-pink pick here styled with double denim. And Mr Antwaun Sargent has elegantly opted for a bucket bag, pairing it with a utility-inspired suit and chunky loafers. Thai actor Mr Dew Jirawat on the other hand has gone for an autumnal palette with his forest-green Intrecciato messenger bag.
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02. The adidas football shoe

From left: Mr Harris Dickinson in New York, 29 April 2023. Photograph by Mr Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Gucci. Mr Jules Kounde in Paris, 21 June 2023. Photograph by Mr Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images. Mr Austin Butler in California, 13 August 2023. Photograph by Backgrid
Blokecore is still going strong as we enter 2024, with adidas Originals’ Samba and Gazelle becoming the most recognisable shoes in the street-style game. Every time we’re about to get tired of the silhouette, a fresh collaboration drops (see Wales Bonner and Gucci) and we’re eating it up. It doesn’t just stop with sneakers – we’re mix and matching with the full tracksuit. Look at Mr Austin Butler pairing his Sambas with his adi-trackies and Mr Harris Dickinson styling his track jacket with bootcut jeans, the ultimate Brit-core.
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03. The cowboy vibe

From left: Bad Bunny in New York, 1 May 2023. Photograph by Getty Images. Mr Leon Bridges in New York, 11 September 2023. Photograph by Ms Cindy Ord/Getty Images for Tory Burch. Mr Luka Sabbat in California, 16 November 2023. Photograph by Mr Phillip Faraone/Getty Images
If we had one word to describe 2020s fashion, it’d be “cohesion”. As with blokecore above, outfits have become deeply thematic and in 2023 the cowboy aesthetic was huge. Brown suede jackets, cowboy boots, jeans, pony hair (again, see the new adidas x Wales Bonner Sambas), chunky belts – we’ve lassoed the cowboy look and we refuse to let it go. Take inspiration from Bad Bunny or Mr Luka Sabbat and pair a brown palette and cowboy boots with a white T-shirt for a more low-key but playful look, or experiment with a cosy cardigan like Mr Leon Bridges.
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04. The chunky camel overcoat

From left: Mr Mark Ronson in New York, 11 January 2023. Photograph by Mr Ulices Ramales/Backgrid. Mr Andrew Garfield in New York, 15 November, 2023. Photograph by Backgrid. Mr Vassili Schneider in Berlin, 12 June 2023. Photograph by Mr Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images
Neutral tones had a major moment this year, for which we can point the finger right at Succession. Creamy Loro Piana caps, brown Brunello Cucinelli sweaters and long luscious overcoats from ZEGNA or The Row have taken over the zeitgeist. We can’t all be the “eldest” Roy boy, but we can step into their buttery leather shoes for a little bit. A classic staple revised, the snug camel coat has been populating the streets. Steal from Messrs Mark Ronson and Andrew Garfield’s off-duty looks – note that both gentlemen have used a colourful knit to break the neutral tones of their fits – or opt for Mr Vassili Schneider’s SAINT LAURENT vibe with an all-black base.
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05. The washed leather piece

From left: Mr Joe Bromley in London, 12 October 2023. Photograph by Mr Dave Benett/Getty Images for George Club Limited. Mr Joe Jonas in California, 4 November 2023. Photograph by Getty Images. Mr Jeremy O Harris in New York, 6 November 2023. Photograph by Mr Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images
Doing a full 180° from sleek wool overcoats, brands such as Acne Studios, Diesel, Rick Owens and Balenciaga have been at the forefront of distressed, worn leather. And although it usually brings a more off-duty vibe, we’ve started to see it in an elevated context. Mr Jeremy O Harris, for example, is channelling a sophisticated biker look with a chic washed brown leather trench coat and biker boots. Messrs Joe Bromley and Joe Jonas are keeping it more relaxed with their brown cropped jackets, both pairing them with white tees underneath.
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06. The acid-wash denim

From left: Sir Lewis Hamilton in Italy, 1 September 2023. Photograph by Mr Stefano Guidi/Getty Images. Mr Stéphane Bak in Paris, 29 September 2023. Photograph by Swan Gallet/Getty Images. Mr Troye Sivan in New York, 19 July 2023. Photograph by Mr Christopher Peterson/Splash by Shutterstock
Another distressed style pioneered by the likes of Acne and Rick Owens, acid-wash denim has been rooting itself in our parietal lobes for a few years now, and we think we’ll see more of it in the New Year. Mr Troye Sivan demonstrated how to pull it off with a splash of red worthy of Mr Jackson Pollock on his trousers and kept it more classic with his denim shacket. Meanwhile, Sir Lewis Hamilton – who has been experimenting more with his outfits this year – has gone for a bolder head-to-toe acid wash. We also appreciate Mr Stéphane Bak’s more sophisticated approach with muted warm tones – the wash on his jeans almost resembles a tree trunk.
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07. The feminine cardigan

From left: Mr Tyler Mitchell in Paris, 24 June 2023. Photograph by Mr Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images for LOEWE. Mr Tom Blyth in New York, 16 November 2023. Photograph by Mr Theo Wargo/Getty Images. Mr Sebastian Croft in London, 23 November 2023. Photograph by Ms Kate Green/Getty Images
Thanks to Dr Miuccia Prada at Miu Miu, the delicate secretary cardigan has been the knit of the season in womenswear – and it’s started to flow into menswear as well. As seen on Mr Sebastian Croft here, the corporate girlie aesthetic can be worn by men, too. Croft has styled his cardie with pinstripe suit trousers, a cheeky hint of boxers peeking above his waistline, as the Miu Miu girls are doing it, and a white tee.
If you’re not ready for Croft’s tighter fit, look at Messrs Tom Blyth and Tyler Mitchell, who are delving into a more feminine territory with their cardigans, but with a looser vibe. Mitchell’s LOEWE lavender knit is a candy dream that would brighten up the most miserable winter day. And Blyth’s pairing of a brown cardie with a sheer top underneath proves that, yes, a cardigan can be sexy.
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