Six must-have ethnic wear trends for 2023
The year’s most talked-about trends are all about bold experimentation. Expect a fusion of styles, colours that pop, and silhouettes that merge eastern and western influences.
We’re stepping into 2023 with optimism, and fashion is quick to reflect the world’s celebratory mood. This year’s fashion trends lean more towards experimental styles and extravagant details, giving us plenty to look forward to. Here are our top trends for 2023, along with handy hints about how you can make them your own.
1. Bright colours :
Tangerine, lilac, leaf green, and cherry red are just a few of the colours that are making waves on the runway. They will also be combined in new and surprising palettes. If you’re a fan of Kanchipuram korvai silk sarees, you’re ahead of the curve. These handloom weaves are celebrated for their contrasting colours and vibrant palettes. Kurta and lehenga sets, meanwhile, can be matched with dupattas in contrasting tones and designs.
Tangerine and leaf green will be two of the year’s most trendy colours.
2. Fusion :
Designers aren’t just drawing on India’s eclectic weaving traditions, but also blending them. This mixing of crafts is a trend in handloom sarees as well. You’ll find Pochampally ikat sarees with Kanchi zari borders, Banarasi silks with Paithani borders, and Tussar sarees with hand painted motifs, just to name a few.
The fusion trend will also see western wear paired with Indian garments. For example, one might wear a bustier with a lehenga skirt. Kurtis will be teamed with well-cut blazers and slim trousers for work. Lehenga skirts themselves will have ruffles or fishtail details. For sarees, the trend of swapping blouses with crop tops and shirts will only grow stronger.
In a fusion of East and West, crop tops will be paired with sarees as blouses.
3. Shimmer :
Whether it’s elegant gota embroidery or glamorous gold zari, shimmer and occasionwear are intertwined in India. What makes 2023’s shimmer trend so easy to master is the variety of options on offer – will it be a sequin-embroidered lehenga set or a handloom Banarasi silk saree
with a gold zari brocade?
If you’d like to go all out with the shimmer trend, try metallic colours and flamboyant embroidery. For an understated yet stylish look, lehenga sets with sequin highlights are a great choice.
Glossy fabrics and sequins will continue to trend as shimmer dominates the fashion circuit.
4. Tone-on-tone :
Embellishments and embroidery that are the same colour as the base fabric are now in the spotlight. So, instead of gold or silver zari, expect to see more sequin and bead embroidery that matches the colour of the garment. This will create a monotone look while adding dimension and texture to the design.
5. Statement sleeves :
Sleeves in 2023 won’t just be long, they’ll also be showstoppers in their own right. Saree blouses will touch the wrist, and the rule for 2023 is to go bold with blouse sleeves. Try ruffles, layers, exaggerated silhouettes and retro frills. These flamboyant cuts will spill over into lehenga blouses as well, with brides looking to make choli sleeves as eye-catching as the skirts of their lehengas.
Statement sleeves will be the blouse trend for 2023.
6. Sheer fabrics :
Floaty, gauzy fabrics were all over runways this year, making them the perfect pick for summertime events. Organza sarees with bold florals, breezy chiffons and georgettes are ideal additions to your wardrobe. If you prefer handloom Kanchipuram silks, opt for a translucent tissue silk saree with subtle zari work. Of course, light cotton sarees also fit perfectly into the sheer trend. Try light-as-air Dhakai cotton sarees with Jamdani details for a summer staple that’s both easy to wear and stylish.
What we love about 2023’s top style trends is their adaptability. You could choose to go all out or keep it simple and sophisticated with just a few elements. Either way, which are your favourite trends and how do you plan to wear them?
