Gen Z Stars’ Boldest Style Moments of 2023: Y2K Grunge, Red Carpet Glamour & More
Throughout 2023, Gen Z cemented itself as a fashion force in the public eye.
In the last twelve months, young adults within the range both set and navigated trends that ruled our social feeds. Stars including Zendaya, Olivia Rodrigo, Ice Spice, Billie Eilish and Sydney Sweeney churned out looks embracing a range of aesthetics — including “balletcore,” “quiet luxury” and the return of the mid-2000’s — complete with towering platforms, Mary Janes and sharply pointed pumps.
That readiness to experiment with fashion was also seen across Instagram and TikTok, which birthed a range of new style stars to watch. Davis Burleson, Emely Moreno, Alex Consani, Kate Bartlett and more were spotted across red carpets, Fashion Week front rows and more around the globe — proving fashion’s fascination with the new generation.
Below, discover the top fashion moments from Gen Z’s style stars this year.
Olivia Rodrigo
Olivia Rodrigo brought her grungy, nostalgic style back to the press circuit while promoting her hit album “Guts,” thanks to a wardrobe filled with Mary Janes, sneakers and combat boots. The Grammy-winning musician gave her rebellious aesthetic a ladylike twist for this year’s Variety Hitmakers Brunch as well, pairing a set of chunky black Mary Jane heels with a floral Carolina Herrera dress by Wes Gordon.
Ice Spice
In her breakout year, Ice Spice emerged as a top musician to watch on the fashion scene. The “Barbie World” singer kicked off the year with her first New York Fashion Week circuit — and later made her Met Gala debut in a custom Balmain dress with a camera-shaped Judith Leiber clutch. Her bold style statements continued throughout the year with a variety of boots, sneakers and sky-high heels by Brandon Blackwood, Givenchy and Dior, among other labels.
Sydney Sweeney
Following the SAG-AFTRA strike’s end in December, Sydney Sweeney elevated her emerging style star status from “Euphoria” as a red carpet force while promoting her new film, “Anyone But You.” The actress stepped out in 10 looks in under 48 hours while beginning to promote the film, complete with matching pumps, sandals and platforms from Alexandre Birman, Miu Miu and more top brands. Later, she made waves with her first premiere outfit — a custom crystal-coated Miu Miu dress and silver sandals — in New York City.
Timothée Chalamet
Timothée Chalamet continued his streak of rule-breaking red carpet looks during the press tour for his new fantasy film, “Wonka.” The actor rooted his love of sharp boots in an array of hues while stepping out around the world in numerous themed outfits from Tom Ford, Prada, Alexander McQueen and more.
Davis Burleson
In 2023, the social media set found a fashion star in Davis Burleson. The “What’s Poppin'” and SiriusXM host was embraced by the industry at shows for Coach, Michael Kors and Private Policy — and even secured an Ugg campaign. Burleson also grew his nostalgic style with sharp boots and sneakers while interviewing Drew Barrymore, Jimmy Fallon and more stars, as well as appearing on red carpets for the Golden Globes, Grammy Awards and Daily Front Row‘s Fashion Awards.
About the Author:
Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.