In 2022, I remember a video of Bella Hadid going viral on Instagram when she walked the Coperni’s Runway in a spray-paint slip dress. The video gained immense popularity, and people went nuts—soon, it became a trend. Subsequently, Prada’s models emerged on the runway from the floor, Jared Leto dressed up as a giant white cat for the Met Gala, and by June-July, Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling painted the gram Pink. Overall, fashion has found a new friend to make a statement it always wanted to. Here are some of the unforgettable fashion moments that broke the Internet in 2023.

Balenciaga Towel Skirt

Let’s start with the most recent one. Renowned for their attention grabbing designs, luxury fashion brand Balenciaga raised eyebrows with a Rs. 76,990 “Towel Skirt” from its spring 2024 collection. Internet users labelled the pricing as “crazy” for what appears to be a simple grey terry cotton towel worn as a knee-length skirt. Critics mocked the luxury brand, with IKEA playfully trolling Balenciaga by presenting a comparable model wearing an affordable towel ensemble for just 16 euros (Rs 1,700).

Barbiecore

A style sensation has emerged—welcome to “Barbiecore.” In 2022 and 2023, the world was captivated by the color pink. The Barbie movie in 2023 apparently caused a global shortage of the color. Margot Robbie, who has embraced the Barbie look off-screen, serves as inspiration with her near-identical recreations of the iconic doll’s outfits during the film’s press tour. While the Greta Gerwig-helmed movie has contributed to the Barbie obsession, the trend gained momentum after the 2022 Valentino Fall runway show, named Valentino Pink PP after creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli.

Astro Boots

We are in the best possible ecosystem for sneakers at the moment. But, some designs are made to just blow our mind. MSCHF unveiled its latest creation—the “Big Red Boot,” gaining viral attention on social media. Priced at $350 and released on February 16, these oversized, cartoonish boots are reminiscent of characters like Mega Man or Astro Boy, tailored for a “cool 3D world went viral over night. Celebs like Maluma were seen promoting these giant boots. 

Pope in Puffer

AI seems to have taken over the world and we are seem some of the most creative work in a while. One image grabbed everyone’s attention was of Pope Francis circulated online, featuring the 86-year-old pontiff donned in a distinctive longline white puffer coat. However, the image is not real; it was generated using the AI tool Midjourney. Pope Francis addressed the rise of AI technology, emphasizing the need for ethical and responsible development to avoid potential controversies, although he did not specifically mention the AI-generated image of himself.

Schiaparelli Animal Head

The viral style moments of 2023 carried an animalistic vibe and we are not taking about the movie here. The year kicked off with a bold move from Schiaparelli, showcasing models wearing ensembles with life-like heads at Paris Couture Week. Despite being meticulously crafted from materials such as foam and resin, the brand faced criticism, with some accusing it of glamorizing trophy hunting.