Fashion Dive editors and reporters spend all day, every day looking at fashion, so it’s hardly a surprise that we’re a little obsessed with certain things. We asked our team to give us their picks for their most-wanted items this year, and we’re sharing this utterly subjective wish list with you. What would you pick? Let us know by filling out this form. And as we close out the year, we hope all your 2023 fashion dreams come true.
Who: Lauren Schenkman, freelance reporter
What: Puma’s Kangaroo-free King Soccer cleats
Why: What’s not to love about a pair of kicks that don’t require hunting an adorable animal, especially because kangaroo-leather soccer cleats make up about 70% of demand for commercially slaughtered kangaroos? That said, the new cleats are made of a proprietary material called K-Better, a type of nylon, which is still bad news for the environment. Nylon is made from fossil fuel and persists in landfills (Puma’s version is 20 percent recycled). So I’d love to one day lace up a King cleat with, say, a biodegradable, algae-based polymer sole and a mycelium or kombucha leather upper. Santa, please take note.
Who: Howard Ruben, freelance reporter
What: Floor length yellow fur coat from Pharrell Williams’ June collection for Louis Vuitton
Why: With a wink and a nod to former Louis Vuitton artistic director Virgil Abloh, this fabulous yellow fur coat is more an expression of personality than practicality. The eye-popping color and drape of this floor-length coat is a self-confident pronouncement that you’ve arrived. In another life I am a 6’5” NFL QB and pull this off with great aplomb. Nice suit, but subtlety be damned — this look has Broadway Joe written all over it.
Who: Laurel Deppen, reporter
What: A pink gingham a-line cocktail dress with a matching bow.
Why: As Barbie, Margot Robbie wears this lightweight, flowy and stunning dress as the narrator of the film describes her perfect day. After waking up from a totally restful sleep, Barbie makes waffles and takes a drive in her pale pink convertible to wave to her friends. Who among us wouldn’t want to recreate a little bit of that perfect day magic by wearing this dress?
Who: Stephanie Arnold, lead editor
What: MSCHF’s Big Red Boot
Why: If the refrain “Fashion should be fun,” as uttered by a trusted colleague is true, then there’s really nothing more fun than these boots. Can you wear them to work? Depends. Will you give Astro Boy vibes? For sure. But we’re not going for corporate here. Forget being a fashion statement. With these, you’re a fashion paragraph. And I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. The boots are sold out.
Who: Thai Phi Le, senior managing editor, new launches
What: Melissa footwear
Why: Did someone say jelly shoes and the constant smell of bubble gum? Hello, childhood. Melissa shoes instantly transport me back to being a kid, but in an elevated yet still joyful way. Added boon: The Telfar x Melissa slides are unisex. Why divide the fun when it can be for all?
Who: Lara Ewen, senior editor
What: Phoebe Philo’s white organza dahlia brooch
Why: Gigantic flowers were everywhere this year, but this gargantuan dahlia pin from Phoebe Philo’s new collection is my favorite. It feels like Carrie Bradshaw’s flower brooches from “Sex and the City,” but this one is somehow elevated, and it’s even more tempting because it’s wildly impractical and completely unattainable. It’s sold out. It costs $1,100. And because it’s made of wisps of white silk, I would certainly destroy it within the first ten minutes of wearing it.
