The SSENSE 2023 Year in Review
Twelve of the interviews, fashion editorials, and essays that lit the way through 2023.
After a whirlwind year, it’s often the things we saw, read, or listened to that demarcate the last 365 days. In this vein, the SSENSE editors took a retrospective look at the pieces that left a mark in 2023. From catch-ups with icons like Willem Dafoe and Erykah Badu to thought-provoking explorations of where the next great creative director might be or deep dives into subcultures like K-pop, the SSENSE editorial calendar has been far-reaching to say the least. Take a look back at some of the best moments.
“I know my creativity stands out. I know people are inspired by me. I know I’m on everybody’s mood board. Now I’m ready for you to put me on your payroll,” says Badu in this profile written by Elena Bergeron. The quote epitomizes the artist’s inimitable strength of character, a running theme in this conversation that also touches on the impracticality of her numerous amulets, ankhs, and talismans, Blackness as the common denominator in the arts, and more.
Unlimited Screen Time With Suki Waterhouse
Over the last decade, Suki Waterhouse’s career has evolved from model to actress and, most recently, pop star. In this conversation with Emily Kirkpatrick, Waterhouse opens up about It Girldom and the process that led her to create her first album .
Alex Consani Is Allowed to Curse in This Interview
At just 19 years of age, Alex Consani’s star has well and truly risen. Across social media and fashion campaigns, Consani is a welcome regular fixture, and the model’s personality shines in this profile by Devan Diaz. Lighthearted fun sits naturally alongside important discussions around transgender opportunities in fashion.
In July, we launched SSENSE Bridal alongside interviews with five couples who spoke about what love means to them. “Love makes me question and forfeit what I know about life for something better, for something that serves myself and those around me better,” says Ray, who met Robby on a dating app. “I showed up with three men and a bottle of wine and a couple of joints—that was on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the guy I was dating went home. On Thursday, Carl and I went out. On Saturday, he moved in with me,” details Denise, who met Carl in the ’80s.
The Wild Delight of Willem Dafoe
Ahead of the release of Yorgos Lanthimos’s Poor Things, Alex Frank caught up with Willem Dafoe to discuss the effect of Marvel films on cinema, whether Dafoe could stitch up a major wound, and what gives Dafoe his Dafoe-iness. “In our daily lives, we should be present, but we don’t have to be present. We get all kinds of ways to be distracted and all kinds of ways not to be present. But existentially, how beautiful it would be if we could live like when we perform, when we’re in the groove,” says Dafoe, in one of the more memorable answers of SSENSE’s 2023 interviews.
Jamaica to di World: How Jamaican Designers Are Taking Over
Speaking to some of the designers who lead the charge, Mecca James-Williams explores the enduring and evolving influence of Jamaican style. With words from the likes of Stanley Raffington and Martine Rose, this is an insider’s look at one of the most important cultural shifts in fashion’s recent history.
Meet 20 of the People (And One Dog) Who Make SSENSE Work
2023 marked the twentieth anniversary of SSENSE. To celebrate the occasion, we released 20 exclusive items from some of the designers that keep the cogs turning. As well as the designers, though, there’s a workforce that deserves some praise, too. In this piece, 20 SSENSE employees—and one dog—speak about their time at the company.
Michael the III Attends Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour
Creative mastermind and Beyoncé superfan Michael the III paints a picture of the artist’s record-breaking Renaissance World Tour through the medium of garments from the pages of SSENSE. Michael decodes the queen’s outfits and relives the performances for those that couldn’t make it.
Is Fashion’s Next Great Creative Director Already in the Front Row?
SSENSE’s very own Steff Yotka allows a glimpse into the future of fashion. After Spring 2024 shows had ended, she ruminated on whether the next great creative director may already be sat in the front row. With the rise of celebrities holding high creative roles—and more in front-row seats than ever—it seems a foregone conclusion, but Yotka’s analysis of the contemporary fashion landscape suggests other possibilities.
The Shifting Look of Pop Stars
One of the year’s major TV moments was undoubtedly the release of HBO’s The Idol. The show, starring Lily-Rose Depp and Abel Tesfaye, acts as the anchor for this deep-dive into pop-star style by Anna Zanes. Touching on Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, and SZA, the piece discusses the things that we can deduce about ourselves—our desires, the things we covet—from the shifting look of pop stars.
All Aaron Esh Knows Is Clothes, Call of Duty, and Grinding
SSENSE Managing Editor Ross Scarano catches up with one of London’s most exciting young designers in this interview. Covering Esh’s Call of Duty play style, his first BAPE sneakers, and where he gains inspiration, the profile paints an authentic image of Esh’s personality, which shines through his label’s collections.
From Seoul to the World: Four K-Pop Stylists on the Genre’s Takeover and Fashion Future
This year saw a doubling down on K-pop’s grip on popular culture, especially in terms of fashion. In this piece, Hyunji Nam guides the uninitiated into the world of K-pop styling, interviewing the stylists behind BTS, BLACKPINK, NCT, aespa, Jeon Somi, G-Dragon, and others. In 2023, Hyunji also took us on a tour of South Korea’s best clothing brands.
Evening Sequin Splendor: Crafting the Perfect Soirée Look for the Season As the festive season twinkles on the horizon, there's a certain magic in the air, especially in the world of fashion. It's the perfect time to talk about one of my favorite style statements: sequins. In this special feature, I'm thrilled to share with you seven dazzling ways to bring sequins into your celebration wardrobe. Let me take you through a journey where each sequined piece isn't just a garment, but a story of elegance and statement. 
Catching Up With Mélanie Masarin Even in the crowded market of non-alcoholic drinks, Ghia stands out for making sobriety feel as glamorous and sophisticated as Betty Draper sipping an icy gin gimlet. Unsurprisingly, the company’s founder and CEO has excellent taste in design and enviable personal style. We chatted with Mélanie about her extraordinary shopping skills, best gifting strategies and, of course, her favorite Tory pieces. In this issue, you’ll also find a handy outerwear guide and what Tory wore on her recent trip to London. 