Back to the Future: The Return of Retro Futurism in 2023

Futurism is back. As our makeup, jewelry, and clothes become more individualistic and expressive, this will begin to manifest itself in looks that are futuristic, with trends like alien eyebrows and floating jewelry in our future (haha) for 2023.

In the makeup world, wild, creative, and individualistic looks are gaining in popularity. According to the 2023 Instagram Trend report, makeup users are focusing more and more on unique, individualistic looks in order to “augment their feeling of beauty.” Futuristic aspects are simply an offshoot of this, and tie in well with the return of grunge, Y2K, and 70s disco trends.

Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar

These trends are reminiscent of retrofuturism, an artistic movement that walks the line of past and future, using images from the past representing visions of the future to view futurism through a nostalgic lens. That is, using imagery that was once considered futuristic. With the reemergence of the 1970s disco styles, it makes sense that a contemporary take on futurism would draw aesthetics from a similar time period. 

The late 1960s through the late 1970s were an age ripe with science fiction and futuristic media; from Barbarella in 1968 to Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope in 1978, technology and space themes were at the forefront of fashion trends. The resurgence of futuristic fashion in 2023 puts its own spin on similar aesthetics, and we will see imagery that was popular during that time period manipulated into more contemporary and unique looks. 

Courtesy of @aoifeartist on Instagram

Take this look from the popular makeup influencer, Aoife. The dark, grungy eyeshadow and pencil thin alien brows both draw from early 2000s style, but she uses creative lines and holographic colors to create something galactic, futuristic, and unique.

Courtesy of Pinterest

If we compare this look to a Space Age one from the 1960s, interesting trends emerge. The purple, holographic colors, the contrast between a strong eye look with more natural, freckled skin, and the clear influence of futuristic space and technology are themes prevalent in both looks. Even the details are similar, with heavy lower lashes and a bright silver inner corner. The main difference between these looks is that while one can clearly be placed in the 1960s, Aoife’s look draws from the 1960s space age, early 2000s, and more contemporary styles, creating a look that manages to be futuristic, retro, and timeless all at the same time. 

Another way in which futurism will be seen more and more this year is through floating jewelry. Seen frequently in pieces by Schiaparelli, these accessories- glasses, earrings, necklaces, you name it- appear to be floating on the body, unsupported. Because of this apparent defiance of gravity, many of these pieces seem other-worldly. Additionally, these works of art often represent body parts and celestial beings, which helps to convey the message of futurism, because it draws on themes that we associate with the topic, namely space, science fiction, and technology. 

Courtesy of Schiaparelli

We can see the influence of retrofuturism and Space Age fashion when we place these examples from Schiaparelli next to these photos of Peggy Moffit from the late 1960s and 1970s. The similarities between the floating glasses and jewelry are clearly visible, right down to the pearl details. 

Yet while the themes across all these looks are very similar, Schiaparelli manages to create something entirely new and contemporary. His gold glasses are futuristic because of their seeming defiance of gravity and faux alien eyebrow detail, but they are also glamorous and luxurious. 

Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Similar can be said of his floating pearl earrings; organic shapes almost reminiscent of organs and a magical ability to sit effortlessly on the body places them in the realm of futurism, but the bright gold and cascading pearls makes these earrings opulent, grand, baroque. This is a sharp turn away from 1960s space age fashion, which focused on technological imagery and perceived utility, but a welcome turn nonetheless; we are seeing a futurism that is more timeless, feminine and magical. 

So, yes, futurism is back in 2023. That, however, does not simply mean alien or robotic looks. What we are seeing now is far more interesting, with room for play and femininity. Influences come from anywhere and everywhere; basically, there are no rules, and I, for one, cannot wait to see all the different interpretations of this trend.