Following the success of last year's "Love Island" partner, eBay has recoupled with the reality show for the upcoming series, meaning you're likely to see some of the standout outfits from 2022 make their way to the South African villa again. Yes, in true circular fashion form, celebrity stylist Amy Bannerman is returning to kit the Islanders out with a treasure trove of preloved buys [1], and there will be a number of favourites from the last series you're bound to recognise being reworn [2] this year.
The partnership with eBay was undoubtedly a big success, with one in two people admitting to having changed their perception of preloved clothing and a huge 1600 percent increase in searches on the resale site. While "Love Island" 2022 alumni Tasha Ghouri [3] in particular championed the preloved wardrobe on the show, and has gone on to become an ambassador for eBay, we've been told the 2023 Islanders [4] are just as excited about the premise of playing dress up in the villa.
Bannerman, who has styled the likes of Dua Lipa, Sophie Turner, and Rita Ora, has curated the 2023 wardrobe based on learnings from the first partnership. While there are a mix of brands being sent to the villa, including Poster Girl which was a bonafide hit among the girls last year, some key items have been customised this time to give them a little "Love Island" makeover. Gorgeous Versace dresses have been shortened for added sex appeal, while tops have been cropped, and co-ords adjusted to give the Islanders unique outfits that feel a little more authentic to their personal style (they are all given a questionnaire before the show about their preferred fashion choices). Plus, for the first time, the Islanders can also choose from a selection of preloved, authenticated footwear from eBay's Imperfects range.
Bannerman has expertly divided the clothing into four key trends this year. There is "tutti frutti" full of brights, neons, and dopamine dressing on acid, "business v party" made up of tailoring with sexy sparkle, and "dressed up denim" full of different shapes and embellishments in the jean fabric. The final trend is "heavy metal" — thinks Travis and Kourtney. Think vintage tshirts, leather, and metallics. Perhaps we could find a UK Kravis this year?
Despite the partnership being a success in changing viewers mindsets, some fans did point out that it was disappointing to see Islanders including Gemma Owen and Paige Turley still sign deals with fast-fashion brands [5] upon leaving the villa. With sustainable style being at the core of the show again, here's hoping the continued push will have a lasting impact on this year's cast.
Winter "Love Island" [6] returns to our screens on 16 Jan. on ITV2, hosted by Maya Jama for the first time. Plus, in a new first, the public can vote for the first bombshell to enter the villa with a choice between two, by voting on the "Love Island" app. Read on to get a sneak peak of some of the clothes we can expect this year.
"Love Island" Clothes: Tutti Frutti
Bright, bold, and full of fun, this trend is going to bring the holiday vibes to winter. "It's all about the pinks, yellows, oranges and blues, integrated in an explosion of neon blazers and bright two-pieces. Dopamine dressing is here to stay from the summer, it's just gone up a notch!" says Bannerman. "The trend has been seen all over the runways, with pops of colour being worn by style-icon Hailey Bieber as she casually walks to get her morning coffee. I love how this trend really brings someone's personality to life, and it can be done so simply with just one bold item in an outfit, or top to toe, depending on how brave you feel."
"Love Island" Clothes: Business v Party
Partywear, but make it boardroom-worthy."For boys it is luxe shirts with smarter trousers. We're seeing this trend showcased by the likes of Bella Hadid and Pete Davidson — it's a great way to really make a statement simply in the outfit," says Bannerman. "It's all about crystal pieces paired with blazer dresses and effortless two pieces that create a blurred line between business and party."
"Love Island" Clothes: Dressed Up Denim
With denim being one of the most damaging fabrics for our planet, shopping for prevloved denim pieces is a more sustainable approach. "Everyone has an item of denim in their wardrobe, whether it be a years-old denim jacket or a classic mini skirt," says Bannerman. "For the girls, it's all about the classic co-ords and fitted jumpsuits, and for the boys, we're going to be seeing loose fitting oversized shirts paired with long-length shorts."
"Love Island" Clothes: Heavy Metal
Inspired by Kravis, this trend will bring a grunge feel to the villa that hasn't really been seen before. "Bringing back rebellious dressing with metallic skirts, leather jackets and vintage Ts, this trend feeds into both self-expression and showing pre-loved classics that will last a lifetime," says Bannerman. "It's all about cut out tops, using sparkly pieces to lift the looks, metallic skirts, sexy leather trousers and timeless leather bombers.. We've seen it on the runway with designers going OTT with palettes and crystal fringing and we've seen it on the streets too."