Looking Back at the 2025 Fashion Landscape

What lasting impressions does 2025 leave on the fashion-loving public?

As 2025 gradually comes to a close, it leaves behind a chapter marked by turbulence yet brimming with energy. It was a year in which the fashion industry entered a rare period of transition—one where creative power shifted among leading figures, popular culture continued to shape trends, and the world witnessed the end of a legend. Let us revisit the most striking fashion moments of 2025, from history-making decisions by international fashion houses to the proud milestones achieved by domestic brands.

AN UNPRECEDENTED POWER SHIFT AMONG THE INDUSTRY’S GIANTS

In September and October, Milan and Paris simultaneously witnessed a major changing of the guard across nearly 20 fashion houses. For Jonathan Anderson, 2025 was a ‘crazy’ year—by his own words—when he stepped on stage to accept the British Fashion Council’s Designer of the Year Award. The honor served as a powerful affirmation of the influence and creative contributions of Dior’s Creative Director throughout the year, marking a memorable career hat trick. The award further cemented Anderson’s status as one of the most influential designers working today. Leaving Loewe to join Dior, Jonathan Anderson swiftly redefined the notion of ‘Dior femininity,’ infusing it with his distinctive world of craftsmanship and a singularly surreal perspective.

Pierpaolo Piccioli departed Valentino to rewrite a new chapter in contemporary couture at Balenciaga, infusing the brand’s streetwear-driven identity with the spirit of high atelier craftsmanship.

After a period away from Gucci, Alessandro Michele returned to Valentino ‘like a fish in water,’ once again reigniting his signature romantic aesthetic deeply rooted in fashion history. Meanwhile, Matthieu Blazy was confirmed in a leading role at Chanel, quickly becoming one of the most highly anticipated names at Paris Fashion Week in recent years.

Matthieu Blazy made an impressive debut at Chanel with the Spring–Summer 2026 collection, earning widespread acclaim from both the public and industry insiders. Expectations for Blazy will only grow in 2026, as his designs begin to arrive in boutiques.

Grace Wales Bonner was appointed Hermès’ new Creative Director for menswear in late October. The British designer succeeds Véronique Nichanian, who stepped down after 37 years with the house. The appointment drew widespread attention and acclaim within the fashion industry, as Wales Bonner is one of the few women of color to take on a creative role of such magnitude.

Unlike previous transitions, the wave of appointments in 2025 reshaped entire brand ecosystems, as each creative director brought their own DNA to experiment under a new house—signaling that fashion is ready to embrace risk in search of its next chapter.

ANOK YAI WAS NAMED MODEL OF THE YEAR 2025

In the modeling sphere, Anok Yai was honored as Model of the Year 2025 at The Fashion Awards 2025. With her striking features and commanding presence, Anok Yai has consistently secured key positions on the runways of major fashion houses. Beyond her runway performance, she stands out for her distinctive personal style, effortlessly navigating between modern sensuality and the refined spirit of high fashion. Her image extends far beyond the catwalk, dominating major advertising campaigns and fashion red carpets alike. More than just a runway star, Anok Yai is also celebrated for her strong individual aesthetic. Her rise to international prominence—as a woman of color with South Sudanese roots—continues to reinforce the global fashion industry’s ongoing shift toward greater diversity and representation.

LABUBU AND THE CRAZE FOR TINY ACCESSORIES

Attaching a charm to a Miu Miu, Bottega Veneta, Louis Vuitton—or any bag carried close at hand—goes far beyond mere cuteness. It has become a new way for young people to tell their stories: playful, endearing, and a quick, expressive means of signaling personal identity or the community they belong to.

It is these tiny objects that have opened up a new perspective on fashion consumption in 2025: rather than chasing IT bags or traditional luxury symbols, younger generations prioritize a more personal approach to aesthetics—one that is flexible, individual, and far more accessible.

GIORGIO ARMANI PASSED AWAY

The passing of Giorgio Armani has left an irreplaceable void in the fashion world. The legendary designer not only built a rare, fully independent empire since the 1970s, but also came to define the very essence of ‘absolute restraint’ and the pinnacle of refined elegance in design.

Armani was the designer who liberated the female body from rigid structures, rewrote the image of the men’s suit with an unprecedented sense of softness, and elevated ‘Italian minimalism’ into a global aesthetic ideal. For him, design never needed loud displays of excess; instead, it demanded rigorous discipline as a prerequisite for achieving timeless, enduring value.

MET GALA 2025: WHEN BLACK DANDYISM TOOK CENTER STAGE

Met Gala 2025, themed ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,’ is widely regarded as one of the Met’s most powerful cultural statements of the decade. This year’s event placed Black Dandyism at the center, honoring the fashion heritage of the Black community through the lens of tailoring. Moving beyond fashion alone, it was also seen as a form of social resistance—using elegance as a cultural armor to assert dignity against a backdrop of historical inequality.

The accompanying exhibition traced a centuries-long historical journey, from 18th-century suits to contemporary Afro-dandy style. A host of celebrities further expanded on the theme by reinterpreting Black tailoring through their own personal aesthetics.

Three members of BLACKPINK reunited on the red carpet, each commanding attention with her own distinct presence, making them one of the month’s standout highlights. Meanwhile, Janelle Monáe, Anne Hathaway, Demi Moore, Cardi B, Lupita Nyong’o, and Cynthia Erivo each delivered seamless intersections of haute couture and cultural identity within the framework of ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.’