What will Jonathan Anderson do with the Dior Bar jacket? How does one follow Hedi Slimane and Phoebe Philo? Will Demna bring his viral sensibility to Gucci? The biggest fashion story of the year was the massive designer reshuffle, with over 20 top brands changing creative leadership. Even red carpets buzzed with anticipation, as brands used celebrity power to “soft launch” their new eras. For example, Vogue’s December 2025 cover star Timothée Chalamet debuted Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford at the Golden Globes and Sarah Burton’s Givenchy at the Oscars.
On the streets, Labubu charms dangled from bags everywhere. Flip-flops became a must-have, especially after Jonathan Bailey wore The Row’s much-discussed “flip-flogs” at a summer photo call. Conner Ives’s “Protect the Dolls” tee evolved from a runway statement into a viral It-item, raising over $600,000 for Trans Lifeline. Kendrick Lamar’s Celine jeans and Lady Gaga’s spectacular Mayhem wardrobe ruled the stage, while Margot Robbie’s onscreen Wuthering Heights wedding dress sparked online debate.
Fashion even went to space in 2025, with Katy Perry, Lauren Bezos, and others orbiting Earth in Monse. Alexander Skarsgård let his freak flag fly, Taylor Swift got engaged and sold out a Polo Ralph Lauren dress in the process, and Michelle Obama kicked off her book tour by debuting new designs. Discover the 23 defining fashion moments of 2025 below.
The Year of the Soft Launch: Celebrities Tease New Designer Collections
Timothée Chalamet was the first to wear both Haider Ackermann’s Tom Ford and Sarah Burton’s Givenchy—the former at the 2025 Golden Globes, the latter at this year’s Oscars. At the Academy Awards, he was joined by his A Complete Unknown costar Elle Fanning, who chose a white lace dress also by Burton. Little did we know then that Timmy would set the tone for a year of red carpet soft launches. Vicky Krieps and Julianne Moore debuted Louise Trotter’s Bottega Veneta at Cannes, while Julia Roberts and Amanda Seyfried did the same for Versace’s Dario Vitale months later in Venice, where Mia Goth and Greta Lee showcased Jonathan Anderson’s new-look Dior. It’s a clever, effective way to generate buzz about these appointments, which might otherwise feel too insider-y. The only designers to hard launch their collections on the runway were Matthieu Blazy at Chanel and Michael Rider for Celine.
The Labubu Invasion
Where were you when you saw your first Labubu? Early this spring, the little charms suddenly appeared on handbags and keychains, hit the scene at the US Open, and went viral on TikTok. Created by artist Kasing Lung a decade ago as part of an illustrated book series, The Monsters, Labubus entered pop culture through celebrities like Blackpink’s Lisa and Naomi Osaka, who sported charms created by Lung in collaboration with Chinese toy company Pop Mart. What’s next? Labubus on the big screen: Sony Pictures has acquired the film rights.
Calvin Klein Makes a Comeback—The Man and the Brand
The front row at Veronica Leoni’s Calvin Klein debut was packed, with appearances from Alexander Skarsgård, Greta Lee, Bad Bunny, and FKA twigs. Still, no one got more attention than the house founder himself. Calvin Klein sold his company in 2002, and the label has since cycled through creative leads like Francisco Costa and Raf Simons, but one thing hasn’t changed: the man knows how to make an entrance. Klein was flanked by two of his early muses, Kate Moss and…Christy Turlington.
Conner Ives Kickstarts a Movement with His “Protect the Dolls” T-Shirt
In February, designer Conner Ives stepped out after his fall 2025 show wearing a t-shirt that read “Protect the Dolls.” He initially wore it just to make a personal statement against attacks on trans rights. However, when the shirt went viral, Ives made it available for preorder, donating all proceeds to Trans Lifeline. This sparked a movement, with celebrities like Pedro Pascal, Troye Sivan, Tilda Swinton, Haider Ackermann, and Addison Rae wearing the shirt. Ives has since donated over $600,000 to support the organization’s hotline and peer support services.
To Flare or Not to Flare: Kendrick Lamar’s Celine Jeans Capture the Country’s Attention
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime performance was memorable, but his bell-bottom jeans stole the show. Paired with a Martine Rose varsity jacket and styled by Taylor McNeil, the $1,200 Celine jeans sparked an online debate about the acceptable hem width for men’s jeans. As always, Lamar gave us plenty to talk about.
Margot Robbie’s Contentious Wuthering Heights Wedding Dress
When images from Emerald Fennell’s upcoming Wuthering Heights adaptation surfaced, online film and fashion enthusiasts had strong opinions about Margot Robbie’s wedding dress. Debates ranged from its historical accuracy to the appropriateness of the cleavage and even whether a wedding gown fit the story’s timeline. With the film set to debut on Valentine’s Day next year, expect more discussions then.
Fly ’Em to the Moon in Monse
One of 2025’s more unusual events was Lauren Sánchez Bezos, Gayle King, Katy Perry, activist Amanda Nguyen, producer Kerianna Flynn, and engineer Aisha Bowe boarding a Blue Origin ship to orbit Earth. Naturally, people wondered what they would wear. The answer: custom suits designed by Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Monse, reminiscent of the Fantastic Four. While the group didn’t return with superpowers, they certainly made headlines.
Abracadabra! Lady Gaga Unleashes Mayhem at Coachella
Lady Gaga’s year was marked by the release of her comeback hit “Abracadabra” and seven Grammy nominations for her album Mayhem. The album was hailed as a return to form, a sentiment confirmed by her visually stunning Coachella performance. With looks from designers like Dilara Findikoglu, Marni, and Matières Fécales, Gaga delivered a true fashion spectacle.
Everybody Looking “Superfine”
Each Met Gala has its viral moment, and this year, Teyana Taylor in a Ruth E. Carter design and André 3000 with a replica baby grand piano on his back were strong contenders. However, the real story was the exhibition itself: “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” which celebrated Black dandyism and the lasting influence of Black culture in fashion.
Match Point! Venus Fashions the Court Into a Runway
On-court style has evolved dramatically over the past decade, largely thanks to trailblazers like Serena Williams.Venus Williams raised the bar at the US Open with her court style, choosing unexpected labels like Khaite, Luar, Pucci, and ERL—designers better known for runway fashion than athletic wear. A custom shearling racket cover by ERL was a standout. Game, set, match!
Jonathan Bailey sparked online debate at a Jurassic World: Rebirth event by wearing flip-flops with his sleek Row ensemble. The look prompted questions: Should men wear flip-flops beyond the beach? Are male toes acceptable? Should they cost hundreds? Bailey was ahead of the curve—flip-flops flooded the men’s spring 2026 runways.
Alexander Skarsgård has fully embraced method dressing this year, with help from stylist Harry Lambert. Promoting his new film Pillon, where he plays a dominant biker gang leader in an “unconventional gay romance,” his bold looks have ranged from thigh-high Saint Laurent boots to a Ludovic de Saint Sernin halterneck. One of those three words is doing a lot of work—you guess which.
Vogue HQ was buzzing in early July over the auction of the original Birkin bag—the one created for Jane Birkin in 1984. Bidding started at $1.7 million and closed at a hammer price of $8.2 million. With fees, the final total reached a staggering $10.1 million, selling to a private collector from Japan. Kanpai!
For her intimate wedding to The 1975 drummer George Daniel at Hackney Town Hall, Charli XCX chose a Vivienne Westwood mini dress, a simple veil, and white Jimmy Choo heels. Paparazzi captured the newlyweds afterwards, with photos of her in sunglasses and smoking a cigarette spreading like wildfire. Maybe she was right: everything is romantic.
Do you remember where you were when Taylor Swift’s engagement news broke? At Vogue HQ, video recording halted as excitement took over. Swift’s real-life “Love Story” came true, and in her engagement photos with Travis Kelce, she wore a Polo Ralph Lauren dress that sold out almost instantly. Everybody wins!
Giorgio Armani passed away in early September while preparing for his 50th-anniversary show. How to capture a half-century legacy? Lauren Hutton said, “He wasn’t a star, he was a constellation.” Richard Gere called him “an original, an artist, a visionary,” and Cate Blanchett shared, “The Mr. Armani I knew was deep of heart, loyal, wise, and courageous. Knowing him was one of the greatest privileges of my life.”How will we all keep turning without him?
A September to Remember: 16 Designers Reboot 15 Labels
Lately, one of the industry’s biggest conversations has been about fashion’s coming “vibe shift.” It finally arrived this September, as we saw 16 designers take the helm at 15 major labels. I could list them all, but that would take forever (check the graphic above instead!). Did fashion change for good? Not quite, at least not yet. If this year’s story was the biggest designer reshuffle ever, next year’s will be about what fashion looks like once all their collections hit the stores. Stay tuned!
Miranda Priestly Returns at Dolce & Gabbana
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana hosted two legendary fashion editors at their spring show in Milan: Runway‘s very own Miranda Priestly and Nigel Kipling. They sat front row, flanked by celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and supermodel Naomi Campbell. How fun! Simone Ashley, rumored to play Miranda’s new assistant, dutifully took a seat in the second row behind the duo. The Devil Wears Prada 2 hits theaters next year on the Friday before the first Monday in May. Gird your loins!
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Graces Paris Fashion Week
In another unexpected front-row moment, once guests were seated for Pierpaolo Piccioli’s debut runway show for Balenciaga, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, walked in and took a seat next to Tracee Ellis Ross. Videos from attendees circulated online, showing people literally gasping as she strolled in wearing a monochromatic cream outfit, her cushion-cut diamond engagement ring leading the way—pretty fabulous!
A Supermodel Is Born: Awar Odhiang Touches the Stars at Matthieu Blazy’s First Chanel Show
Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel debut was the most anticipated show of the season. Under an astonishing recreation of the solar system at the Grand Palais, the 41-year-old French-Belgian designer became only the third person, after Coco Chanel herself, to lead the label. But in the 48 hours after the show, it became clear the star wasn’t the marvelous set or Blazy’s fantastic clothes—it was model Awar Odhiang. While all the other models walked in a line for the finale, Odhiang broke formation. She smiled, twirled, and clapped. She lifted the hem of her embroidered skirt and shimmied as Blazy came out from backstage. Then they locked eyes, ran to each other, and hugged. “I felt power on the runway, I felt free,” she told me later over the phone. “I was floating on top of the moon.”
A Stolen Tiara, a Behatted Private Eye, and Thousands of Halloween Costumes
The Louvre Museum in Paris is one of the world’s most famous cultural institutions. Yet in October, it gained new notoriety: a seven-minute heist of the Galerie d’Apollon, which houses many of France’s imperial jewels, made global headlines. Nine priceless pieces were stolen, and Empress Eugenie’s crown, though not taken, was badly damaged. But leave it to the internet to find the humor. That weekend, TikToks of people dressed in black turtlenecks and fake royal jewels circulated online—the bold raid had inspired everyone’s go-to Halloween costume. There was also the matter of a dapper private investigator spotted at the crime scene, whose pictures spread online. Here’s the real kicker: he turned out to be just a curious teenager in a fedora.The Feel-Great Appointment of the Year: Grace Wales Bonner at Hermès
Grace Wales Bonner was named Hermès’s new creative director of menswear in late October. The British designer will present her debut collection for the French house in January 2027, taking over from the beloved Véronique Nichanian, who is stepping down after 37 years. Among all the appointments we’ve seen over the past two years, this one has charmed the entire industry. Perhaps it’s because she’s a rare woman of color to land a role of this stature. Or maybe there are just a lot of fans of her Adidas Sambas out there. Whatever the reason, isn’t it nice when we all agree?
Michelle Obama Debuts the Debuts
Michelle Obama has published a new book, The Look, which explores her style as First Lady and is co-authored by her fashion advisor Meredith Koop. This means she’s back on the book tour circuit, showcasing a series of new looks that highlight her lasting influence as a contemporary fashion icon—and she’s doing it effortlessly. Exhibit 1: a standout color-blocked dress from Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez’s debut collection for Loewe. Exhibit 2: the opening look from Matthieu Blazy’s first collection for Chanel. Debuting the debuts—now that’s a power move!
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the topic 23 moments that shaped fashion in 2025 designed to sound like questions from a real person
General Beginner Questions
Q What is this list about
A Its a curated look back at the 23 most significant events in 2025 that had a major impact on the fashion industry from runway shows and celebrity style to cultural and even criminal events
Q Is this about clothing trends for 2025
A Not exactly Its about the specific moments that caused those trends influenced designers or changed how we talk about fashion Think of it as the why behind the styles
Q Why are nonfashion events like a heist or space travel included
A Because fashion doesnt exist in a vacuum A historic space mission might inspire futuristic materials and designs while a highprofile heist can affect luxury security and even celebrity redcarpet choices
Q Who would be interested in this list
A Fashion enthusiasts students industry professionals or anyone curious about how pop culture technology and current events influence what we wear
Content Specifics
Q What kind of designer debuts are mentioned
A The list likely highlights major firstslike a renowned designer launching a new label a historic fashion house appointing a surprising new creative director or a debut collection that completely broke the mold
Q Which royal appearance was so important
A It could refer to a modern royal making a bold traditionbreaking fashion statement wearing an emerging designer or using their outfit to send a powerful symbolic message that was discussed worldwide
Q Can you give an example of how space travel shaped fashion
A Possibly through the development of new hightech fabrics trickling down to highfashion performance wear or through aestheticsdesigners using sleek aerodynamic silhouettes inspired by spacecraft
Q What was the headlinemaking heist
A This probably refers to the theft of incredibly valuable items directly tied to fashion like famous historical jewels a vault of prototype designs or iconic garments from a museuman event that shook the luxury world
Advanced IndustryFocused Questions