2025 will go down as the year fashion went through a major shift, and we’re not saying that just because this is our yearly wrap. The proof was everywhere. Micro trends finally lost their grip, nearly every major fashion house went through a creative director reshuffle, and India returned to the forefront of fashion conversations, in ways both good and bad. At the same time, movements like Protect The Dolls reminded us that fashion can still be a powerful form of protest, pushing back against the rise of transphobia and authoritarian regimes around the world.
Trying to sum up the best fashion moments from a year this charged is no small task (what do you even leave out?), but these are the looks, statements, and style moments that truly summed up what 2025 was for us. Read on to find out.
The Creative Director Musical Chair
From left to right: Matthieu Blazy, Demna, Dario Vitale, Donatella Versace, Haider Ackerman, Louise Trotter, Jonathan Anderson Pinterest
2025 was the year practically every major fashion house saw their creative director replaced with another one. Starting from the first announcement of the year about Louise Trotter replacing Matthieu Blazy at Chanel, to Versace's latest announcement over Dario Vitale stepping down after just one collection, there was a creative director announcement at every month this year.
25 Years of Sabyasachi
For the twenty-fifth anniversary of his label, couturier Sabyasachi Mukherjee recreated the Kolkata of childhood (quite literally), which laid the groundwork for his design language. Deepika Padukone and Christy Turlington walked the glamorous ramp.
Kendrick Lamar's Flared Jeans Win The Super Bowl
Kendrick Lamar heading the Super Bowl was the final nail in the Kendrick vs Drake beef that kept us hooked last year. But the unexpected winner of the night's performance were his Celine flared jeans, which sold out immediately and set up jeans to be one of the most talked about fashion topics in 2025.
Protect The Dolls Becomes Tee Shirt Of The Year
At a time when trans rights around the world have been increasingly challenged around the world, Connor Ives' Protect the Dolls shirt became an instant symbol for solidarity for trans women, affectionately called "dolls". From Pedro Pascal wearing them on red carpets to magazines featuring entire photoshoots around them, these prints quickly became the t-shirt of the year.
Shah Rukh Khan's Met Gala Debut
Shah Rukh Khan made his Met Gala debut this year dressed head to toe in Sabyasachi, and the whole country collectively lost it at his dashing interpretation of the Gala's Black Dandyism theme.
Diljit Dosanjh's Regal Outing At Met Gala
Singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh, on the other hand, brought a piece of undivided Punjab with him to the MET Gala. The G.O.A.T. singer stepped out in a regal ivory and gold caped sherwani by Prabal Gurung, with a recreation of the infamous Cartier Patiala Necklace, and topped every best-dressed list at the MET Gala this year.
Labubus Take Over The World
Some think they're cute. Some have burnt theirs down thinking they're straight up demonic. Pop Mart's grinning character took over fashion like no other to become the most divisive accessory of the year.
The Year Of Jonathan Bailey
From short shorts and his "slutty little glasses" going viral at the Jurassic World promotions to bring ordained the Sexiest Man Of The Year, 2025 was undoubtedly the year where Jonathan Bailey delivered one fashion moment after another.
Prada Kolhapuri Chappals Scandal
On one hand, 2025 saw a surge in racism against Indians online, on the other, fashion could not get enough of India on its runways. While Pharrell's Spring Summer 2026 collection for Louis Vuitton paid homage to the country, Prada found itself in the midst of a months long scandal after it featured Kolhapuri chappals on the runway without any mention of the original chappals or the artisans behind them.
Colman Domingo Rules Fashion's Biggest Events
Few actors enjoyed the kind of recognition Colman Domingo got from haute couture circuits in 2025: this year, the Emmy-winning actor not only hosted the Met Gala but also the British Fashion Awards, constantly pushing the envelope with his personal style statements on red carpets and events.
Manish Malhotra Returns To India Couture Week
Manish Malhotra on Instagram
Manish Malhotra returned to India Couture Week after five years with a grand party that only he could throw. The gala was a celebration of everything Manish Malhotra, with showcases of his iconic Bollywood designs and the unveiling of his latest collection, opened by none other than Victoria's Secret Model Alessandra Ambrosio.
Giorgio Armani Passes Away
Giorgio Armani will forever be remembered in fashion history as the man who made suits more fluid and comfortable by removing the padding and lining that gave them the signature stiffness (cue Richard Gere's looks in American Gigolo). His designs defined 80s power dressing norms and became so influential that the 1990 Oscars were nicknamed the Armani Awards because of how many people wore his designs. The fashion stalwart passed away peacefully at his home in Milan on 4th September 2025.
Fashion Goes Kidulting
As Gen Z grew up to become the new consumer base for luxury, fashion houses reinvented their marketing strategies to appeal to this new market. The best trick in the book: bringing back childhood nostalgia with an added sense of community. And what better way to do that than making board games we loved as kids? From Bottega Veneta's Jenga set to Ralph Lauren's Tic-tac-toe set, 2025 was the year Gen Z used their adult money to satisfy their inner child.
Jacob Elordi, Fashion's Forever Favourite
Jacob Elordi, Bottega Veneta’s ambassador, carrying his Andiamo bag
When is Jacob Elordi's fashion not in the news? The Euphoria actor knows fashion like the back of his hand, and even when he was not promoting his latest movie, Frankenstein, with fellow actor Oscar Isaac and director Guillermo Del Toro, Elordi made headlines for everything from his Bottega Veneta suits to his never-ending bag collection.
Timothy Chalamet's Marty Supreme Promotions
Timothee Chalamet is on a roll right now with his Marty Supreme promotions, and he's one step away from reaching the kind of marketing Barbie did a few years back. At the centre of this promotion, however, is a major fashion moment, with the Marty Supreme jackets every second celebrity wore this year and the orange colour that's been everywhere from iPhones to the latest Taylor Swift album. White boy of the year, aren't they calling him?
