The trends that will shape the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 season

By Léa Zetlaoui.

Published on 1 August 2025. Updated on 4 August 2025.

From Y2K to indie sleaze

In 2025, reboots aren’t just dominating cinema, they’re taking over the runway too. Touted as this year’s main trend, indie sleaze, the emblematic style of the 2010s, asserts itself alongside the Y2K aesthetics of the 2000s.

Iconic pieces are making a comeback

There’s no denying a sense of déjà vu hovering over the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 Fashion Week. From the iconic “J’adore Dior” T-shirt launched by John Galliano in 2001, to Chloé’s legendary Paddington bag and Alexander McQueen’s Skull scarf, now available as a shirt, designers enjoy revamping past icons. The climax of this revival? The Tom Ford silhouette, reworked and interpreted by Haider Ackermann, is turning heads.

The dandy rock’n’roll look

If Kate Moss remains the undisputed queen of indie sleaze, it’s because she invented the look. With her androgynous figure and rock-dandy attitude, she established an aesthetic that would define an entire era. The classic look featured ultra low-rise trousers, sleeveless vests, and bohemian elements.

The bohemian dress

Put in the spotlight by the Olsen twins and Sienna Miller in the 2010s, the bohemian dress is making a comeback this winter. This time, it appears in a much less hippie version, and it’s better that way.

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The mob wife trend

Giving both femme fatale and empowered vibes, the mob wife trend has sparked considerable debate since it started in 2024. With its aesthetic borrowed from American gangster wives, many critics shouted “cultural appropriation”. Yet, despite the controversy, this bling aesthetics holds strong.

The (faux) fur coat

What could be more chic and comforting than a faux fur coat? Central piece of the mob wife’s wardrobe, it perfectly embodies the exuberance of this style – oversized volumes, opulent textures, and deep colours. Worn over a bodycon dress or a simple satin ensemble, it instantly transforms any silhouette into a figure of power and desire.

Opulence couture

And beneath the faux fur coat, a silhouette of full-blown opulence inspired by haute couture is making a major comeback. Sophisticated draping, luxurious texture play, metallic accents, and dramatic volumes all reaffirm a renewed taste for the spectacular.

Power dressing

At the same time, power dressing is making a strong comeback. Structured suits, pronounced shoulders, and sharp cuts reflect a desire for control and authority, in a context where fashion mirrors societal tensions more than ever.

The grey suit of the working girl

Symbol of the 1990s New York working girl, the gray suit embodies both anonymity and fantasy. On the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 runways, it emerges as a form of protest. Sleek, almost austere, it becomes the uniform of a femininity that asserts power without embellishment.

XXL shoulder pads

This idea of making a statement through a silhouette also shows through oversized shoulder pads. These amplified volumes go beyond mere fashion. They become a modern-day armour, as seen at Saint Laurent, Prada, Stella McCartney, and Chloé.

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A bold style for the Fall/Winter season

Overall, the Fall/Winter 2025-2026 trends stand out for their lack of boldness, a few bursts of creativity shake up the general sobriety.

Maximalist accessories

Chanel for instance revamps the house’s iconic pearl necklace as a micro bag on an oversized strap. Elsewhere, accessories take on a maximalist, yet practical approach. Belts with large pockets at Ferragamo, impressive leather scarves at Givenchy, and protective hoods at Ottolinger all make a fashion statement through functionality.

XXL volumes

Embodying New York chic, Khaite flirts with grunge through a minimalistic cocoon ensemble. Duran Lantink, Jean Paul Gaultier‘s new creative director and Issey Miyake, fashion is understated and experimental. Finally, Anthony Vaccarello reimagines eveningwear with a voluminous petticoat and a leather jacket.

Unexpected ways to dress

Just when we thought we’d seen it all, this Fall/Winter 2025-2026 season is proving otherwise. Designers played the surprise card with clothes worn in brand new ou deconstructed ways. At Givenchy, Sarah Burton reimagines the men’s jacket worn backwards as a bustier. At Vivienne Westwood, Andreas Kronthaler transforms classic trousers into an asymmetrical drape with sculptural flow. Meanwhile, Alain Paul lets sleeves fall away and Julie Kegels dresses bodies in blankets turned into modern togas.

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The Fall/Winter 2025-2026 colours and patterns

Neon colour block

After several seasons dominated by neutral tones, colour blocking is back in force in a more sophisticated version. Courrèges, Acne Studios, Hermès, and Balenciaga opt for desaturated neon shades to create more texture. A bold way to stand out in the dull greyness of winter.

Tapestry florals

Forget the spring’s pastoral blossoms, this Fall/Winter 2025-2026, floral patterns go vintage without fading into the background. Or perhaps they do… But as is often the case in fashion, style lies in the attitude, like at Burberry, Prada, Rabanne, and Magda Butrym.