I Just Came Back From Paris—These 8 Trends Got My Attention
The international fashion capital show circuit ends with Paris, and this season confirmed the emergence of certain trends I had already started to pick up on throughout New York, London and Milan. However, the French fashion houses (and the brands that show here, even if they aren't French) tend to take the craftspersonship and the conceptual to the limit, providing some of spring/summer 2025's looks at their most indulgent, most impressive and most extreme.
Take Loewe, for example. We had already seen grand structures grace the runways, but nothing like the radical hoop skirts Jonathan Anderson created for the Spanish fashion house. Dresses hovered in the air, defying gravity and providing an entirely new silhouette and aesthetic for next spring. Not only that, but highly sculptural pieces were crafted intricately out of the finest layers of the most unexpected materials including mother of pearl—yes, really.
Just like Loewe's billowing floral dresses, there was a lightness that ran through many of the Parisian collections. Pastel shades abounded, with baby pink and powder blue the most prominent. Ruffles, frills, chiffons and lace were ever-present, whilst Alessandro Michele's runway debut at Valentino put an official stamp on the return of frou-frou, much to the relief of many of the world's anti-quiet-luxury dressers.
On the flip side, there were more restrained or serious moments, with office-inspired attire making itself very known (Saint Laurent's collection was an ode to founder Yves and his signature look of a suit and thick-framed glasses), and sporty aesthetics dotted across collections (if Miu Miu's leggings don't spark a comeback, then I'll eat my Stella McCartney baseball cap).
I spent days decoding the runways (shoutout to Le Grand Hotel Cayré for giving me such a gorgeous base camp), so keep scrolling to see which trends I think will take off from the S/S 25 shows at Paris Fashion Week.
Walking Sculptures
From deconstructed hoop skirts to padded-out hips, I saw a slew of showstopping dresses with extra volume and structure baked in. Sometimes this was more daring and less "wearable", but I expect to see full-skirted styles hit the market in a strong way next spring.
Baby Pinks and Blues
Pretty pastels dominated the S/S 25 runways across every city, but in Paris, I was intrigued to see baby pink and powder blue on repeat. Take your pick or wear both, style them as a solo colour head-to-toe or try mixing in something unexpected for a clash (see Rochas's bright-red and pink combo).
Chintz Florals
In my many years as a fashion editor, I can confidently say that florals are always in spring/summer collections. They vary from year to year, and for 2025, it looks like it's less about disty or artsy florals and more about chintzy ones—the kind you'd find on old-fashioned wallpaper or soft furnishings in blousy prints or jacquards.
Graphic Tees
Just when you thought graphic tees were buried… they rise again! Expect to see a gamut of styles trending next spring, from those with cheeky motifs and large-scale prints through to subtly logo'd tees. Interestingly, they were most commonly worn with flirty skirts or layered under cute dresses—this is not a jeans-and-tee kind of moment.
Work Force
Suit up, look sharp! From Saint Laurent's series of tailored trouser suits worn with ties and opticals to Stella McCartney's newspaper-toting girls in oversized trench coats, there was a business feel to many collections—perfect for those looking to update their officewear next year.
The Great Drape
Goddess-like draped gowns, blouses and trousers offered something soft, romantic and classic in sophisticated hues. The vibe was bohemian yet elevated, grown-up yet never boring.
Frou Frou
Ruffles upon ruffles! Bows upon bows! Corsages! Hats! The high camp of frou-frou was plain to see across many of the most popular runway moments, with Valentino leading the charge thanks to Alessandro Michele's signature vision translating into his first runway collection for the brand. If excess is not your jam, look away now.
Sporting Goods
2024 may have been denoted as the summer that fashion really became obsessed with the world of sports (just how stylish were this year's Olympic contestants, please?), but it looks like the impact of technical gear continues to influence. From sports-inspired jackets (moto, anoraks, windbreakers, the lot) to hoodies, sliders and leggings, there's a sporting look out there for everyone.
Hannah Almassi is the Editor in Chief of Who What Wear UK. Hannah has been part of the the Who What Wear brand since 2015, when she was headhunted to launch the UK sister site and social channels, implement a localised content strategy and build out the editorial team. She joined following a seven-year tenure at Grazia magazine, where she led front-of-book news, fashion features and shopping specials as fashion news and features editor. With experience in both print and digital across fashion and beauty, Hannah has over 16 years in the field as a journalist, editor, content strategist and brand consultant. Hannah has interviewed industry heavyweights such as designers including Marc Jacobs and Jonathan Anderson through to arbiters of taste including Katie Grand and Anna Dello Russo. A skilled moderator and lecturer specialising in the shift to digital media and e-commerce, Hannah’s opinion and work has been sought by the likes of CNBC, BBC, The Sunday Times Style, The Times, The Telegraph and MatchesFashion.com, among many others. Hannah is often called upon for her take on trends, becoming known as a person with their finger of the pulse of what’s happening in the fashion space for stylish Brits. Hannah currently resides in Eastbourne with her photographer husband, incredibly busy son and highly Instagrammable cat.
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