Recap: All the Highlights from Fashion Week

The Fall/Winter 2025 ready-to-wear season has officially wrapped, leaving a whirlwind of creativity, bold statements, and unexpected twists across the fashion capitals of New York, London, Milan, and Paris. This season was less about a single, overarching trend and more about a diverse exploration of femininity, craftsmanship, and dramatic silhouettes. From highly anticipated debuts to centennial celebrations, here’s a recap of all the highlights from Fashion Week.

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) F/W 2025: A Mix of Drama and Debuts

New York set the stage with a blend of theatricality and refined minimalism.

Marc Jacobs’ “Courage” Collection: Kicking off the season off-schedule, Marc Jacobs delivered another masterclass in spectacle. His collection, titled “Courage,” transformed models into life-sized dress-up dolls with exaggerated proportions, voluminous skirts, and padded sweaters, evoking a playful, Polly Pocket vibe. It was a bold vision of fearless self-expression.
Calvin Klein’s Triumphant Return: After a six-year hiatus from the NYFW runway, Calvin Klein made a highly anticipated return under the new creative direction of Veronica Leoni. Her debut collection embraced the brand’s signature minimalism but with a softer, more sensual edge. Highlights included sharp suiting, elegant slip dresses, and knit henleys, redefining quiet luxury with a focus on precise tailoring. The show even featured iconic supermodels like Kendall Jenner and Christy Turlington, and a cheeky nod to CK One perfume bottles as bags.
Michael Kors’ “Dégagé Chic”: Michael Kors presented a collection focused on “cozy modernism” and effortless chic. Expect softly tailored menswear-inspired coats, plush shearling outerwear, and lightweight silk dresses in a rich autumnal palette of chocolate, caramel, and aubergine. It was about blending comfort with sophisticated glamour.
Christopher John Rogers’ Vibrant Comeback: After a five-year absence, Christopher John Rogers returned with his Fall/Winter collection, “Exhale.” Known for his fearless use of color, Rogers delivered a rainbow of vibrant stripes and ruffles, proving his vitality and unique vision in celebrating individuality through expressive occasionwear and playful daywear.
Altuzarra’s Timeless Craft: Joseph Altuzarra focused on meticulously crafted, timeless pieces. Standouts included strong, feminine tailoring and exquisite outerwear like the navy cape coat with hidden sleeves, emphasizing understated elegance and practicality.

London Fashion Week (LFW) F/W 2025: Creativity and Subversiveness

London, true to its reputation, showcased creativity and a subversive spirit, often with fewer “big names” but no shortage of impact.

Fringe Benefits: Movement and texture were key, with various types of fringe dominating. From dense and swingy at Burberry and Temperley London to more sparse and stringy at Roksanda, fringe transformed garments into dynamic, eye-catching pieces.
Sparkle & Shine: Designers embraced glitter, sequins, and lurex fabrics, adding a celebratory sparkle to collections from Ashish to Erdem. Fringe-esque tinsel was also a popular feature.
Red Wine Hues: A deep, rich burgundy shade was used liberally across many runways, making a strong statement for fall. This “red, red wine” trend offered a luxurious and sophisticated color palette.
Furry Touches: While full fur coats were seen in New York, London focused more on pops of fur (and fur alternatives), such as fur trim at Burberry and Toga, and fur accessories at Simone Rocha.
Rad Plaid: A classic British design, plaids, tartans, and other checks were reinterpreted by designers like Burberry and Sinead Gorey, ranging from cozy knits to preppy and grunge-inspired looks.
Mad Hats: Quirky, eccentric hats were abundant, adding an individualistic feel. From retro cloche and newsboy hats to dramatic veiled styles, headwear became a major statement.
Lurid Lace: Lace was used for revealing, not-quite-lingerie results, emphasizing its sheerness for a sensual and bold aesthetic.

Milan Fashion Week (MFW) F/W 2025: Heritage, Innovation, and Boldness

Milan offered a compelling blend of heritage brands celebrating milestones and innovative collections pushing boundaries.

Prada’s “Feminities”: Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons continued their exploration of modern femininity. Their collection, titled “Feminities,” challenged conventional glamour, showcasing “elegance with nothing” through everyday pieces manipulated to achieve complexity. Raw, unfinished hems and scuffed shoes added to a deliberate “beautiful mess,” emphasizing freedom from perfection.
Fendi’s Centennial Spectacle: Fendi celebrated its 100th anniversary with a star-studded show. The collection opened with bold shearling power coats, setting a luxurious tone. It was a masterclass in tactile materials, celebrating Fendi’s rich heritage in fur and leather with sophisticated designs.
Gucci’s Heritage Homage: After Sabato De Sarno’s departure, Gucci’s in-house design team presented a collection embedded in the brand’s heritage. It revisited key moments from Gucci’s history, bringing back elements like the iconic Gucci Green. The collection aimed for “a continuum of craft, taste, and culture,” blending ’90s minimalism with ’10s ultra-maximalism.
Diesel’s Disruption: Glenn Martens’ (soon to be heading to Maison Margiela) Diesel show was a spectacle, featuring a Guinness World Record-setting inflatable. The collection showcased his ability to disrupt everyday archetypes, with pieces like Chanel-like bouclé tweed jackets paired with ultra-short denim skirts, all covered in graffiti-laden fabric.
Ferragamo’s Evolving Elegance: Maximilian Davis continued to evolve Ferragamo, drawing inspiration from dance and reinterpreting the brand’s heritage with refined silhouettes and rich textures, including ultra-lightweight wool.
Versace’s Energetic DNA: Donatella Versace delivered an energetic show firmly rooted in the house’s DNA, featuring powerful silhouettes and a celebration of Hollywood glamour.

Paris Fashion Week (PFW) F/W 2025: Poise, Artistry, and Grand Debuts

Paris, as always, delivered a grand finale with its blend of haute couture sensibility and influential ready-to-wear.

Givenchy’s Celebrated Debut: Sarah Burton’s highly anticipated first collection for Givenchy was a standout. She paid homage to the atelier’s origins with a distinctly female point of view, reinterpreting iconic silhouettes like hourglass shapes and classic evening gowns, projecting a vision of soft power.
Saint Laurent’s Silhouette Focus: Anthony Vaccarello at Saint Laurent championed the power of silhouette. His collection was defined by “a simplicity of silhouette – as if created with a few pencil strokes,” focusing on precise construction and fabrics to shape garments rather than relying on ornament. Strong-shouldered day dresses and evening ballgown skirts paired with leather bomber jackets were key.
Chanel’s Fairytale Proportions: The final ready-to-wear collection from Chanel’s in-house studio team revisited house signatures—bows, ribbons, pearls, and flowers—while playing with whimsical proportions and nodding to fairytales. Oversized ties and decorative bows were prominent.
Alaïa’s Sculptural Forms: Pieter Mulier at Alaïa continued his exploration of making clothes inspired by curvature and body sculpting. His collection featured winding curves and tubular hooded dresses, drawing inspiration from artists to create pieces that act as “kinetic sculpture” and defy traditional eras of beauty.
Dior’s Heritage and Identity: Maria Grazia Chiuri at Dior delved deep into heritage and history, exploring how they influence identity and womanhood today. The collection presented a refined and thoughtful take on feminine power.
Louis Vuitton’s Time Travelers: Louis Vuitton’s collection imagined eclectic time travelers crossing paths in a Parisian train station, presenting a diverse range of looks that blended different eras and styles.
Demna’s Personal Balenciaga: Demna’s Balenciaga show was a deeply personal reflection on childhood memories, translating into oversized, padded pieces and a distinct focus on exaggerated volume.

Overarching Trends from the Runways:

Beyond individual shows, several key trends resonated across all four fashion capitals for F/W 2025:

Maximalist Volume: From exaggerated shoulders and oversized silhouettes to bubble hems and full, dramatic skirts, clothes are designed to take up space.
Rich Textures: Fur, faux fur, shearling, and intricate knitwear are dominant, emphasizing tactile luxury.
The Return of Brown: Earthy brown tones emerged as a sophisticated alternative to black, appearing in every garment category.
Bold, Saturated Colors: After seasons of neutrals, vibrant hues like violet, tangerine, fuschia, and scarlet are back in full force, injecting joy and energy.
Refined Basics: The “little white tank top” and other foundational pieces are elevated through impeccable quality and cut, underscoring longevity.
Dramatic Outerwear: Capes, capelets, and statement coats are key, adding an element of elegance and power.
Playful Accessories: Multi-belts, statement brooches, and whimsical bags are used to add personality and visual interest.
Nostalgia Reimagined: Elements from the ’50s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s are reinterpreted with a modern lens, including pencil skirts, wide-leg trousers, and vintage-inspired prints.

Conclusion: A Season of Bold Statements and Enduring Craft

The Fall/Winter 2025 Fashion Weeks were a powerful testament to the industry’s resilience, creativity, and constant evolution. From highly anticipated designer debuts at Givenchy and Tom Ford to centennial celebrations at Fendi, the season delivered a rich tapestry of styles. The overarching message is one of renewed expressiveness, with designers embracing dramatic silhouettes, vibrant colors, and luxurious textures, while simultaneously reaffirming the importance of timeless craftsmanship and elevated basics. These highlights from the runways offer a compelling forecast of what will define our wardrobes as we move into the latter half of 2025 and beyond.