Four Key Lessons To Master From The A/W25 Runways
Faux fur, leopard print, lace, siren-worthy tailoring — AW25 trends revel in excess
The phone has rung, and we’ve answered — let us tell you, AW25 will be anything but quiet. From the shows in New York to Milan and Paris, the message was clear: this is a season of indulgence, where fashion revels in its own excess. Maximalism is alive and thriving, yet it comes with a sense of balance — a grounding force that keeps all that richness wearable.
In this piece, we decode the four key lessons from the runways, with ideas on how to bring them into your own wardrobe without losing yourself in the noise.
The Age of Opulence
The A/W25 collections leaned into glamour without hesitation. Faux fur ruled the runways — Acne Studios, Etro, and Dolce & Gabbana proved that “mob-wife” energy is far from over. Oversized coats, cropped jackets, and reinvented faux fur pieces reminded us that fashion is at its most thrilling when it flaunts a little excess.
Leopard print made its own statement, with Saint Laurent and Versace pushing the pattern beyond outerwear into dresses, skirts, and accessories. This season, leopard will continue to be everywhere.
Lace and lingerie-inspired dressing joined the opulent mix, with sheer fabric details at Valentino, Chloé, and Saint Laurent. The red carpet is already embracing the look, but for everyday, layering lace under tailoring or pairing a sheer blouse with denim is a more approachable nod to the trend.
Lesson: Opulence doesn’t mean costume. Start small: a faux-fur stole, a leopard-print accessory, or a touch of lace layered into your outfit can channel the richness of the season without overwhelming your style DNA.
A Maximalist Fever Dream
Florals re-emerged with a twist, as Giambattista Valli and Coperni proved that blooms don’t have to be reserved for spring. Reworked in darker palettes and layered with unexpected pairings, these florals carried drama and depth fit for the colder months.
The season’s colour palette proved to be loud, playful, and deliberately unrestrained. Bold shades took centre stage, from neon blocking at Saint Laurent and Gucci to saturated brights at MSGM. Designers leaned into excess with intent, showing that colour can be both powerful and liberating.
And finally, logomania resurfaced, with Marine Serre, Dior, and Off-White reclaiming branding as part of the maximalist mood.
Lesson: The takeaway isn’t to pile on everything at once. Instead, experiment piece by piece. Clash a bold print skirt with a neutral knit, or revive an old logo tee with statement outerwear. Day to day, maximalism works best when it feels like a nod, not a costume party.
Siren Codes
If the last few seasons flirted with “office siren,” AW25 committed to the theme. Pencil skirts, suiting, and pin stripes returned in sharp cuts at Carolina Herrera, Calvin Klein, and Ermanno Scervino, showcasing precise tailoring paired with sheer blouses. The effect was sleek, subtly sensual, and sharp.
While the clothes leaned towards the seductive, the look was grounded by loafers — styled with knee-high socks and patent finishes. Prada and Miu Miu’s iterations confirmed it: the schoolgirl shoe is the footwear to be seen in this season. And the toe-reigning days aren’t quite over yet, with versions appearing in sheer materials and even open-toed designs.
Lesson: The siren of 2025 isn’t about overt sensuality; it’s about control. Try pairing a pencil skirt or fitted knit with loafers and structured outerwear for a look that’s smart enough for the office but sultry enough for after-dark.
Balance in Practicality
For all the richness of AW25, designers also injected a note of realism. Brown — Pantone’s Mocha Mousse — dominated collections from Hermès to Victoria Beckham, offering a new kind of neutral.
Draped capes appeared at Burberry, Courreges, and Brandon Maxwell, bringing movement and elegance that make layering easy.
In the world of accessories, slouchy bags offered an effortless update — soft shapes carried under the arm or loosely over the shoulder brought a sense of ease to AW25 styling.
Unexpected belting, from obi wraps to chain styles, added a playful twist and proved to be one of the simplest ways to reinvent pieces you already own.
Lesson: Practicality doesn’t mean plain. Swap black for brown to refresh your basics, experiment with how you belt an existing coat, or carry your bag squished under the arm à la Fendi and The Row. These small shifts anchor the drama of the season while keeping things wearable for work.
Imagery courtesy of Jason Lloyd Evans at Catwalkpix.com
Lead Image Courtesy of Instagram /@gucci, @ysl, @victoriabeckham, and @altuzarra