The 25 best fashion moments of 2025
What were the best fashion moments of 2025?
2025 was a year of fashion contradictions. Vintage glamour swept through all the major red carpets, with many a star taking inspiration from the screen sirens of Old Hollywood. From Zendaya to Pamela Anderson, the name of the game was a more classic, toned-down version of fashion, as opposed to the fun, crazy viral looks we've gotten used to seeing in recent years.
Is this fashion sobriety a rejection of the ever-accelerating trend cycle? (Great!) Or, is it a reflection of a more conservative society following the return of Trump? (Not so great.) Perhaps it's a bit of both.
On the other hand, despite the more serious fashion landscape, weird style was still well and truly alive. Partnerships like Doechii and her stylist Sam Woolf or FKA Twigs and hair artist Louis Souvestre made sure that we were fed with exciting looks all year long.
Celebs also didn't shy away from using fashion as a political statement. Hunter Schafer attended a Prada show wearing the colours of the trans flag, Michaela Coel wore a toub in solidarity with Sudanese women amidst the country's humanitarian crisis and Megan Stalter donned a ‘ceasefire’ sign to the Emmys in reference to the genocide of Gaza.
So, without further ado, here are the best fashion moments of 2025, whether visually stunning, politically resonant, or both!
Amy Sussman/Getty Images1. Zendaya channelling Old Hollywood
The Golden Globes kicked off the year and set the tone for Old Hollywood-inspired fashion. One of the best examples was Zendaya's Louis Vuitton look, which paid tribute to black Hollywood icons such as Diahann Carroll, Eartha Kitt, Dorothy Dandridge and Joyce Bryant. The look also caused a bit of a fuss because it doubled as a debut of her engagement ring!
Marc Piasecki/Getty Images2. Raye setting the polka dot agenda
Raye is a big fan of Old Hollywood style, and for good reason, since it suits her perfectly! This look, which she wore to the Jacquemus show at the beginning of the year, was a precursor to the polka dot trend that would take over.
Palomija/Instagram3. Paloma Elsesser proving that statement shoulders are in
While accepting her Model Of The Year award at the Latin American Fashion Awards, Paloma wore a dress by Luar. The style icon regularly proves that edgy, high fashion pieces work on curvy girls, too!
Aeon/Getty Images4. Anya Taylor-Joy dressing like a cloud
While promoting her film The Gorge, the ever-stylish Anya was spotted in a McQueen shearling jacket from the autumn/winter 2024 collection.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images5. Doechii putting boho chic into the spotlight
Doechii has had a phenomenal fashion run this year, in so small part thanks to her stylist Sam Woolf, who was recently commended at the Fashion Awards. This look at the Chloé show channelled a mix of boho chic and swamp princess, as she calls herself.
Mike Marsland/Getty Images6. Gwendoline Christie making a case for vampy romance
Gothic romance was clearly the brief for Gwendoline's BAFTA Awards look. The ultra-long hair featured extensions and tiny braids secured with bows, while the black Giles Deacon dress showed off shredded sleeves.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images7. Hunter Schafer's take on the trans flag
Hunter's look at the Prada show early this year was both a masterclass in colour blocking and a statement in support of trans rights. The actress works closely with Dara, influential stylist and fashion director of Interview Magazine.
WOW/MTVDara and Hunter are such a great team, in fact, that I couldn't leave off this look either. For her appearance as a RuPaul's Drag Race guest judge, Hunter wore this Jean Paul Gaultier bodysuit from the 2009 autumn/winter couture show.
Addison Rae /YouTube8. Addison Rae bringing back Tumblr
Addison is another celebrity that works with stylist Dara. In fact, Dara has been quite instrumental in turning Addison into a fashion girlie. Her Headphones On music video cemented the return of Tumblr aesthetics.
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images9. Zoë Kravitz indulging in a cheeky moment
Zoë is one of those fashion girls that rarely disappoints, even when wearing something simple. This bum-baring vintage Saint Laurent look was quite unassuming from the front, but the back revealed a tantalising sheer panel.
Lionel Hahn/Getty Images10. Charli XCX dabbling in classic glamour
The party-loving songstress attended the Kering Women In Motion Awards at the Cannes Film Festival. While other look of the year roundups understandably focus on her Vivienne Westwood wedding dress, this lilac Saint Laurent number really left an impression on me.
Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images11. Teyana Taylor as the ultimate Black Dandy
The theme for the Met Gala this year was Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. Undoubtedly one of the best looks of the night was Teyana's, designed in collaboration with Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter. The outfit took inspiration from Harlem dandies and zoot suits.
Adrian Edwards/Getty Images12. Rihanna's chic pregnancy reveal
Photos of celebrities leaving their hotel ahead of the Met Gala are tradition by this point. What was so impactful about this moment, is that Rihanna took this opportunity to reveal her third pregnancy in a head-to-toe Miu Miu look which showed off her bump.
Mindy Small/Getty Images13. Rebecca Black's sailor wedding cosplay
Rebecca Black dressed as a sailor bride for the American Music Awards. The look was designed by emerging LA designer Erik Charlotte.
Joe Maher/Getty Images14. Ceval's bridal romance
Speaking of bridal looks, model Ceval also channelled wedding beauty at the Fashion Awards in this draped white dress by designer Di Petsa. What's got all the girls wanting to look like they're about to enter nuptial bliss?
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images15. Julia Fox and padded silhouettes
Julia is a woman of many looks, but one of her most memorable this year is this Marc Jacobs number she wore to the designer's 2026 runway show in June. Over-sized, padded silhouettes have been a huge trend this year.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty ImagesThis would be the perfect time to mention some other looks this year that channelled the padded silhouette. Sarah Paulson wore a Marc Jacobs look for the Vanity Fair Oscars party.
Michael Buckner/Getty ImagesErykah Badu attended the Billboard Women In Music Awards wearing this padded, crocheted suit by emerging designer Myah Hasbany. While both the musician and the designer have not disclosed what exactly the inspiration was, people have drawn connections with BBL culture, Sarah Baartman (a South African woman who was exploited in colonial ‘freakshows’ in the 19th century) and fertility statues like the Venus of Willendorf.
While a thought-provoking piece, the popularity of these padded silhouettes juxtaposed alongside the rise of Ozempic and a decline in body positivity is something that has concerned audiences.
Savion Washington/Getty Images16. Michaela Coel standing with Sudan
For the Toronto International Film Festival, Michaela wore a Sudanese toub (a traditional garment) in solidarity with the region's women and to highlight their resilience. Amidst the country's humanitarian crisis, she worked with a team of Sudanese women to put the look together.
Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images17. FKA Twigs sporting headphone braids
You can always trust FKA Twigs to provide a look. It was hard to choose just one, but this look at the MTV Video Music Awards takes the cake, with braided headphones by hair artist Louis Souvestre and a two-piece custom set by Materies Fecales.
Aeon/Getty ImagesEven her look on the way to the event was phenomenal.
Amy Sussman/Getty Images18. Jenna Ortega heralding the return of costume jewellery
Jenna sported many gothic looks this year while promoting the second season of Wednesday. But for the Emmy Awards, she opted for something a little more glam. The top, made up of chains of crystals and pearls, was from Sara Burton's debut at Givenchy and proved that costume jewellery is so, so back.
Kevin Mazur/Getty Images19. Megan Stalter calling for ceasefire
Also at the Emmys, rising actor and comedian Megan Stalter opted for a completely different approach. Not only did she go very casual in a T-shirt and jeans at an event where people are dressed to the nines, she also wore a “ceasefire!” label in solidarity with the people of Gaza.
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images20. Jodie Turner-Smith in tech couture
Jodie is another woman with consistently great style – and no wonder, since she's been working with stylist Law Roach! For the Paris premiere of Tron: Ares, she wore a couture Schiaparelli piece made of discarded electronics.
Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Getty Images21. Pamela Anderson proving the '80s are back
Pamela has been making headlines for a couple years now due to her minimal make-up. For the spring/summer 2026 show, she channelled the 80s with strong shoulders and a wavy bob.
Jacopo M. Raule/Getty Images22. Lana Del Rey with her beau
Lana was the picture of soft vintage glamour as she attended the Valentino show with her husband, alligator tour guide Jeremy Dufrene.
Mike Coppola/MG25/Getty ImagesPlus, an honourable mention for her alligator hairclip at the Met Gala, which surely was a cheeky reference to her new husband's profession.
Monica Schipper/GA23. Greta Lee in new Dior
Greta is one of those fashion girls that never screams with her outfits, but always looks incredibly chic. (Which is the modus operandi of her stylist Danielle Goldberg, who also works with other stylish women like Ayo Edebiri.) For the Academy Museum Gala, she wore a custom Dior look by Jonathan Anderson.
Franco Origlia/Getty Images24. Zoë Bleu Arquette as a blue phoenix
Zoë's signature style is full of historical references and romantic silhouettes. For the premiere of Dracula: A Love Tale, the actor and fashion designer didn't wear one of her own creations. Instead, she donned a custom royal blue look by Ann Demeulemeester.
Dave Benett/Getty Images25. Tyla flexing her mussels
One of our fashion moments of the year comes from our very own Women Of The Year Awards! Tyla donned a jacket made from mussell shells, created by emerging London-based desiger George Trochopoulos.
barbieferreira / InstagramHONOURABLE MENTIONS
Barbie Ferreira in sensual Ludovic De Saint SerninBarbie wore this Ludovic De Saint Sernin autumn/winter 2025 dress to the Barcelona Film Festival.
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesClairo in polka dots
Clairo wore this dress by Miss Claire Sullivan to the Grammys back in February, again highlighting the popularity of the polka dot!
Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty ImagesRosalía in wrinkled Calvin Klein
Purposefully wrinkled fabrics have been a trend over the last couple years. Rosalía wore this dress to the Calvin Klein spring/summer 2026 show.
Daniele Venturelli/Getty ImagesIndya Moore in chocolate brown YSL
At Venice Film Festival, Indya wore the colour of the year, chocolate brown, in a sheer Saint Laurent dress.
Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty ImagesChloë Sevigny in a bubble skirt
Fashion darling Chloë Sevigny attended Venice Film Festival in a Saint Laurent look, proving that bubble skirts were one of this year's biggest trends.
Stefanie Keenan/Getty ImagesRachel Sennott as a '70s bride
Rachel Sennott attended Vogue World looking like a '70s bride. Will we be seeing more bridal cosplay next year?
