As Spring/Summer 2025 approaches, the fashionscape reflects an intriguing blend of nostalgia, elegance and eco-consciousness. Consumer demand is shifting towards a refined simplicity that is balanced with playful experimentation, as seen in the rise of the quiet luxury trend and sustainable choices that prioritise timelessness over seasonal fads.
Shoppers are looking for hues and silhouettes that feel fresh yet versatile— qualities that allow their wardrobes to remain relevant all year-round. This season, trends spotlight both vibrant hues and soft, nature-inspired palettes, which speak of consumers’ growing interest in grounding tones and understated luxury. From butter yellow to soft florals that evoke a delicate, romantic air, this season’s trends cater to a diverse array of tastes and occasions. Animal prints and military-inspired pieces bring in a sense of strength and edginess, adding a dynamic contrast to the season’s softer aesthetics.
As these trends take hold across global runways and consumer wish lists, designers and brands are set to integrate them into collections that balance wearability with aspirational appeal, capturing the essence of what S/S ’25 is set to represent: timeless, expressive fashion rooted in modern elegance.
TEAL
For S/S ’25, Transformative Teal, hailed as the Colour of the Year 2026 by WGSN and Coloro, is basking in the spotlight, merging the natural tones of blue and green in a hue that reflects the diversity of nature and an earth-focused mindset, aligning with the growing demand for ecological responsibility (in light of the present climate crisis).
Described as calming and restorative, with a transformative and regenerative character, the hue is symbolic of a renewed focus on environmental responsibility and it resonates deeply with the current consumer demand for products that align with sustainable ethos. Teal’s versatility has been showcased across a spectrum of applications on the runways, including the textural play in furry and leather outerwear seen at London College of Fashion’s show and Lanvin, which gave teal a bold, tactile presence, ideal for cooler-weather statement pieces that can bridge Spring and Fall collections.
Elie Saab’s sophisticated use of teal in flowing gowns presents a refined elegance that works well for eveningwear, offering a modern twist on traditional colours, while Casablanca and Denzilpatrick demonstrate teal’s appeal in sporty menswear, making it an excellent choice for leisurewear and activewear segments. Brands should focus on using high-quality, eco-conscious materials such as soft silks, organic cotton and recycled fibres to capture teal’s calming essence while supporting responsible production.
MILITIA
This trend has emerged as a powerful theme this season, with designers embracing military and utilitarian elements to convey messages of strength and empowerment. With all the hype surrounding the US presidential election and the potential it brought for a historic milestone in female leadership, these styles resonate deeply with the zeitgeist, reflecting a mood of resilience and independence.
This trend manifests in a plethora of ways, from Elie Saab’s traditional, structured army-inspired looks to Versace’s modern takes, where utility elements mix with contrasting styles to leave a lasting impact. At Hermès, a tan knit crewneck top with satin patch pockets paired with sheer side-zip pants and a brown leather belt exemplified a minimalist, utilitarian aesthetic, while Mugler’s olive green jacket with exaggerated shoulders and a cinched waist over a micro mini skirt offered a bold, feminine interpretation of military dressing, enhanced by oversized patch pockets and structured lines. Versace paired a classic military-inspired brown shirt with a gold mirrored skirt creating a hybrid look that blends strength with glamour.
Designers and brands should focus on integrating functional elements like patch pockets, sturdy belts and structured silhouettes in neutral and earth-toned palettes— think olive, tan and brown accented with metallics for a modern edge. Luxe fabrics pairing with satin, leather and high-sheen textiles can create a sophisticated yet powerful look suitable for both streetwear and high fashion.
PLAID
Unexpected but prominent, plaid emerged as a defining pattern for the upcoming season, blending heritage with contemporary style. Historically rooted in Scottish Gaelic culture serving as clan identifiers, today, plaid’s evolution has made it a versatile staple across fashion and textiles.
Designers embraced plaid in innovative ways underscoring its adaptability. From light, airy plaids for warmer weather to bold, statement prints, the pattern reinterprets classic tradition for modern audiences. Plaid’s adaptability to casualwear, formalwear and accessories makes it a vital pattern for the season, appealing to consumers who appreciate a blend of heritage and contemporary design.
For designers and brands, plaid offers a balance between tradition and innovation. Integrating plaid into S/S ’25 collections allows for both structured, tailored pieces and flowing, lightweight options. Manufacturers can experiment with various plaid patterns in diverse colour palettes, from pastels to neutrals, ensuring versatility across categories.
LATTE DRESSING
Inspired by the rich, warm tones of a latte, the Latte Dressing trend, has emerged as a refined, understated style for Spring/Summer 2025. This trend captures the essence of quiet luxury in a palette of soft browns, beiges, creamy whites and accents of caramel and camel. Known for its versatility and flattering appeal across diverse skin tones, latte dressing has transitioned from social media sensation to runway staple, aligning perfectly with the season’s preference for minimalism and sophistication.
Hermès, Prada and Alexander McQueen highlighted the appeal of these shades, with Hermès showcasing brown leather pants paired with a sleeveless mock turtleneck featuring a geometric pattern. Accessories including a brown leather bag, bracelet and sandals completed the ensemble, embodying the rich, monochromatic vibe that defines this trend.
Latte dressing can be adopted seamlessly into collections by focusing on high quality materials such as leather, silk, linen and cotton blends. Layering shades within the same colour family— think camel, fawn and mocha— creates depth and sophistication, while pairing them with minimal, structured silhouettes enhances the quiet luxury aesthetic.
ANIMAL PRINT
Animal Print continues its dominance into S/S ’25, with strong consumer demand and a marked presence on recent runways and in street style. Once associated with fleeting styles like the ‘mob wife’ aesthetic, animal prints have solidified their place as a wardrobe staple. The popularity of leopard print leads this charge, seeing an impressive 91 per cent spike in searches on platforms like Lyst, especially in pieces from brands such as Ganni. Market data from EDITED shows a 104 per cent year-on-year increase in animal print arrivals, particularly strong in pre-spring collections from brands like Versace and Givenchy. Leopard print leads the way, especially in bottoms, which have seen significant commercial success and a staggering increase in searches on Pinterest. Terms like ‘leopard print jeans’ (+2990 per cent) reflect this high demand. It is interesting to note that designers are broadening their approach with zebra print emerging as a major trend to watch, having been seen in Jacquemus’s collections and on style influencers in Copenhagen. Celebrities like Rihanna and Kendall Jenner have endorsed this print, further boosting its appeal. For S/S ’25, snakeskin will be prominent in footwear and accessories, with a 51 per cent rise in arrivals over the past year. Cowhide patterns are also expected to gain traction, supported by the growing interest in Western aesthetics, as seen in Gestuz’s Copenhagen collection.
BUTTER YELLOW
Butter Yellow lends a gentle, warm touch that beautifully complements the season’s trending brown tones. After gaining traction on runways and red carpets alike, butter yellow has transitioned from niche to must-have status, with brands offering stunning interpretations at the recently concluded fashion weeks.
At Chloé, breezy yellow dresses captured a relaxed, vacation-ready vibe, while Chanel brought a demure twist with light, elegant day dresses. Alexander McQueen’s ruffled corset tops and matching gowns injected subtle brightness into a darker palette, while Giambattista Valli’s flowing one-shoulder gown solidified butter yellow’s place in the formalwear arena.
Butter Yellow has been embraced by style icons such as Sabrina Carpenter, resulting in viral traction and notable demand. Despite yellow making up less than 2 per cent of the S/S ’24 colour palette, EDITED reports a 106 per cent increase in sell-outs as of July, underscoring the untapped potential of this soft, sunny hue.
For S/S ’25, brands can integrate this hue into their collections through flowing silhouettes, airy fabrics and subtle textures on flowy sundresses to structured tops and eveningwear.
