Global Trends Shaping SS25: Key Highlights from New York, London, Milan, Paris, and Riyadh Fashion Weeks
Spring/Summer 2025 fashion weeks from New York to Riyadh brought a mix of bold experimentation, refined luxury, and a nod to heritage. This season demonstrated that while each city maintains its unique fashion identity, certain trends transcended borders. Here's a look at how key designers and collections shaped the season.
New York: Bold and Free-Flowing Expression
New York Fashion Week saw a wave of creativity with designers embracing fluidity and bold self-expression. Peter Do, with his debut at Helmut Lang, captured attention with minimalist tailoring and futuristic cuts, while Dion Lee and Proenza Schouler introduced sharp tailoring combined with sensual, body-conscious pieces. Streetwear influences remained strong, but were elevated through luxurious materials and sleek finishes. Coach embraced a playful yet edgy vibe, delivering retro-inspired looks.
In terms of color, vibrant tones, and metallics popped, echoing the city's eclectic energy, while accessories leaned toward chunky, statement-making pieces.
London: A Fusion of History and Innovation
London Fashion Week remained a hub of cutting-edge creativity. JW Anderson delivered unexpected silhouettes with asymmetric hemlines, while Burberry, under the helm of Daniel Lee, fused British heritage with modern urbanity, bringing plaid and trench coats to the forefront but with a more deconstructed edge. Erdem continued to channel its signature romanticism, incorporating soft florals and intricate lace detailing, while Simone Rocha pushed boundaries with voluminous shapes and bold embellishments, emphasizing craftsmanship.
This season also saw designers delving deeper into sustainability, with many collections featuring upcycled fabrics and eco-conscious processes.
Milan: Timeless Luxury and Masterful Tailoring
Milan Fashion Week once again proved its reputation for impeccable craftsmanship and timeless luxury. Prada captured attention with its minimalist, refined aesthetic, focusing on streamlined silhouettes and neutral tones. Fendi embraced understated elegance, with collections dominated by earthy hues, clean lines, and a subtle exploration of femininity. Versace, as always, brought bold glamour with vibrant colors, daring cuts, and sparkling embellishments, while Giorgio Armani stayed true to his classic, sophisticated tailoring, offering sleek, flowy pieces that exuded quiet confidence.
Milan continued its focus on craftsmanship, with designers opting for simpler, timeless pieces that showcased their expert tailoring and fabric choices.
Paris: Where Haute Couture Meets Futurism
Paris Fashion Week, as the grand finale, lived up to its reputation for delivering high fashion mixed with bold, avant-garde concepts. Balenciaga led the charge with an experimental collection featuring futuristic, oversized shapes and metallic finishes, while Saint Laurent, under Anthony Vaccarello, championed elegant power dressing with sharp-shouldered blazers and sleek silhouettes. Chanel and Dior took a more traditional approach, with both brands delivering collections rich in texture, from delicate tweeds to intricate embroidery.
Meanwhile, Louis Vuitton wowed with structured, space-age designs that nodded to the future, and Rick Owens combined his usual dark, edgy aesthetic with dramatic drapery and sculptural forms. The Paris runways were a testament to the city’s ability to push boundaries while paying homage to haute couture’s roots.
Riyadh: Honoring Tradition with a Modern Twist
Riyadh Fashion Week, now in its second edition, highlighted Saudi Arabia’s growing presence on the global fashion stage. Designers like Arwa Al Banawi and Honayda presented collections that blended contemporary fashion with nods to traditional Saudi dress. Flowing silhouettes, modest cuts, and luxurious fabrics were prevalent, with many designers embracing regional craftsmanship and embroidery.
This year’s Riyadh Fashion Week also focused on sustainability and cultural heritage, with an emphasis on supporting local artisans and slow fashion practices. With over 35 Saudi fashion houses taking part, the event highlighted the diversity and creativity present in the Kingdom’s burgeoning fashion industry.
From the innovation seen in New York to the traditional craftsmanship celebrated in Riyadh, SS25 has proven to be a season where designers push the boundaries of self-expression while respecting heritage and craftsmanship. The fashion world remains more interconnected than ever, with trends like bold tailoring, sustainable practices, and futuristic details creating a truly global narrative for Spring/Summer 2025.
