In fashion, 2025 was a year of upheaval — tariffs, rising prices, creative changes, currency fluctuations and dimming consumer sentiment. But through it all, people still shopped.
What they bought was determined by more than which silhouettes were trending. The TikTok micro-trend machine, which had driven the style conversation for years evolved as shoppers prioritised finding fashion that reflected their individual tastes and preferences. Products that sold well in this environment included accessories, from necklace stacks to bag charms, and pricey, offbeat jewellery, including a $20,000 hamburger ring.
People embraced different styles, whether it be a greater variety of denim shapes or more minimalist footwear like flip-flops. Women found new ways to extend the pandemic-era trend of prioritising comfort, whether it was by wearing pajamas as everyday wear or cult-favourite sweatshirts. Menswear got more formal as boat shoes and button-downs made a comeback. Still, men found ways to relax even their more button-up looks — wide-leg pants, for instance, cemented their place at the top of the men’s bottoms market.
The aftershocks of luxury price hikes continued to shape consumer preferences, as more people looked to buy luxury goods secondhand (even – and sometimes especially – if they looked a little worse for wear), bags from up-and-coming labels and of course, dupes of the real thing.
Beyond just what they bought, shoppers also sought out unique settings for hitting purchase. The Hamptons saw continued interest as a shopping destination. People also waited in hours-long lines at celebrity closet sales and sample sales. The hope was not just scoring a great deal, but being part of a community — and of course, having a story to tell on TikTok.
Top Stories
1. Why Everyone Suddenly Wants to Sell You a Handbag. As luxury brands stumble, new entrants ranging from Alo Yoga to Nili Lotan to Old Navy are launching their first bag collections. Is there room in the market for all of them?
2. Behind the Rise of the ‘It’ Sweatshirt. Brands like Parke and The Bar have turned a relatively ordinary item into a must-have for thousands of Gen Z customers, building hype with limited drops and careful product design.
3. Sleepwear Is Having Its Athleisure Moment. Pyjamas are increasingly finding their way out of the house, as sleepwear and apparel labels alike roll out more fashion-style marketing and multi-use sets. For brands, it’s a multi-million dollar opportunity that’s only just begun to be tapped.
4. What the Closet Sale Craze Says About Shopping. The grassroots trend is indicative of consumer cravings for more curation, uniqueness and personality when it comes to buying clothes.
5. Why Shoes Keep Shrinking: Flip-Flops, Flats and Slim Sneakers. Thinner, more minimalist — naked, even — shoes are driving growth from sandals to sneakers.
6. How Wider Pants Altered the Modern Menswear Wardrobe. Seeking comfort and a vehicle for self-expression, roomier trousers are becoming an even more important part of a man’s wardrobe. But brands have to straddle the line between feeding into the trend and staying true to their unique design philosophies.
7. Denim Enters Its ‘No Rules’ Era. Denim shapes — from the Millennial skinny resurgence to Gen Z’s ultra-baggy obsession — are historically polarising. Now, a number of trends coexist and rise and fall quicker, meaning navigating what’s in and what’s out has gotten trickier.
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