As summer simmers down and the climate cools, we look to our trusty knits, buttery leathers and layers for a hit of dopamine in preparation for winter. While it's always a joy to rediscover our familiar wardrobe staples - that one jumper pinched from your boyfriend many moons ago or your favourite striped scarf - the change of seasons also marks the perfect opportunity to zhuzh your autumn archive.
The best way to do so? By getting ahead of the curve with the trends cycle - and thankfully, we don’t have to look far. Rewind to spring of this year, when the world’s most illustrious designers showcased their autumn/winter 2025 offerings. The Big Four (New York, London, Paris and Milan) allowed the style set a detailed glimpse of what to expect the following season, with a myriad of stand-out trends emerging from the runway.
© ImaxtreeUnmissable hues from chartreuse to baby pink dominated the catwalk, while subcultural shifts towards Victoriana and gothic aesthetics were front and centre. Vintage silhouettes from silky, lace-trimmed night dresses to operatic faux fur coats were released unto the FROW in force, hinting at a collective nostalgia felt by fashion’s most celebrated visionaries. Shows transformed into 1980s visual spectacles, with power shoulders, houndstooth and skirt suits marrying Sloan Ranger style à la Princess Diana with Mob Wife motifs.
Yet, AW25 isn’t all about looking back to the past in order to shape the future. Contemporary design in the form of fluid drapery and high necklines arose from the runway, with grey and tan palettes making for a popular, timeless choice across the board.
© ImaxtreeWithout further ado, we present to you the hottest trends to keep firmly on your radar this season - freshly plucked from the runway courtesy of the industry’s movers and shakers themselves.
Top Runway Trends for AW25:
Chartreuse
Introducing the hue of the season - chartreuse. The colour peppered the AW25 runways, with brands including Gucci, Erdem, Prada, Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent, Emilia Wickstead, Diesel, Christopher John Rogers and Marni incorporating the zesty tone into their winter-ready offerings. From embellished midi skirts to preppy pea coats, the colour was cut in a myriad of ways, cementing its status as the standout tone to carry through the colder months.
Faux Fur
Mob Wife motifs reigned supreme this season, with fur flirtations ricocheting across the runways. Sweeping faux fur coats were a staple on the catwalk, nodding to a high octane, vintage-inspired glamour that leaned into 1980s dress codes. D&G, Michael Kors, Chloé, Marine Serre, Khaite, Jil Sander, Gucci , Gabriela Hearst, Etro, Nina Ricci, Roberto Cavalli, Rabanne, Schiaparelli, Ottolinger, Prada and, of course, Fendi, were a modest few to champion the divisive texture for autumn/winter 2025.
Whimsygoth
A quick heads up - fashion is going gothic. Victoriana silhouettes, swathes of black lace and dark palettes were a mainstay on the runways of designers such as D&G, Di Petsa, Dilara Findikoglu, Bora Aksu, Chanel, Blumarine, Chloé, Dior, Nina Ricci, Valentino, Versace and McQueen. Black lace was coolly webbed across the catwalks, cut to a range of silhouettes spanning lingerie to ghostly gowns. Morticia Addams-inspired romance is set to be one of the season’s most beguiling trends.
Power Suits
Take it from Acne Studios, Stella McCartney, Khaite, Margiela, Michael Kors, Marine Serre and Givenchy - power suits are primed for a serious comeback. Bold, assertive and timeless, sculptural tailoring reframes femininity through a contemporary lens, radiating CEO attitude with a no-nonsense edge. The Eighties may want their suits back, but this season’s iteration is strictly forward-facing.
Raised Necklines
Autumn marks the moment to start snuggling down, and with it comes the call for cocoon-worthy outerwear. This season, high-necklined coats take centre stage, offering an elegant all-in-one alternative to the classic scarf. Cut to envelop the wearer in warmth, they strike the perfect balance between function and refinement - a sartorial shield against Britain’s unpredictable climate. Balmain, Jil Sander and Saint Laurent are just a mere few raising the roof by raising the neckline.
Slogans
Never fear, this season wasn’t without a dose of Noughties nostalgia. Paris Hilton-approved slogan tees were a playful addition to the trend forecast this year, with D&G, Dior, Conner Ives, S.S. Daley and Stella McCartney weighing into the tongue-in-cheek fad. The latter even rehashed her suggestive yet iconic slogan ‘Slippery When Wet,’ meaning we won’t be without a fashionable flash of erotica for cuffing season. Say it loud, say it proud.
Statement Shoulders
Designers are begging women to be bold this year - just take a look at the sheer number of statement shoulders spotted during AW25 fashion month. The Eighties-coded silhouette, showcased by Miu Miu, Louis Vuitton, Thom Browne, Schiaparelli, Stella McCartney, Saint Laurent, Givenchy and Vivienne Westwood, is an homage to the brilliance of power dressing. Authoritative, sharp and unapologetic.
Drapery
One trend that didn’t toy with 1980s dress codes, drapery was prominent for AW25. From fluid gowns to muted coats, lavish layers of draped fabric framed models’ figures to perfection - making for a contemporary, chic trend to note down. Issey Miyake, Rick Owens, Prada, Stella McCartney and Courrèges dabbled with the molten material structure, which is set to appeal to the Quiet Luxury lovers among us.
