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Melania Trump’s hat trick
Of all the people to cover their eyes when Donald J Trump was inaugurated as US president for a second time in January, not everyone expected it from his wife. More fool us, given that Melania Trump has a tendency to publicly throw shade — particularly with her fashion choices. In the case of her husband’s swearing-in ceremony, it was her white-and-navy hat by Eric Javits that did all the talking, with a brim so broad that it was impossible to see her face (or what she was thinking). It was a nod to power dressing that she returned to during a state visit to Britain in September, where a memorable grape purple hat gave her an air of both being part of the extravaganza and apart from it. EP
Hot for Labubus
The furry, evil elf dolls were the bag charms to have in 2025, appearing at the side of celebrities including Rihanna, Dua Lipa, Cher and Blackpink’s Lisa and Rosé, and igniting a global craze that has included overnight queues outside stores and fights inside them. They also turned seller Pop Mart into one of the world’s most valuable toy companies. Purchased in “blind boxes,” which don’t reveal their content until opened, Labubus drove nearly $2bn in annual sales for the Chinese company, which saw its share price reaching a 52-week high of HK$339.80 in August. AB
Hermès Birkin smashes records
On July 10, nine bidders battled it out at Sotheby’s Paris to get their hands on Jane Birkin’s original Hermès Birkin. Ultimately, the OG “it” bag sold to a private collector bidding from Japan for a record-breaking €8.6mn — making it the most valuable handbag ever sold at auction. CL
Summer of Oasis
The British band’s comeback tour was one of the most hyped musical events of the year and with it came a full revival of the Mancunian group’s signature style, a mix of 1960s Mod references and 1990s practical outerwear with a sprinkle of football kits and Kangol bucket hats. Brands including Adidas Originals, French Connection, Berghaus and Finlay released capsule collections collaboration with the band, or inspired by it, to celebrate the reunion, while searches for Stone Island and parkas skyrocketed on second-hand platform Depop. AB
A Swift affair
Roughly half an hour after Taylor Swift posted news of her engagement to Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce on Instagram in August, the Polo Ralph Lauren dress she was wearing in the announcement images sold out. Swift is one of the world’s most influential pop stars, with one of the most loyal fan bases, but at £385 — less than half the price of Swift’s engagement sandals by Louis Vuitton — the black-and-white midi dress with a halter neck by the preppiest of American designers was also a steal. Is there anything more American than a bargain? AB
Ibiza final boss
It wouldn’t be a British summer without a meme, and this year a video went viral of an Ibiza raver with distinctive side swept hair, a goatee, aviators and a chunky gold chain. Jack Kay from Newcastle was dubbed the “Ibiza final boss” — a term from gaming meaning the ultimate villain — as the quintessential example of a party lad. Even if social commentators described his unique hair as being somewhere between a Lego man and the Battle of Hastings. CL
The death of Giorgio Armani
Giorgio Armani, who died in September aged 91, was one of the most powerful figures in contemporary fashion. An empire spanning clothes, cosmetics, homeware, hotels and restaurants made him a household name. But his legacy rests on the fact that he was one of a handful of designers who could claim to change the way people dress. In the 1980s, he removed the internal structure of men’s suiting, allowing fabric to relax around the body; in the 1990s, he created a cult following to greige minimalism that blurred the lines between masculine and feminine silhouettes. Multiple suitors may have lined up to acquire a stake in the Armani name; but there will never be another like him. EP
A fashion week of never-ending debuts
No fashion month in recent memory has been so heavily defined by debuts as the most recent spring/summer 2026 season. In Milan, there were first collections from Demna at Gucci, Dario Vitale for Versace, Simone Bellotti at Jil Sander and Louise Trotter for Bottega Veneta. In Paris, there were debut shows from Jonathan Anderson at Dior, Pierpaolo Piccioli at Balenciaga, among multiple others, culminating in a starry first show to close the season by Matthieu Blazy for Chanel. Will this mean a period of calm for the industry now the frenzy of hirings and firings has calmed? EP
What’s in a (Vogue) cover?
Quite a lot, when it’s the last one under Anna Wintour’s 37-year tenure as editor-in-chief. Featuring a moody Timothée Chalamet shot by Annie Leibovitz against a space-themed backdrop provided by Nasa, Vogue December cover was easily the most divisive one of 2025 (in fashion, at least). On Instagram, comments ranged from the tongue-in-cheek — “Ur so brave for posting this” — to the nostalgic — “Giving 2010s galaxy print leggings” — to the dramatic — “this genuinely is the worst magazine cover I have ever seen”. It tops an eventful year for publisher Condé Nast, which finally announced Wintour’s successor at American Vogue, as well as the migration of formerly standalone titles Vogue Business and Teen Vogue to Vogue.com. AB
Lily Allen’s revenge dressing
West End Girl, Allen’s first album since 2018, is a brilliant addition to the break-up album genre. She told Vogue “it’s not all gospel”, but catchy songs tell the story of her doomed marriage to actor David Harbour in lurid detail (“so am I looking at a sex addict?”). To top off seizing the narrative and being back in the spotlight, she’s aced so-called revenge dressing in a succession of sexy outfits such as a black velvet strapless gown from the new collection by 16Arlington and Antony Price. CL
The hard launch of Lauren Sánchez Bezos
No one could escape Lauren Sánchez Bezos this year — even in space. Yes, as well as an unofficial bachelorette party on Jeff Bezos’s Space Origin rocket in April with Gayle King and Katy Perry, Mrs Bezos then got a digital Vogue cover thanks to her lacy Dolce & Gabbana wedding dress and three-day Venice wedding (the price tag for the extravaganza? Around $50mn). She and Mr Bezos were then major front row fixtures at many of the biggest catwalk shows of the year, often snapped in carefully chosen high fashion archival looks. Come November, and another grand reveal: the Bezoses would be bankrolling next year’s Met Gala. Despite inevitable criticism, the new and ever-smiling Mrs Bezos continues her rapid takeover of the fashion establishment with steely-eyed determination (and unlimited amounts of cash). What will she set her sights on next? EP
What were your fashion moments of 2025? Join the debate in the comments below
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