Fashion forecasts for 2025 are indicating exciting and eclectic trends, driven by the interplay of past influences and modern interpretations. Designers are reimagining styles by incorporating elements from previous decades, creating unique and layered looks. Miuccia Prada, for one, is known for her ability to blend aesthetics, taking pieces from various eras to forge something fresh and thought-provoking.
During the recent Miu Miu Spring/Summer 2025 show, models showcased outfits resembling everything from Ivy League uniforms with bold geometric patterns reminiscent of the 1970s, to 1990s slip dresses paired with sporty tops. This playful combination reflects what cultural critic Shumon Basar describes as the state of being 'in the Endocore,' where narratives are convoluted, and reality feels increasingly skewed: "Siamo nell’Endocore adesso," Basar remarks, stressing the blurred lines of contemporary fashion identity.
This Endocore fashion movement taps deeply not just on aesthetics but also on the societal transformations happening around us, where the concept of individualism is challenged by algorithm-driven trends and consumer habits. Rather than adhering strictly to traditional beauty standards, designers are breaking norms and exploring what Basar terms the 'Chaoscore,' reflecting current cultural and existential dilemmas.
Prada has long been at the forefront of the fashion scene, and her latest designs convey a sense of playful confusion, often seeming as if the wearer hastily threw together the contents of their closet. For example, models wore evening gowns sans straps with sci-fi visors, or classic little black dresses paired with vibrant green tights—boldly challenging the clean lines of typical couture.
Gvasalia, too, has adopted this chaotic aesthetic with Balenciaga's Spring/Summer 2025 collection. His models strutted through snowy patches on precarious high heels, clutching avant-garde bags styled like trash sacks. He stated, "La moda deve essere disordinata. Deve essere incasinata,” illustrating how fashion now embraces complexity and disorder as expressions of modern life.
This trend toward chaos does not mean the aesthetics lack refinement; instead, it suggests a push against the so-called 'ideal woman' imagery. Miuccia Prada seeks to redefine beauty, asserting, "Il più del mio lavoro consiste nel distruggere le idee canoniche della bellezza..." The irony isn't lost; as one of the industry's most influential figures, her collections often define the cutting-edge trends they later subvert.
Examples from the runway highlight how traditional styles are being revived and manipulated: the merging of puffed jackets resembling mountains with bell-shaped skirts, blurring the lines between form and function. What was once on the fringes of fashion—like using casual denim for elegance—has commandeered center stage, hinted by Glenn Martens’ vision at Diesel, where upcycled jeans lit up the runway against dystopian backdrops.
It’s not just about reusing styles but about constructing complex narratives within fashion. Basar's reflections on this era highlight how the fashion world functions as both commentary and escape. Designers create alternative realities—a runway show by Bottega Veneta exemplified this, seating guests on animal-shaped leather sacks, presenting garments steeped more in fantasy than utility.
This multi-layering phenomenon—the many influences and styles layered atop one another—suggests something markedly different from past trends, challenging the very construct of individualism within fashion. It captures the essence of contemporary existence, where identities are fluid and narratives are complex.
Anticipated trends for 2025 encourage exploration beyond mere aesthetic appeal, delving deeply emotionally and culturally. It's about reflecting our chaotic yet vibrant experiences, promoting individuality against the backdrop of commonality shaped by digital cultures.
Indeed, as designers continue to dismantle traditional views of beauty and style, 2025 appears to be the year when fashion will steadfastly embrace multiplicity—as if echoing the chaos underpinning modern life itself—and urge the industry to view garments as part of larger dialogues on identity and existence.