Written by Zoё Frantz
Edited by Leah Champagne
Dearest readers, the time has come for another ins and outs list you probably don’t want. Vogue has one, ELLE has one, everyone online seems to have one, and now COF has one, too. Although ins and outs lists now seem to be a perfunctory part of each new year, I hope this one piques your interest. Some of these picks may be common consensus, but I know there will be at least a few that are controversial. Please take this list with a grain of salt because anything is stylish as long as you like it. Now, without further adieu, here are my predicted fashion ins and outs for 2025…
Footwear
Let’s begin with my personal favourite clothing item – shoes. 2024 marked a revival of vintage silhouettes, popularizing flatter styles such as the Adidas Samba, Spezial, Busenitz, then later Tokyo and Country. Included in this development were the Puma Palermo and Speedcat, Nike Cortez, and of course, the Onitsuka Tiger Mexico 66.
Similarly, ballet flats and Mary Janes also had a major revival in the wake of “coquette” and “ballet” cores, and penny loafers served lovers of dark academia style. Finally, for the winter, Moon Boots and UGGs, specifically the Tasman slipper, were an essential for many people.
However, with spring and summer 2025 on the horizon, although many of these options remain classic or, at the very least, comfortable, there seems to be a burgeoning desire for more subversive forms of footwear. In terms of sneakers, Salomon is one brand that will undoubtedly have its moment in the sun this year. Often paired with decidedly “gorpy” pieces like the Arc’teryx Bird Head or Grotto beanies, or loose track pants, the Salomon XT6, in particular, will offer the perfect balance of comfort and blocky departure from the flat silhouettes characteristic of 2024.
Similarly, while the Mary Jane will remain in 2025, it will be reimagined with a sporty flair. For example, the CAMPER Right ballet flats offer the same playful design, but the matte leather and velcro strap add a certain utilitarian air, which was lacking before. On the more extreme end, ECCO.COLLECTIVE’s Green Kiko Kostadinov Edition Artemis Mary Janes offer a particularly unique spin on the traditionally simple shoe. Likewise, the Clarks Wallabee will offer a more rugged alternative to the classic penny loafer. Finally, subversion will also come in the form of Tabis; that is, the Tabi design of shoes, invented in Japan, will become widespread across footwear brands. Thus, the existing barrier to purchasing (a hefty price tag from brands like Maison Margiela) will be removed (this has already begun with brands like Raboesy). Extending into winter and rainwear, there will be a greater desire to find alternatives to the Moon Boot or chunky black snow boot to make a statement, such as the Original Hunter Tall boot.
Accessories
Moving onto accessories, there will be major shifts in how we accent an outfit. To start, where small sunglasses have been paramount for many years now, classic silhouettes previously popularized by Ray-Ban, such as the Clubman and Wayfarer, will be back in. This comes in the context of The Dare’s rise to fame, Oasis’ forthcoming reunion tour, and Timothée Chalamet’s role as Bob Dylan in A Complete Unknown. These are all reminiscent of past trend cycles focused on simple, versatile eyewear. Building on this, the Kangol 504 hat and similar newsboy hat styles will be a great way to add individuality to a look. Kangol hats, as a whole, were quite big in the 1990s, especially in the hip-hop scene (LL Cool J is one person who immediately comes to mind), so these will come back again in every variety of colour and material. Finally, although the baguette is certainly a night-out staple for many, crossbody bags (such as the Ölend Moon bag) and larger satchels/purses, in general, will be the preferred choice in 2025. That is not to say that smaller bags will be out as a going-out essential, but it is to say that they might be used less and less for day-to-day purposes.
Outerwear
Given that we spend probably half the year layering up for drafty weather in Canada, I thought addressing some trends in outerwear would only be fitting. That being said, the baggy racing jackets with big sponsor patches that defined the last few years seem to be falling out of favour. In their place, more structured jackets seem to be taking their place – specifically long trench coats and dusters, swing jackets, fur coats, aviator and biker jackets. Each of these has a distinct fit, but can all be dressed up or down. Celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner have been dawning the trench coat recently, both in elevated ways that emphasize the coat’s shape and in more casual ways that treat it as a layering piece. In addition, internet personalities like Ellie Rose Baker have been incorporating the playfully feminine swing coat into their closets as of late.
These jackets boast a flattering A-line silhouette, a crisp collar, and often big statement buttons. A lot of the time, there will also be details like pleats, bright patterns, three-quarter sleeves, and a round collar to give the coat a unique and retro air. With silhouette options similar to the trench and the swing coat, fur coats have also been making a comeback. Like the styles mentioned above, the fur coat has been reimagined as a casual statement piece in addition to its legacy as a depiction of luxury and high fashion. Finally, the aviator jacket has been rising in popularity – leather jackets, as a whole, are a timeless piece that many people opt for. Still, the aviator and biker jackets will provide a more rugged option for those who want to add an edge to any outfit.
Details
Another thing to watch out for this year is attention to detail. By this, I mean that there will be a greater emphasis on the little things in an outfit and intentionality about these. For example, we will see an expansion of collars in button-down shirts. However, in the present, one predominantly sees the traditional point collar; there will soon be Peter Pan, tuxedo, and round collars, to name a few. This will also extend into oversized collars and playing with collar width. In addition, bold patterns such as big polka dots and wide stripes will replace the seersucker or pinstripe that were central last year. Maximalism and mixing patterns will also mark this year.
On the topic of added touches, where last year was marked with adding bows to everything and a “Birkenification” of bags and other accessories, this year will build off this concept in many ways. For one, buttons will be incorporated in unconventional places – this may be as appliqué on every number of clothing items or as “beads” in jewelry pieces. Regarding jewelry, statement jewelry and over-accessorizing will be a pillar of 2025 fashion; that means layering bangles and rings, large pendant necklaces, big earrings, and materials like resin, crystal, and mother of pearl mixed with traditional gold and silver metals. Given the aforementioned motif of maximalism, this also means that mixing metals will be seen a lot more to add different tones to an outfit. Last (and this one is very controversial), fringe will make a comeback. Though this is a jarring thought for many, eliciting memories of 2016 Coachella “festival” outfits, fringe will be reimagined in a boho way that combines current pieces (like hobo bags) and a western-esque touch. We’ve already begun to see boho come back through metal concho belts and the explosion of cowboy boots in mainstream fashion, so this was a fairly natural next step.
Hair/Beauty
One component of fashion that is often overlooked is hair and beauty. While it is perhaps difficult to pin down precisely what is in and out in this regard, there are a few things I’ve consistently noted to be on the rise. One is, of course, the infamous mod/micro-mullet/hybrid haircut in all of its variations. This development is interesting and exciting in the context of, once again, Oasis’ reunion tour and a general comeback of 1970s style, and offers a stylistic option that is quite androgynous.
However, if you’re someone who loves their long hair, hair rings, clips, elastics, and hair sticks will be another fun choice. Finally, with trends like “cold girl” makeup and “Après ski” attire popping up in recent years, frosty makeup as a whole will continue to be popular and expand. It is a look that, in my opinion, looks beautiful on everyone and can spice up a more plain outfit (for school or the club). This will likely replace the “clean girl” aesthetic, which hinges on minimalism.
Silhouettes
To finish off, some silhouettes and general stylistic choices will make up the foundation of this year’s style. One big one we have already observed in the latter months of 2024 was the reprise of dolphin/short-shorts last year for both men and women. Of course, one face of this pattern has been Jacob Elordi and Paul Mescal (though he has made it clear that his shorts are for Gaelic football purposes). However, these shorts will continue gaining steam as a men’s and womenswear staple for the warmer months and will follow a similar juxtaposition with unexpected pieces like loafers, knee-high boots, or a button-down. In the meantime, skirts over pants will continue to serve as an alternative to just pants for the colder months. But, rather than wearing mini/shorter skirts over tapered jeans (particularly bootcut styles), this year’s rendition will instead comprise midi/longer skirts over baggier pants (particularly wide-leg styles) to go along with 2025’s general theme of maximalism. Finally, taking the place of ultra-cropped pieces, smocked and cinched dress shirts will provide people with a new way to show off their figure, if they so choose.
Those are my main fashion takes for this year; 2025 will certainly be a distinct year for fashion, and I cannot wait to see what it holds. Whether you agree or not with my opinions, I’d love to hear your thoughts, and I hope everyone has a great year, full of outfits and pieces you love.
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