AUTHOR: Ekaterina Gurevich
COPY EDITOR: Eishvinder Gill
GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Daniele Ruddock
As 2025’s fashion season kicks into high gear with shows like Daniel Roseberry’s runway with Schiaparelli or Thom Browne’s Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear collection, the online world isn’t falling behind with its love for new fashion trends. From layered looks to athleisure, there’s something for everyone. With that in mind, I took to the School of Fashion at the Toronto Metropolitan University to ask its students their thoughts about the upcoming 2025 trend cycles. Mentioned in this article are Joshua Fralick, Anna Forrest, Scarlet Dunlop, and Laszlo Babits (JF, AF, SD, and LB, respectively, further in this article).
What trends do you predict for 2025?
JF: I feel like fashion definitely reflects the world we live in, and the world right now is heading down a more traditional route. I think we’re going to see more skin coverage in garments overall, kind of taking a lot of the design trends of the past and putting them into fashion now.
AF: Unfortunately I don’t think overconsumption is a trend that is going to change. For 2025, I feel like it will still be a thing but a lot of people are going to switch to quality over quantity. I also think vintage shopping is going to be big but a lot of people are going to be putting more clothing into the stores, people are going to overshop at vintage stores and then take everything back, and it’s going to be a cycle.
SD: Skinny jeans are back, I like a good skinny jean. Neutral colours, browns and beiges, and texture! I feel like people pay more attention to texture these days when they’re dressing, which is good. I like to touch different fabrics and I think people share the same sentiment when they’re dressing.
LB: People go back to clothes that actually fit them. Overly baggy clothing will start to look tacky to consumers and there is a return to fitted silhouettes. Maybe a return to modest dressing, we have gone so far in the other direction that there is almost nowhere else to go.
What are you excited about in the fashion world this year – if it’s too early to tell, is there something you’d like to see?
JF: I don’t know, I think 2024 was such a good year, the shows we’ve already seen – the Jacquemus, the Schiaparelli – were incredible, so I feel like I am just looking forward to things of that calibre.
AF: I feel that Indigenous people are breaking through in the fashion scene, I would like to see that impact the way fashion is made and designed. I hate how there are so many amazing textiles in Indigenous culture and people turn to print instead, I would rather they charge more for a piece that is handmade with proper techniques instead of a satin print or something.
SD: Lady Gaga! I love her so much, she’s got a new album coming which means a new era and new outfits. I’m excited to see that. I’m not sure what kind of movies are coming out this year but that’s where I pay attention to a lot of the fashion; the costumes. I’d like to see a medieval fantasy type show with almost costume-y garments; fantastic, opulent, glamorous, regal.
LB: I hope to see something that catches my attention! It’s hard to stand out in fashion – I want to find a creative idea that actually feels new and not borrowed from something else.
What have your favourite trends been so far, both in 2024 and 2025?
JF: I don’t wear a ton of it, but I am liking the return of knitwear. It was, for a very long time, kind of very traditional, but it is being done in really fun ways now, and I really like seeing the evolution of it. It has been very fun!
AF: Individualism. I’m sick and tired of going on tiktok and deciding what I want to wear. No, I want to know what I want to wear. Also, while I hate Pharrell Williams with a passion, he really did highlight Indigenous and country – which is largely based on Indigenous and Black – fashion and I love the country scene. I love a good boot! I love seeing people buy them from vintage stores.
SD: First I’m going to say my least favourite trend, which has been going on for years and I need it to die already – puffer jackets. Anything puffer – I hate. I feel like people keep on trying to do something interesting with it and it’s always boring. Recently my favourite trends have been skinny jeans, especially lowrise, and grunge, but only when it’s done right. I’m enjoying the comeback in country as well, but I also think people should move towards authenticity, wear whatever you want, who cares, I don’t care, do you care? That’s my question for the culture; do you care?
LB: The popularity of vintage clothes and ‘investment’ vintage pieces people are spending lots of money on for long term wear. Alongside that is reproduction or reproduction inspired pieces gaining popularity and more traction in the mainstream. I also enjoy the return to quality traditional footwear trend that’s happening. Leather products, especially footwear, have once again found an audience and it’s good to see people leaving trending or ‘hype’ sneakers behind.
