Some trends in 2025 were total wild cards, others took us back to basics. Saint Laurent’s brown suede loafer turned out to be a wardrobe workhorse—and a regular feature on Gab Waller’s Hot List this year. Unsure how to wear it? Do as Tonne Goodman would and pair with crisp white jeans.
6. The Ralph Lauren Everything
It would only makes sense that in a bumper year for preppy style, Ralph Lauren’s colorful cable knits and logoed caps would find their apotheosis.
Photos: Courtesy of Phil Oh, Gorunway.com, Sea, StyleDuMonde
7. The Rugby Shirt
Somewhere between sporty and bookish academia, the striped rugby shirt emerged as the breakout star. Seeing it everywhere during Paris Fashion Week (not to mention the Vogue offices), reminded us that some pieces are best borrowed from the boys. Style it the Prada way with a pleated midiskirt, zip-up jacket, and brogues—the Milanese’s take on charming tongue-in-cheek.
8. The Dries Van Noten Sneaker
Dries Van Noten’s retro runners hit their stride at the top of 2025, when you could hardly find a single size—let alone colorway—in stock. Julian Klausner featured a bright red suede pair, among others, in his debut men’s spring show; even slimmer 2.0 versions cropped up in his first women’s collection a few months later.
Photos: Courtesy of Gorunway.com, Phil Oh, StyleDuMonde, Salvatore Dragone
9. The Do-It-All Scarf
If 2025 had one not-so-secret styling secret, it was the silk scarf. Swooped up into the canon after Julian Klausner’s Dries Van Noten’s men’s spring/summer 2026 show, it became the accessory that could do it all. At Copenhagen, New York, and Paris Fashion Week, editors cinched it at the waist with tailored trousers; online, it added color to ponytails and low buns in endless iterations. With personality dressing defining the year, a luxe silk scarf became the finishing touch every great outfit shared.
Photos: Courtesy of Asia Typek, Getty Images, Gorunway.com, The Row, Phil Oh
10. The Flip-Flop
Exposed toes divided the fashion set, particularly in New York, where the idea of revealing your “dogs” meant risky business for subway commuters. Fortune favors the brave, and some of our favorite looks only made sense with the controversial summer sandal.
11. The Tory Burch Flower Tank
The sartorial equivalent of a Summer Friday, seen on editors with flip-flops and Tory Burch’s mirror skirt.
12. The Juju Vera Petra Necklace
Photo: Courtesy of Xander Opiyo