Year Ender 2025: Labubu accessories, Prada Kolhapuri chappal controversy and other fashion moments that ruled the year

2025 was a year of contrasts in fashion. While some people preferred calm, understated styles, others embraced playful and bold looks. From Google searches to viral trends, fashion this year was shaped by a clear clash between classic elegance and unexpected choices.

Fashion Trends 2025: Aesthetic Heavyweights

If there’s one word that captured fashion in 2025, it was “core”. According to Google’s Year in Search, aesthetic “cores” didn’t just trend online; they genuinely influenced how people dressed.

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At the top of the list was Quiet Luxury, often paired with the Old Money look. This was all about restraint. Soft cashmere jumpers, silk blouses, tailored trousers and well-made basics ruled wardrobes.

At the opposite end of the spectrum was the wildly popular Eclectic Grandpa trend. Colourful knits, patterned vests, loafers worn with socks, and baseball caps thrown on without overthinking it. Inspired by the effortless charm of a stylish 70-year-old, the look felt nostalgic, a little odd, and somehow completely cool. Social media couldn’t get enough of it.

Then there was Y3K, a futuristic twist on nostalgia. Unlike Y2K, which looked back at early-2000s fashion, Y3K looked forward. Metallic fabrics, holographic bags and wraparound “Matrix-style” sunglasses dominated search trends.

Coquette Core made its presence felt in a quieter way. Bows, lace and delicate ribbons appeared everywhere, from Pilates studios to red carpets.

Denim and Bottoms Take Centre Stage

Denim had a moment this year. Searches for “how to style” peaked, reflecting an appetite for experimentation. Jorts, once the domain of dads, became street-style staples. Barrel-leg jeans, with their curved silhouettes, sparked debate, people either loved or loathed them. Leopard print wasn’t left behind either, with jeans and tights making a statement as a rebellious counterpoint to quiet luxury.

2025's It Items and Viral Moments

2025 was also about quirky accessories. Labubu dolls, tiny, creepy-cute vinyl figurines, were clipped onto handbags as “chaos accessories.” Fashion always enjoys a playful jab, and this trend certainly delivered. Then there was the Prada Kolhapuri controversy. Prada’s sandals, eerily similar to traditional Indian Kolhapuris, ignited a global conversation on cultural credit. And sporty-preppy fusion made waves too, blending tenniscore with pit crew aesthetics. Pleated skirts met racing jackets and rugby shirts, showing how versatile and unexpected style could be.

2025 Footwear and Accessories

Shoes leaned into contrast this year. Pointed-toe kitten heels shared the spotlight with bright red Gazelles and Sambas, proving that classic and playful could coexist. Jewellery followed suit: tiny mismatched trinkets layered for a personal touch, or bold statement brooches making an unapologetic entrance. Bags became either structured “arm candy” or oversized suede totes, embracing both function and drama.

The year’s trends showed a world experimenting with identity, nostalgia, and vision. Quiet luxury may endure, but expect Y3K chaos, or an Eclectic Grandpa knit, to make your wardrobe a little more unpredictable.