While the temperatures here are below zero, the participants in the SS25 webinar by Dutch trend expert Christine Boland are already immersing themselves in a summery atmosphere. Although the warm season is still a long time coming, according to the trend forecast, there will be good things in the fashion world in 2025. FashionUnited has summarized the highlights.
Despite the rare sunny picture offered by the view from the window at the time of the webinar, Boland reminds that people have been experiencing “dark days” for months. “We desperately need inspiration and creativity and beauty as a comfort,” she says. Old systems in society are now even more faltering and new ones are emerging. The world is now at the intersection of these two moments. But Boland also addresses a positive side, because creativity blossoms in difficult times. “She won’t let anything or anyone stop her.”
Boland divides her trend forecast into three overarching stories, each of which includes five chapters – enough inspiration for the over 300 designers, buyers and experts in the digital audience space. Various elements appear again and again. Boland emphasizes that the themes covered are trends that have been recurring for several seasons, but have a different focus or refinement for SS25.
Long-running favorite ‘Quiet luxury’
Even trend researchers can’t ignore the ‘quiet luxury’. In a world in which new options are constantly being offered and decisions have to be made, many consumers long for more calm, for a pause button. This clearly contributes to the great appeal of quiet luxury. At first glance, this is a simple but high-quality design. The reduced parts create order and clarity, the materials have a valuable and calming effect. The value of these designs often lies in the combination of feel, for example knit with silk.
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The simplicity of the designs is often reflected in the practical ‘utility’ style, which has been returning to the catwalks for several seasons. This should also apply to SS25, alongside popular return items such as ribbed fabrics. This trend story has a calming effect – a welcome change in today’s turbulent world.
Redesigned classics
In the context of change, the playfulness is evident. This can also be observed in the collections in the form of redesigned classics: be it the white shirt, the tried-and-tested blazer or trench coat that is modernized with a new interpretation, or the simple combination of various traditional prints. Brand collaborations such as that between the Canadian fashion label Erdem and the traditional English brand Barbour also make a significant contribution to this.
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This tendency leaves a lot of scope for whether you work with proportions and reinterpret a classic, or instead weave several decades together. Not surprisingly, many brands are drawing on their own heritage, as was seen at the recent Gucci show: creative director Sabato de Sarno modernized the designs of his predecessor Tom Ford.
‘Embrace the Limitlessness’
For those who want to push the boundaries or even blur them, Boland has a third approach that deals with ’embracing limitlessness’. Within the theme, Boland asks the question: “Was it created or did it grow?” This can refer to the digital world and the traditional world of textiles, but also to designs that are difficult to interpret: are they butterfly wings or are they cells that are pictured? And does that make it less beautiful, or even more beautiful?
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Inspiration from nature and even imitation of natural phenomena have a strong influence on this trend story. The underwater world in particular stimulates the imagination. Inspiration from jellyfish with their delicate but sometimes dangerous tentacles, play of colors with fluorescent tones – modified versions can be found on the catwalks. Shimmering, water-like effects and fluidly moving fabrics create an optical illusion. While Boland emphasizes that this trend has been around for some time, it is showing more and more sophistication. Elements that appear in a similar design language are pleats, but also fringes and ruffles. They can appear dreamy and have surreal features thanks to the volumes and color combinations that Boland shows.
After the SS25 webinar, it is up to the participants to get a feel for what appeals to them and work with it. Brands should attach great importance to remaining authentic and incorporating design elements that suit the company. Boland simply provides the tools and inspiration and leaves the responsibility for following them to the viewer.
This article originally appeared on FashionUnited.nl. Translated and edited by Heide Halama.