Much more than just a succession of collections, 2025 has established itself as a pivotal year. The highly scrutinised arrivals of new creative directors, the symbolic farewells of some and the confident continuities of others... Season after season, Fashion Weeks have shaped a unique reshuffle.
So, without further ado, here is our 2025 Fashion Shows Wrapped. In other words: the five shows that, in our opinion, made a lasting impression, fuelled conversations and will undoubtedly remain etched in the memory of this extraordinary fashion year.
The 5 shows that marked the year 2025
Dior Homme MW SS26 – Jonathan Anderson's debut
Impossible to miss. Since Kim Jones' departure, everyone was wondering what would become of Dior Homme. After his appointment as creative director, Jonathan Anderson, formerly of Loewe, presented his first collection for the house's menswear line on 27 June. The Spring/Summer 2026 show was one of the most closely watched events of the year.
From the very first looks, the fashion house and its new creative director set the tone: a clear and structured vision that lays the foundations for a new chapter in the Dior Homme wardrobe. Sharp tailoring, slender silhouettes, Napoleonic inspirations, ruffled Bermuda shorts and, undeniably, tension between heritage and modernity... A seminal show, which was quickly followed by a women's collection in September, quite similar and equally acclaimed.
Chanel Métiers d'art 2026 – Mathieu Blazy's best collection
Every year, Chanel reminds us what the word savoir-faire really means. After unveiling his first collection for the house in early October at the Grand Palais, Matthieu Blazy this time celebrated the brand's workshops with a particularly apt Métiers d'art collection.
On 2 December, the Franco-Belgian designer set his sights on New York, and more specifically its underground. In the underground, from one train to another, or even on the platforms, the 81 silhouettes followed one another in a frenetic race, like an ultra-stylish daily routine. Tweed revisited, XXL peacock-style skirts, masterful capes, sequined I Love NY T-shirts and zebra-print suits... All of these designs demonstrated both the infinite richness of the Chanel workshops and Blazy's legitimacy as artistic director. Incidentally, this show is considered the best since his appointment.
Balenciaga WW SS26 – Pierpaolo Piccioli imposes a new beginning
While some regretted Demna's departure, others rejoiced at the idea of rediscovering Balenciaga in a new light. On Saturday 4 October, the fashion house made a long-awaited shift: a return to its roots, a confident tribute to the art of its founder, Cristóbal, without ever falling into the trap of nostalgia. At the helm of this artistic turnaround, Pierpaolo Piccioli has created a masterful collection that is both respectful and assertive...
For his first show, women's ready-to-wear spring-summer 2026, the Italian designer orchestrates a clear transition but also a celebration of the different eras of Balenciaga. Here, echoes of the Demna era (XXL fly glasses) dialogue with the Ghesquière years and their iconic high caps, right back to the very foundations of the house, revisited through historical pieces such as the 1957 sack dress. More than just a passing of the torch, Piccioli imposes a clear break: a return to the roots, refocused on heritage rather than virality.
Versace WW FW24-25 – Donatella's farewell
A few days before the announcement of her departure and her replacement by Dario Vitale, who will remain in the role of creative director for only one season, Donatella Versace signed her last show for the Italian label. Since the murder of her brother Gianni in 1997, she has been the guardian of Versace, upholding its core values: luxury without strict codes, unapologetic glamour and unbridled sensuality. And let's be honest: with this final collection, Donatella is leaving the stage in style, leaving behind a lasting impression.
For autumn-winter 2025-2026, the designer returned to a more instinctive and resolutely sensual Versace. Silhouettes that take up space, bold volumes, eye-catching prints and statement pieces, such as dresses and kimonos inspired by opulent curtains, sculptural skirts, bold patterns and so on. A final clear statement, reminding us that at Versace, glamour has never been about nostalgia, but about attitude. And, of course, that it is far from disappearing.
Dior MW FW25-26 – Kim Jones's final show
For Jonathan Anderson to blossom at Dior Homme, the Kim Jones era had to come to an end. A chapter that began in 2018 came to an end on 31 January, after his final show on the 24th. For his finale, set to the notes of Michael Nyman's McQueen: Time Lapse, the British designer unveiled a collection in which menswear took on the air of haute couture.
The H line, as he named it in reference to Christian Dior's autumn-winter 1954-1955 creations, established itself, silhouette after silhouette, as one of the house's best. Broadly speaking, the designs had us all buzzing: high-waisted skirt-trousers, lace blindfolds, cardigans revealing the collarbones and blazers punctuated with XXL bows. All in all, it was an innovative collection, reminiscent of Casanova and the flamboyance of the 18th century, but subtly reinterpreted to suit autumn-winter 2025-2026.
Beyond these five shows, countless others also made their mark on 2025 in their own way. To name just a few, it's impossible to overlook Miguel Castro Freitas's highly successful debut at Mugler, or Louise Trotter's particularly noteworthy arrival at Bottega Veneta.
We also think of Pharrell Williams' spring-summer 2026 show for Louis Vuitton, inspired by India and its wardrobe, Georges Hobeika's spring-summer 2026 ready-to-wear collection, which makes couture more accessible without ever compromising on beauty, and Jacquemus' Le Paysan show, a sincere tribute to his family and childhood. Not to mention Elie Saab's autumn-winter 2025-2026 ready-to-wear collection, which confirmed fur as one of the strong trends for the end of the year.
It is now up to 2026 and the artistic directors to surprise us as much as 2025, which is now coming to an end.
Translated by Bethszabee Garner
