Post Pandemic Fashion: People all around the globe heaved sighs of relief when they no longer had to include the surgical blue mask as a staple in their outfits. When the panic around the pandemic settled, an exponential growth of fashion as a form of self-expression was seen, with counter-aesthetic trends being followed simultaneously, such as clean girl makeup (a minimal makeup look with clear gloss, a little blush, and little to no mascara, typically styled with a slick-back bun inspired by the ultimate clean girl, Hailey Bieber) and Latina makeup (heavy emphasis on eyelashes, paired with dark lip colours and perfectly lined lips). While people notably started dressing more according to the trends that conformed to their aesthetics, there were certainly some trends nobody could resist. Be it cottagecore, gothic, dark academia or e-girl, everyone hopped onto the bandwagons of these trends, which can easily be classed as the ‘It-girl aesthetics of 2025’.
Post-Pandemic Fashion in 2025
Serena van der Woodsen
It was never a bad time to be Serena van der Woodsen, but now, more than ever, many may find the Upper East Side’s golden and glittery diva as their perfect inspiration for a night out. From pointed metallic kitten heels and sequined (typically midi) dresses to statement jewellery and lacy, embroidered silhouettes, nothing screams 2025 nights louder than sparkles. The iconic one-shouldered dresses cannot be left unmentioned, with many social media influencers (both macro and micro) styling them to perfection.
Maximalism
This year is the year of accessories, with heavy emphasis on jewellery and statement pieces. An outfit may be worth a thousand words, but its value is reduced to much less than its original if it is not properly accessorised. Chunky gold hoops, necklaces that speak for themselves, and bracelets and bags are all the talk of town, particularly bags, which are carried as revered possessions, having been elevated to this position from the previous one of a satchel or storage pouch, which marks the debut of crystal, French beaded, glossy, asymmetrical, and personalised bags and drop earrings into high society.
A pop of metal
A hint of metal is something straight out of the memorable and much-loved early 2000s, where many were seen (commonly) wearing metallic hoops or any other metallic item that suggested their love of this shimmery material. 2025 saw people adding their personal, unique twists to metals, with some settling for carrying metallic clutches while others took a dramatic turn by opting to wear tops made entirely out of metal carved into intriguing shapes.
Timeless classics:
Where most trends are ephemeral, some clothes never go out of style, much like literature’s classics such as Wuthering Heights and 1984, which remain (and will continue to remain for a long time to come) relevant to date. Solids (in particular black), blazers, jackets, trench coats, and button-downs are only some of the pieces that this year, similar to every other year, were styled with grace and much love.
Dress to impress
A general overview of 2025’s first half’s most iconic looks shows that one can’t expect to turn heads without a dress, be it a maxi, a midi dress, a bandage dress, or just blouses styled with long skirts. The flowy silhouette (with ruffles and lace being the cherry on top) is the talk of the town. Another school of thought is the indie sleaze, which is characterised and best represented by V-neck shirts, striped blouses, biker jackets (preferably with rhinestones), corset backs, and, of course, lots of brown leather.
Red stop, Neon go
Neon did not go unnoticed by the trendsetters and fashion moguls, with neon prominently being styled through halter necklines, fur coats/jackets and chunky heels. A broader extension of this colourful expression included bright, monochrome dresses with darker outlines and edges, featuring innovative cuts.
Desi girl
No trend is complete without our indigenous desi girl touch, where the comeback of short-sleeved embroidered kurtis was warmly embraced and styled with the sab ka favourite kajal, as was that of farshi shalwars, with chikankari still holding the first spot for every South Asian girl. Modest fashion trends included the butterfly abaya and abayas in pastels.
Safe to say, there is a little bit of everything for everyone this year, signalling how people now dress to be seen and remembered, actualising and living by YOLO, as their final act of love to the end of the epidemic.