Looking at the standout shows from SS25 Fashion Week.

written BY Isabella Logue

While September—the most important month in the fashion calendar—has come and gone yet again, this year’s runways delivered a recurring theme throughout each of the Big 4 cities (New York, London, Milan, and Paris). Trends in recent years have accentuated simplicity over maximalism, like “Quiet Luxury” and “Old Money,” which have dominated both luxury and everyday fashion spheres since first gaining mainstream popularity during the tumultuous times of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, after the latest fashion week, it seems the sterile aesthetic may finally be on its way out.

Following the conclusion of Paris Fashion Week (the last city in what is commonly referred to as Fashion Month), “fun” appears to be the recurring word from critics. This subsequently begs the question: Have the fashion houses officially declared an end to minimalism? To answer this, let's take a look at the stand-out shows from the latest Women's Ready-to-Wear 2025 season. 

Dolce & Gabbana

Big, Blonde, and Beautiful—these words encapsulate the brand new Dolce & Gabbana collection by Domenico Dolce & Stefano Gabbana inspired by Madonna’s 1990 Blonde Ambition tour. Each model sported a curly blonde wig and many of the looks incorporated an exaggerated pointy bra or corset, all of which are reminiscent of the pop star’s iconic signature style. According to the show notes, "This collection pays homage to an iconic and powerful female figure, immortalized by cinema through the decades, capable of asserting her personality while staying true to herself." To put it simply, the collection was camp. The designs were dramatic in the best way and the ever-controversial lack of personality in today’s runway walks was nowhere to be seen at the D&G show in Milan. Madonna gave her stamp of approval as she sat front row, allegedly stating afterward that she “wants everything.” 

Versace

Versace also reimagined the past this season, but they took a different route. Instead of a musician’s muse, Donatella chose to fuse 1970s pastel glamor with the sexiness of the early 2000s. The collection was an explosion of funky florals, cardigans, and zig-zagged patterns that absolutely clashed, yet somehow harmoniously came together in the end. While there was certainly no shortage of eye-catching details, the handbags will no doubt be the newest trend as we enter 2025. Donatella solidified her commitment to bringing the fun back into fashion by adding charms and keychains to many of the featured purses. This element feels very Jane Birkin-esque and serves as a playful reminder that fashion isn’t supposed to be taken too seriously. 

Valentino

Alessandro Michele, a designer renowned for his funky creations, debuted his first collection as the newest Creative Director for Valentino last week in Paris. And just like his reputation, the collection was filled with fun elements like lace, ruffles, and sheer tights. Although the collection was (slightly) more tame and mature than his past collections for Gucci, his latest designs for the renowned French couture house were loud, funky, and flirtatious.

Coperni

This article wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the standout show of the entire fashion month. Debuting at Disneyland Paris, the first fashion show to ever do this, Coperni’s show was over-the-top theatrical and overflowing with whimsy. In addition to the magical location of the show, the collection itself incorporated fairytale themes like princesses, heroes, and villains, all coming together to embody a collection of youthful exuberance at the happiest place on Earth. 

Minimalism has slowly declined in recent popularity, but after this fashion week, there is no doubt about it—fun fashion is back and better than ever. While it’s only been mere days since the conclusion of Paris Fashion Week, it’s just a matter of time before we see the impact of this season’s emphasis on playful experimentation in mainstream fashion media and eventually trickling into our own wardrobes.