THE STYLE RULES FOR Fall-Winter 2025

How does one cut through the noise in an era when personal style dominates both menswear and womenswear? Here's your cheat sheet for decoding designer cues with clarity, character, and a touch of beautifully contained chaos.

- By IMRAN JALAL

TURN UP THE RED DIAL

Provocative, high-voltage and gloriously bold, red takes the spotlight this season. From Chanel to Comme des Garçons, designers are embracing the full spectrum, from vibrant cherry to deep crimson.

The specific shade of the moment, however, is undoubtedly poppy red. Searing, surreal, and unmissable, McQueen describes it as “hallucinatory”.

At Ferragamo, poppy emerges as both a metaphor and a material with 3D embroidery and feathered gowns that are both delicate and dramatic.

Acne Studios continues the crimson tide with a fluid coord set drenched in 1970s-style Bordeaux tones, but it is Valentino that makes the boldest move. Creative Director Alessandro Michele presents his collection in a red-lit, Lynchian restroom—a moody, cinematic space that highlights the house’s signature hue.

ACE THE TRENCH IN TWO WAYS

The trench coat has never really gone out of favour. Quietly reasserting itself as the wardrobe's most essential cornerstone this season, this versatile, inherently chic garment speaks volumes without raising its voice.

Classic khaki, of course, returns with refreshed silhouettes for purists. While Givenchy and Sacai's boxy cuts exude quiet authority, Balenciaga stretches the silhouette into a full-length gown. Rather than shouting, this is an impeccably tailored whisper.

The high-gloss finish, on the other hand, will delight those drawn to polish with impact. Leather is embossed with motifs that evoke stately English tapestries at Burberry. Ferragamo's Maximilian Davis uses satin or glossy leather, while Celine Homme chooses water-resistant leather.

And last but not least, Tod's trenches are made with buttery-soft nappa leather that feels as luxurious as pashmina.

TAP INTO YOUR ROMANTIC SIDE