2025 Fashion Report: Creative Departures, New Appointments, and the Evolution of Luxury
As 2025 draws to a close, it’s impossible to ignore the seismic shifts that have reshaped the fashion landscape. This was a year defined by creative director musical chairs, unexpected exits, triumphant debuts, and a growing tension between quiet luxury and the return of statement dressing. If 2024 was the year of recalibration, then 2025 became the year of reckoning a moment when brands were forced to confront identity, legacy, and the evolving desires of a global audience that is no longer impressed by noise alone.
Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel: A New Era, Confirmed Underground
One of the most defining moments of the year came from Matthieu Blazy, who presented his first Chanel collection in October for Summer 2026. It was elegant, modern, and well received but it was the December subway show in New York City that truly cemented his authority. A bold, unexpected move for a house so steeped in Parisian codes, the underground setting became a metaphor for Chanel’s new direction: grounded, urban, and culturally attuned without sacrificing its couture soul.
Blazy proved he can carry the weight of a French institution while injecting a contemporary pulse. Chanel needed this shift and he delivered.
Chanel Metier D’art 2026 by Matthieu Blazy
Maria Grazia Chiuri Leaves Dior for Fendi: A Shock That Still Stings
Maria Grazia Chiuri’s departure from Dior and sudden appointment at Fendi was one of the year’s biggest surprises. But the real heartbreak came with the exit of Silvia Venturini Fendi, whose last two seasons as solo creative director were, in my view, the most compelling Fendi has been in years. There was a clarity, a Roman sensuality, and a modernity that felt deeply authentic.
Fendi SS 2026 by Silvia Venturini Fendi
Losing Silvia the granddaughter of the founders marks the end of an era. And while Chiuri brings commercial strength, the emotional resonance of Silvia’s vision will be hard to replicate.
Jonathan Anderson at Dior: A Vision in Progress
Jonathan Anderson’s arrival at Dior was met with enormous anticipation. So far, he has presented both menswear and womenswear for Summer 2026, but the collections feel like early sketches of a larger idea. Anderson is a visionary one of the strongest of his generation but he has taken on a monumental workload. Dior’s men’s and women’s lines have historically thrived under separate creative leadership, and merging them under one mind is a challenge even for someone of his talent.
Still, I believe 2026 will be the year he finds the key to unlock a new Dior vocabulary. For now, at Luxury Endless, our heart is firmly set on the Cigale bag, inspired by Christian Dior’s 1952 masterpiece dress a reminder that the house’s past remains its greatest compass.
Versace’s Vacancy: The Industry’s Most Watched Question
Dario Vitale’s brief in‑and‑out at Versace left the industry buzzing. Coming from Miu Miu, his aesthetic never fully aligned with Versace’s red‑carpet DNA the drama, the sensuality, the unapologetic glamour. Now the question is: who will take over?
Names circulating include:
Olivier Rousteing, recently out at Balmain
Riccardo Tisci, whose talent is undeniable but whose temperament has complicated his trajectory
John Galliano, long championed by Anna Wintour for a Dior return, though he seems content after leaving Margiela
Anthony Vaccarello, though he appears deeply fulfilled at Saint Laurent
Whoever steps in will inherit one of fashion’s most iconic houses and one of its most demanding legacies.
Valentino Under Alessandro Michele: A New Baroque
Valentino continues to flourish under Alessandro Michele, whose maximalist, archival‑infused vision has revived the house with a sense of opulence and intellectual romance. I’ve supported Michele since his first Gucci collection misunderstood at first, then revolutionary. Critics debate whether he is doing “his” style or Valentino’s, but the truth is simple: he is one of the greatest creative directors of our time. Influence is inevitable.
Visiting the Valentino exhibition in Rome this summer made the contrast clear. The original 60s/70s Valentino is beautiful, but it feels like a time capsule. Michele’s Valentino, by contrast, feels alive a reinterpretation rather than a reproduction.
Dolce & Gabbana’s exhibition at Palazzo delle Esposizioni, which I saw the same day, was theatrical and immersive a reminder that fashion exhibitions are becoming a new form of brand storytelling. Their Miami edition in 2026 will be worth the trip.
Louis Vuitton, Murakami, and the Power of Experience
2025 opened with Louis Vuitton’s revived collaboration with Takashi Murakami, complete with global pop‑ups that sold out instantly. It confirmed what the industry has been circling around for years: limited editions + immersive experiences = the new luxury formula. Consumers want rarity, but they also want memory, emotion, and participation.
Zendaya as the face of Louis Vuitton renewed collaboration with Takashi Murakami
Hedi Slimane, Michele Lamy, and the Icons of Cool
Hedi Slimane remains without a house but rumour will launch his own magazine in 2026. Still, the industry quietly hopes for his return to creative direction few designers shape culture the way he does. Could Armani be Hedi’s next destination ?
Michele Lamy graced the cover of Perfect Magazine, proving once again that true style has no age, no rules, and no expiration date.
The Year of the It‑Sneaker… Again
Nike’s Gazelle and Samba dominated 2025, but their reign feels complete. The market is ready for a new silhouette — something unexpected, sculptural, and less nostalgic.
The Return of the Pointy Shoe and the End of the Trainer Era
2025 also marked the official return of the pointy shoe a silhouette that had been quietly resurfacing for seasons but finally reclaimed its place as the defining shape of the year. Whether kitten‑heeled, razor‑sharp stilettos or sculptural mid‑heels, the message was clear: we are done working in trainers everywhere. Comfort culture had its moment, but fashion’s pendulum swung back toward elegance, posture, and intention. The pointed toe instantly lengthens the leg, sharpens the silhouette, and restores a sense of polish that the industry had been craving after years of rubber soles dominating front rows.
And as we look toward Summer 2026, another footwear shift is already taking shape: the rise of the heeled flip‑flop. Spotted on early adopters like Hailey Bieber and Kendall Jenner throughout Summer 2025, the style is poised to become the season’s most divisive yet irresistible trend. Minimalist, sensual, and slightly nostalgic, the heeled thong sandal brings back that early‑2000s ease — but with a modern, sculptural refinement. It’s the kind of shoe that transforms a simple slip dress into a look, that turns beachwear into eveningwear, and that signals a broader return to playful, feminine dressing.
Celebrity Style: The New Power Players
Dua Lipa cemented her status as one of the coolest women of the year, fronting Chanel’s 25 handbag.
Zoë Kravitz, now dating Harry Styles, became half of the most fashionable couple in entertainment and the face of Jessica McCormack jewellery.
Michelle Pfeiffer made a sensational return in Saint Laurent’s 2025 campaign a reminder that timeless beauty still captivates.
Labubu and the Charm Craze: A Misread Moment
Labubu charms became the must‑have accessory early in the year, prompting luxury houses to rush into charm production as an “entry point” for younger consumers. But the real issue remains unaddressed: post‑2020 price inflation has distanced consumers from luxury goods, and no amount of charms or red‑carpet endorsements will fix that. What’s needed is a marketing reset — not more trinkets.
@Boringnotcom
boringnotcom is an anonymous, fast‑rising fashion commentator who has quickly become one of the industry’s most intriguing new voices. Launched in 2024, the account built its identity around sharp, snarky, insider‑level criticism a refreshing contrast to the overly diplomatic tone dominating fashion social media.
The blogger’s signature is a yawning‑emoji persona and a blunt, text‑driven posting style inspired by Style Not Com, the influential fashion‑news account created by Beka Gvishiani. But unlike Gvishiani’s neutral reporting, boringnotcom leans into opinion calling out what they find “boring,” derivative, overpriced, or directionless in today’s fashion landscape.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Fashion stands at a crossroads between quiet luxury and bold statements. The pendulum is swinging, but not decisively. What’s clear is that 2026 will be a year of clarity new creative leadership, new consumer expectations, and a renewed focus on authenticity.
The story continues, and fashion, as always, evolves.