And so to Paris. It’s renowned as the pinnacle of the great fashion tour us style seekers embark on twice a year for a reason and whenever I arrive in this magical city, I never find myself doubting why. There’s a strong case to be made that the greatest love found in Paris is between those devoted to fashion and the clothes found making their way down the runway each season. The art, the mastery, the … magic. It never gets old. And for the Autumn/Winter 2025 season, there was the kind of vitality and passion in the French air that always gets me in the mood to see some incredible trends. 

Paris Fashion Week has always been home of the most hotly-anticipated shows, and this season was of course no different. Christopher Esber, a long-time favourite designer of mine, joined the PFW schedule, there was also continued fanfare over Victoria Beckham’s ability at injecting feminine allure to traditionally masculine pieces. Dreamy equestrian references were fawned over at Hermès, and Chemena Kamali’s Chloé was basking in all its boho chic glory. Plus, plenty more noteworthy takeaways from the shows. You guys know the drill – here are the seven key PFW AW25 trends to know (and shop) now.

READ: 7 Trends To Know From MFW AW25

Utility dressing is less of a trend at this point and more of a lifeline for those of us longing for gorgeously simple staples that work hard in our wardrobes. You may think you’ve seen everything when it comes to utility-inspired pieces. But according to the Paris runways, AW25 is the season that the humble utility jacket gets reborn. 

Christopher Esber introduced richer shades that we don’t often see in this style and experimented with silhouettes and decorations. What would otherwise have been a simple utility-style parka jacket was made flamboyant in bright electric blue and decorated with an excess of shaggy detailing at the collar. Victoria Beckham and Dior made a case for the classic parka in dark khaki green and Balmain’s take tied at the waist and felt super elevated. Meanwhile Chloé embraced a more regal and overtly feminine kind of utility jacket, presenting velvet styles with tiny buttons, ruffle details on the collar and a floral-trimmed hem.

… The more stylish the woman. The big belt trend has been gaining traction for a while now but PFW this season officially consolidated the power of this statement accessory. It’s part of the reemerging cohort of retro influences from the 2010s, and looking back a little further, the ‘80s, that we’ve been seeing a lot of lately. What I love most about this trend is that it’s probably one of the easiest to wear from this list. If you’re worried about it feeling a little too novelty, don’t. Victoria Beckham and Isabel Marant’s Kim Bekker both proved masters at incorporating belts worn low on the waist. At Isabel Marant, Bekker also understood the appeal of chunky belts buckled at the waists of blazers to channel ‘80s power dressing in an undeniably modern way. 

Off-White opted for buckleless chunky leather belts sitting on hips for a fresh take on the big belt concept. At Schiaparelli and Christopher Esber, looks with an excess of criss-crossed belts demonstrated the power (and surprising ease) of a statement use of accessories. Plus points are also owed to Balmain for its classically decadent approach.

A strong message from the PFW runways this season was, whatever you’re facing, keep your head (and crucially your neckline) held high. We saw a declaration of love for turtlenecks earlier this season in New York. But on the last leg of the AW25 shows in Paris, lots of necklines are just as high but in a looser style than a typical turtleneck. I loved this on jackets (I expect it to be a huge trend that’s everywhere come autumn), trench coats and knitted dresses at Victoria Beckham, Chloé and Stella McCartney. And Christopher Esber chose to adorn his high necks with fuzzy feather-like details for a welcomed playful touch.

The indie sleaze phenomenon of the 2010s and subsequent eras like the 2014 Tumblr girl aesthetic have famously puzzled many a fashion critic. A decade later, they’re creeping their way into high fashion – how could we not be excited?! It’s true that there are parts of this cult fashion phenomenon that are best left in the past. But designers in Paris this season did a superb job at cherry picking the best parts of indie sleaze and presenting a rather grown-up take on the trend. 

At Isabel Marant, grungy biker-style studded leather skirts were softened by ruffled lace tops, plus plaid and patterned tights proved an easy way to lean into the indie sleaze look. Chemena Kamali mastered an elegant revamp of the trend at Chloé, mixing references to grunge and boho dressing with slinky maxi numbers.

The explosion of love for waistcoats a few years ago shocked many, myself included. But they’ve proved a breakout star of contemporary womenswear tailoring. We often see them looking pretty classic – smart and buttoned with a traditional crew or V-neckline. But for AW25, waistcoats seem to be getting a makeover. Fitted and preppy at Isabel Marant. Meanwhile, zipped quilted leather iterations were worn over knitwear at Hermès to give edge to casual looks. I also loved a sheer style at Dior that tapered at the waist with a subtle peplum and paired with a blouson-sleeve blouse, mixing femininity with masculine formalwear details.

We’ve seen a lot of frilly details popping up on the runways in recent seasons and AW25 is proving no different. Chloé’s excess of ruffles in the boho chic style we’re all obsessed with was among the highlights, I especially loved the tiers of ruffles across low-waist pieces. Plus, asymmetric ruffle hems on dresses at Off-White proved a playful approach to this enduringly popular trend.

Tailored maxi coats for winter is about as original a concept as florals for spring. But designers at Paris really knew what they were doing this season when it comes to the classically smart style. From fun quilted versions finished with contrast fur trims at Chloé, to sharply tailored numbers at Victoria Beckham made cooler by pairing with ultra-cropped hoodies underneath (yes, really). Longline coats were anything but samey this season.

And that brings the AW25 season to a close. It’s been a special one, packed with exciting changes, the commencement of new eras and plenty of drool-worthy runway looks to keep my wishlist full.

Check out all my PFW outfits HERE

READ MORE FASHION WEEK CONTENT:

MFW AW25 Outfit DiaryMy

New York Fashion Week Diary

7 Trends To Know From MFW AW25

7 Trends To Know From NYFW AW25

7 Trends To Know From LFW AW25

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