'Like dressing in the dark': the top trend for summer 2025

The new trend is a deliberate combination of the incongruous. From the catwalks of Milan and Paris, street fashion has taken on a style with an aesthetic of chaos, Elle writes.

Summer 2025 is the season when favourite things are worn not according to rules, but according to mood. Fashion houses such as No21, Miu Miu and Versace suggest combining striped sports jumpers with sequin skirts, floral dresses with chequered coats and adding another controversial accent to the look, such as a striped scarf. It should all look like you've randomly picked things out in the dark. Only it's not an accident, it's a well thought-out fashion gesture.

At the Versace show, designers mixed fabrics from the 1997 collection with modern shapes. Miu Miu combined archival prints with heavy loafers and simple black socks. The overall message is don't be afraid to look "off". After an era of 'quiet luxury' and 'clean girl' where every crease was checked, it's time for freedom, colour and individuality.

It's not just aesthetics - it's a way to rethink your own wardrobe. The author of the material admitted that she used to stick to formulas: if you bought a blouse, wear it with trousers from the same line. Now she tried on a Heaven skirt from Marc Jacobs with pink cashmere from M&S and Asics trainers in blue and silver - things she would never have combined before. The result? A new look with no new purchases and that very 'dopamine surge' like shopping experience.

This approach has long been used by the most stylish celebrities. For example, actress Chloë Sevigny, who easily combines bold catwalk looks with street eclecticism, inspiring others to abandon the rules.

Of course, it's not as easy to decide on this style as a pair of bootcut jeans or silver shoes - there's no clear pattern. But that's the beauty of it, too. To 'get together in the dark' in a tasteful way, it's worth choosing only the things you really love. A new purchase is not an ultra-trendy bow, but a thing that enhances your self-expression.