Alexis Lam
As the snow starts to fall and hot chocolate becomes its own food group, it’s time to swap out our fall wardrobe for winter’s new hottest trends. This season, practicality and boldness go hand in hand. From vintage staples to cozy essentials, here’s what your style guide to 2025 winter fashion trends.
1. Brown Leather Skirts
Nothing says “seasonal dressing” like wearing leather in 14-degree weather. Brown leather skirts are this year’s most unnecessary yet desired winter flex because why be practical when you could be dressed like the next “It girl.” Pair it with knee-high boots and a sweater for that perfect mix of “I’m sophisticated” and “I regret my life choices every time the wind blows.” Bonus points if you sit on a cold bench, your skirt might stick to it. What a more iconic way to be featured in someone’s Fizz post.
2. Thick Knit Scarves
Winter is the season that heavily welcomes a nice big warm chunky knit scarf. The bigger, the better. If you ever wanted to feel like the city girl/guy protagonist in a Hallmark movie, just waiting for your scarf to fly off your neck in the cold, only for the ruggedly handsome or naturally beautiful small town guy/girl to catch it and start your whirlwind cheesy romance — this could be your chance! Wear that knit scarf!
3. Rugby Shirts
Think preppy but make it winter. Rugby shirts can bring a sort of sporty sophistication to your look and make you look like you understand sports without, you know, actually understanding sports. Layer them under a blazer or with a puffer coat to really emphasize that you go to Yale without saying you got Yale. And no, you don’t need to know the rules of rugby to pull it off, no one will ask you to name three rugby players.
4. Gold Jewelry and 80s gold earrings
Gold jewelry is in and it’s bigger, bolder and unapologetically shiny. If you love the show, Dynasty, then it’s time to break out those chunky gold earrings and jewelry and embrace your inner 1980s wealthy diva. The idea is to give retro glamour with the vibe of “I raided my mom’s jewelry box.” Is it practical? Absolutely not. But will people notice you? Obviously — that’s the point.
5. White Tights
Remember red tights from last fall that were on every influencer’s “For You” page and Pinterest? This season, we’re trading in red for white and it’s time for white tights to enter into our wardrobes, regardless of how impractical they are. Whether your tights are solid white cotton or lace patterned, as long as you’re channeling a snow angel with questionable blood circulation, you’re good to go. Pro tip: layer fleece tights underneath unless you really do want that questionable blood circulation. But hey, we do it for the fit, right?
6. Off-Shoulder Sweaters
Who needs warm shoulders when you have aesthetics? Off-shoulder tops and sweaters came heavily into style this past fall season, and the sweaters are making an even stronger comeback this winter. If you’re a fan of the shoujo girl look or just chronically on Pinterest, this is your new must buy item this season. It’s perfect for holiday parties or just confusing people about how you’re both warm and cold at the same time.
7. FUR!
Fur has furiously stomped its way back into fashion this winter season. Real or fake, FUR IS IN! The bond girl/ mafia wife aesthetic is having its moment and we’re all here to witness it. Going for a leopard print fur? Iconic. Maybe a full-length coat? Incredibly essential this weather. Add a fur hat, and you’ve become the protagonist in a Cold War spy drama.
8. Leopard Print
Unfortunately, leopard print refuses to die, but honestly, I can respect that. This year, it’s everywhere and on everything from coats, boots, to even Sambas? For real, I don’t know why leopard print is back, it should’ve died back in the 2010s when Justice was still a profitable store. But it’s come back to roar as fashion cycles come and go every couple years. If you’re choosing to embrace this trend, why not go with a full leopard dress. Or keep it subtle with just a hint of the print on a skirt or shirt, if subtlety is your thing (though let’s be honest here, it probably isn’t if you’re wearing leopard print).
9. Khaki Green and Maroon
Khaki green and maroon are the unexpected power couple of winter 2025. Together, they say, “I like the city life but I also hike sometimes.” They’re just a couple shades away from their Christmas counterparts so you can feel like you’re embracing the winter aesthetic without being mistaken for a Hallmark movie character. While they are two tough colors to style, if you’re one of those people who can pull it off, props to you. If you can’t style them in separate outfits, you can’t go wrong with incorporating either into your outfit.
Winter fashion this season is all about being cozy and unapologetically bold. Whether you’re out wrapped in your Acne Studios scarf or strutting around in your brown leather skirt and leopard print coat, confidence is the best accessory you can wear out. After all, you’re gonna be cold outside anyway, you might as well look good too.