This Winter's Fashion Trends Include Clothes You'll Actually Wear

Winter fashion is not known for experimentation—your energy during the bundle-up-and-bear-it season is better kept keeping warm than trying a newfangled fad. Besides, fall's top trending silhouettes always trickle over, albeit with a greater emphasis on outerwear and boots that can handle slush and snow. The winter 2025 trends are no exception to the age-old routine; they re-hash what's working for fall 2024 but offer compelling design iterations and textile tweaks to rationalize why round two is worth a try.

The baggy jeans brigade will be pleased to know the relaxed silhouette sticks around as a 2025 denim trend, refreshed for winter with Gucci's painted flowers and contrasting brocade cuffs at Valentino. Similarly, the barn jacket trend hasn't yet been put out to pasture. However, winter proposes you shelve your cotton jacket and try a heavy-duty cargo coat like Stella McCartney's in Carhartt khaki-colored suede.

One could argue that recycled trends from the previous season signal a lack of inspiration. But in reality, designers have honed in on the 2024 trends women actually wear and are simply providing customers with more of what they want. It's a strategy that the Marie Claire fashion team wholeheartedly supports.

Ahead, the winter 2024 and 2025 trends worth integrating—or re-integrating—into your wardrobe. Sometimes things are even better the second time around.

Super Capes

Capes can be intimidating—the dramatic silhouette can quickly teeter into a costume-y, cosplay vibe. But winter 2024/2025 will start you out on easy mode with Max Mara's draped camel coats at Max Mara, Nili Lotan's cropped wool ponchos at Nili Lotan, and Isabel Marant's open sherpa layers. Now is the prime time to dabble with the cape trend, considering the free-flowing outerwear will continue to be a spring 2025 trend, too.

'60s Mod

Whether you focus on Tom Ford's sweet shift dresses, Louis Vuitton and Givenchy's car coats, or the skirt suits at Chanel and Versace, there's no denying that Jackie Kennedy-inspired fashion trends play a key role this winter. To start, try a lady jacket and a sweet pair of classic Manolo Blahnik buckle-front Maysale pumps.

Double-Take Denim

With peek-a-boo patchwork, hip cutouts with draped chain detailing, and studded diamanté piping—winter's denim trends are so interesting and intricate that they demand a second, up-close look. As for the silhouettes, any form will work, from big jean jackets to denim trousers and split-front maxi skirts.

Get to Work

Winter 2025 urges you to get your hands dirty—or at least dress the part for manual labor. From Burberry and Tory Burch's cargo pants to Stella McCartney and Hermès's sturdy boiler suits, fashion and function find a fine-tuned balance this season.

Bohemian Rhapsody

Fashion editors—and keyboard runway critics across the internet—have had a field day discussing the boho chic trend revival, heralded by Chloé creative director Chemena Kamali's chiffon frills, wooden clogs, and romantic lace treatments from her fall 2024 show. Kamali ups the boho ante for winter 2025 with Chloé's fringed frocks, breezy maxi gowns, and jingly gold jewelry. At the same time, Valentino co-signs a suede bag trend, while The Row and Max Mara showed laissez-faire ways of wearing fringe.

Wild Cats

Fall's leopard print trend is still on the prowl—though it manifests primarily in the coming season's coat trends (as to be expected). Seen at Stella McCartney, Versace, Sportmax, and Givenchy, a conversation-starting winter jacket or coat in the graphic feline print is an easy way to earn compliments this season.

Who’s Keeping Track?

Seen in the early-aughts-era crushed velour at Tom Ford and Stella McCartney's runways and the wind-breaking nylon at Tibi, track pants (and, in some instances, matching tracksuits) broke away from the pack as a Resort 2025 trend. As with any comfort-minded trend, the 'athluxe' attitude will surely have legs and will likely last well into spring.

Bubbles and Balloons

You likely are familiar with the recent bubble skirt trend—perhaps you even bought a froth-hemmed mini this past summer. Winter 2024 keeps the voluminous momentum going, with more bubble hems appearing at Louis Vuitton, No. 21, and Coperni. Khaite and Max Mara also up the ante with sculptural, whipped silhouettes in foamy organza and balooning nylon.

Dress Over Pants

In recent showings, designers have gotten quite creative with their layering outfits and complex ways of wearing clothes. There were shirt sandwiches this past summer, pre-styled pieces for fall 2024, and now, for winter, maxi and mini dresses worn over pants. The styling harkens back to some early 2000s fashion fails,but modern layering takes on a more polished, less Y2k-era look.