These 6 Moments Defined Men’s Fashion In 2025

It’s been a busy — some might say tumultuous — year in the world of men’s fashion and style. For parts of 2023 and much of 2024, men’s fashion felt like it was in a state of stasis: things weren’t in a bad place, per se, but they were a bit stagnant. For so long, it seemed like the winds of change were overdue (and that everybody knew it). In 2025, change finally arrived.

A host of designers took new positions, some at the helm of storied couturiers, others luxury labels and others still at hot brands. A new cohort of red carpet stars announced themselves while others reinvented themselves in flawless fashion.

In what was a busy 2025, these were the moments that defined the year.

Jonathan Anderson’s Dior Debut

It’s only fitting to begin with the most talked about fashion moment of the year. The buildup to Jonathan Anderson’s debut at Dior began in earnest, in January, as Kim Jones showed what many in attendance knew would be his last show. In April, Jonathan Anderson was announced as his successor and, by the time he made his debut in June, he had become the first designer to helm the three main ateliers: menswear, womenswear and couture. His first show featured his signature aloofness but mixed well with Dior’s storied codes, offering up a blasé take on luxury, with low-key staples drawn from private school attire to rejigged takes on elaborate, centuries old designs. There was excitement and energy — so much so that there were watch parties at Parisian cafés during the show. In more than a decade covering menswear shows, I’ve never seen a more highly-anticipated show than Anderson’s debut at Dior. And, despite that… it didn’t disappoint. A tall task, passed with flying colours (and oversized pants).

Véronique Nichanian Passes Torch to Grace Wales Bonner

Hermès has enjoyed the familiarity of Véronique Nichanian’s masterful direction for 37 years, an unheard-of tenure in the fashion world, save for Karl Lagerfeld’s 54 years at Fendi. Yet, in late 2025, the designer announced that she would be stepping back from leading the men’s universe at Hermès. A short while later, Grace Wales Bonner — who has enjoyed success with her namesake label — was announced as Nichanian’s successor.

While the Nichanian era isn’t quite over yet (she’ll show her final collection in January of the new year), news of her departure has been one of the biggest moments in luxury menswear in quite some time. Hermès operates in rarified air and Nichanian has demonstrated an unparalleled ability to make veritable works of art look eminently wearable, while turning the simplest of pieces into pictures of perfection.

Demna x Balenciaga Exhibition at Kering

Closing our look back at designer musical chairs is Balenciaga, where Pierpaolo Piccioli will be replacing Demna, who will be taking over at Gucci. While not necessarily everybody’s cup of tea, Demna’s time at Balenciaga changed the fashion landscape in undeniable ways, further entrenching streetwear’s place in the realm of luxury fashion. While it became pastiche, Demna’s Balenciaga gave us some of the most viral and influential styles of the last decade, from supersized sneakers and jackets to pieces that juxtaposed ultra-luxury wares with UN organizations who tend to those in the most precarious of situations.

After announcing his departure, Demna and Balenciaga organized a retrospective exhibition at Kering’s Parisian headquarters, showcasing everything from the inventive show invitations to the most memorable pieces his tenure gave us. Seeing it all together — curated to tell the story of Demna’s influence but also of Demna, the designer — gave it added weight. In retrospect, it wasn’t just Instagram bait. There was a method to the madness.

Met Gala Celebrating Black Codes

If the Demna retrospective offered a new perspective, the Met Gala and the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute exhibition, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” paid homage to how Black menswear codes have shaped contemporary fashion, tracing the roots of dandyism and showcasing modern Black designers’ creations. With Lewis Hamilton, Colman Domingo, A$AP Rocky, and Pharrell Williams serving as co-chairs and Lebron James as honorary chair, guests at this year’s Met Gala were briefed to let dandyism and the codes of Black tailoring inform their outfit choices. And, from Shaboozey’s Louis Vuitton getup to André 3000’s Burberry jumpsuit, they did not disappoint. The exhibit, too, shone a light on a sartorial tradition that has been all too often overlooked. Long overdue, but well worth the wait.

Colman Domingo’s Red Carpet Mastery

Book For Men cover alum Colman Domingo isn’t new to the red carpet A-listers, but 2025 has seen him revamp his look, courtesy of Alessandro Michele at Valentino. Domingo offers a snapshot of what Michele’s Valentino seeks to be: a touch nostalgic, reinvented for the modern man. At the Met Gala, Domingo paid homage to André Leon Talley, but also to traditional church choirs. Throughout awards season, Domingo dazzled in double-breasted jackets, with super-cinched waists and preferred elaborate neckwear over classic ties. His belted red ensemble from the Oscars, with black lapels, Domingo set himself apart through his accessorizing: scarfs, brooches, neckerchiefs, jewellery. Throughout 2025, Domingo has become one of the must-see names on any red carpet.

Marty Supreme Jacket Madness

A reminder that some things can’t be explained. Arguably the hottest piece of clothing this year is a relatively anonymous retro-tinged windbreaker that looks like so many of the freshly-dusted off jackets from the turn of the millennium, emblazoned with the name of Timothée Chalamet’s newest film, Marty Supreme.

Made in partnership with Nahmias, this simple piece of merchandise has captured the imagination of young men online and in real life, selling out and becoming one of the scarcest, most in-demand items of the year. 10 years ago, this was to be expected; it was when streetwear-adjacent resale markets were at their frothiest, with shoes selling for multiples of their retail price within hours of release. What about the jacket has made it such a special garment? It’s hard to say. It’s a bit kitschy, it’s tapped into the current zeitgeist-y obsession with the ‘90s and ‘00s, and it’s related to an A24 film starring one of the most famous male actors of this generation. Is any one of those factors responsible for the popularity? No. But put them together, and the last two months of the year have given us an unlikely heir to the crown of most sought-after release of the year.

The post These 6 Moments Defined Men’s Fashion In 2025 appeared first on Sharp Magazine.