The 7 Macro-Trends Influencing Fashion + Beauty in 2025
Trend forecaster-approved moves that'll affect what we buy and talk about this year.
What the hell is a macro-trend you might ask? Well, it’s the ideal way to forecast what’s next in a way that supports vs stifles creativity. Take it from a seasoned trend forecaster, the way that brands, retailers, and consumers look at trends these days has undoubtedly become a reason for overwhelm––who can really keep up with the shift from strawberry milk to blueberry milk nails? The rumors of skinny jeans making a comeback yet wide-leg pants continue to be the best-selling? Or, the fascination with the mob wife aesthetic only for it to shift into office siren right when you thought you had a grasp on the look?
What I love about macro-trends is that 1. they’re simple 2. they’re adaptable to your specific consumer or personal style 3. they showcase the story of the evolution vs just telling you to buy a singular item without any real reasoning. They take a holistic lens––it should spark creativity and inspiration for adaption, rather than assign and define you.
At the start of every year, I curate a macro-trends report + webinar for Trendalytics. Ahead, breeze through for a breakdown of my forecast and if you’d like more data-driven insights, you can download the full report + recording of the webinar or request a demo from our team.
MACRO-TREND 1:
GLOBAL SPORTS
In the true essence of sporting events, they’re meant to bring communities together. We’re seeing a return back to the globalization of sports with the rise in F1, tennis, and soccer. Plus, female-focused media outlets (like Betches) are investing in the conversations, too.
RUNWAY-TO-SIDELINES
The end of 2024 and early 2025 has brought an array of unlikely collaborators—yet, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Think On x Loewe, Kith x BMW, and Adidas x Wales Bonner.
WAG ERA
On social media, there’s been eyes on the women on the sidelines, too: Charles LeClerc’s girlfriend Alexandra Saint Mleux, Taylor Fritz’s girlfriend Morgan Riddle, and more.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
New Balance 530: +38% to LY
Embroidered Baseball Cap: +25% to LY
Track Pants: +17% to LY
BRANDS + INFLUENCERS
Adidas: 5M average weekly searches
Alexandra Saint Mleux: 1.5M followers
Off White: 276k average weekly searches
MACRO-TREND 2:
ETHEREAL IDOLS
Mermaidcore and siren eyes were just the beginning of ethereal inspiration—now, conversations around tapping into your divine feminine energy and channeling goddesses like Hecate are a hot topic. The energy has an essence of power and sultriness versus just sweet and soft.
VICTORIA’S SECRET COMEBACK
Mall brands of the 2010s continue to showcase their new decade comebacks. 2024 saw the reinstatement of the ultra-classic Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. With that being said, the response was underwhelming—but, hey, press is press, right?
#MAGICTOK
From manifestation tips and natural healing to casting spells and all things divine feminine, #magictok has made esoterics feel not so off-kilter after all.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Cinched Waist: +25% to LY
Lace Tights: +19% to LY
Lingerie Dress: +19% to LY
BRANDS
Awe Inspired: 263k followers
Di Petsa: 869k followers
Amina Mundi: 992k followers
MACRO-TREND 3:
DECADES TO WATCH
If 2024 saw the domination of the ‘70s, 2025 is turning our attention to the ‘60s and ‘80s—they both offer a new lens on femininity, ladylike silhouettes with statement-making updates as well as power-dressing, respectively. Plus, designers are creating items that are made to look vintage.
VINTAGE BRIDAL ERA
In our chronically online era, there’s a fear of everyone looking the same; therefore, weddings have become smaller and more personalized. Vintage or reworked dresses have become a popular way that this sentiment is materializing in the market.
SHOPPING BUCKET LIST
Online, we’re seeing articles + videos about itineraries specifically designed for scouting vintage + other unique-to-location items.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Used Wedding Dress: +233% to LY
Knocker Earrings: +50% market adoption
Jacquard: +23% market adoption
BRANDS
Dries Van Noten: 33k average weekly searches
Heaven Mayhem: 128k followers
Unbox the Dress: 30k followers
MACRO-TREND 4:
ALGORITHM SHIFTS
“I built this algorithm brick-by-brick” is a popular phrase amongst TikTok users and their love for their niche algorithms. With that being said, this has struck the way audiences are exposed to new trends within fashion + beauty.
SHOP LOCAL
In addition to simply shopping local businesses, consumers want to rep them, too; think coffee shops, grocery stores, and brands with locally sourced ingredients.
COMMUNITY TRENDS
The idea of dressing in trends that signifies your community is a “tradition” that’s been around for decades but has seen a rise once again; ex: beaded jewelry at Taylor Swift, pashminas at Keinemusik, repping your fitness studio, aligning with your city vs country, etc.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Reusable Totes: +68% to LY
Beaded Bracelet: +37% market adoption
Pashmina: 3B TikTok views
BRANDS
MACRO-TREND 5:
BEAUTY STANDARDS
If you thought the girls were chasing Kardashian-set beauty standards, it’s time to think again. Gone are the days of “Instagram face” and what’s in are subtle tweaks that bring out your best features. We expect a shift towards surgery and treatments that are seemingly more natural (PRF, fat grafting, etc.) rather than botox + filler.
TRIAL-AND-THEORIES
We’ve seen a decline in videos about achieving a look or aesthetic and an increase in those about maximizing your own features through strategies like color theory or contrast makeup.
BESPOKE BEAUTY
We can all recall the viral pheromone perfumes; now, consumers are tapping into that same sentiment through true bespoke fragrances or customizing color cosmetics to achieve the perfect shade.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Contrast Makeup: +5,047% to LY
Custom Lipstick: +47% to LY
Micro Botox: 24M TikTok views
BRANDS
Lindsey Lohan: 16M followers
Lip Lab: 6k average weekly searches
Allison Bornstein: 272k followers
MACRO-TREND 6:
CORES COMBINED
The introduction of the bohemia influence was one of the most exciting of 2024; now, it’s being joined by elements from other aesthetics—like coquette—for the next iteration of the look that’s romantic and refreshed.
THE WILD WEST
The Great American West has seen an increase in travel interest—with a luxury spin, of course. Consider Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho—and travelers are dressing the part.
ON THE RUNWAYS
Chemena Kamali’s first year at Chloé was the talk of the fashion town in 2024, and, recently, Isabel Marant has been causing quite a stir, too. This year we can expect other designers who may not typically fall under this category to partake in the trending aesthetic.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Lace Shorts: +39% to LY
Platform Wedges: +20% to LY
Statement Belt: +18% to LY
BRANDS
Isabel Marant: 3M followers
Bella Hadid: 61M followers
Alison Rose: 56k followers
MACRO-TREND 7:
BEAUTY IN THE BASICS
The idea of romanticizing your life has been a growing one since COVID––now, we’ve realized it doesn’t necessarily need to be dreamy and over-the-top, but we can savor simple acts like cooking (Nara Smith, anyone?) or investing in details (candles, towels, soap, etc.) that make life a little more luxe.
EAST MEETS WEST
When it comes to health, it’s become evident that two extremes are present: tech-driven West and natural-focused East––yet, the future holds a balance of the two to bring tradition into a new era. This isn’t just in health but within traditions in the way we dress, prioritize our life, and seek value.
SELF-CARE EVOLUTION
After the “slow life” movement, we’ve seen a greater acceptance in rest. For example, Gen-Z has even glamourized “bed-rotting”––and while that may be extreme, there are rising social elements around relaxing and healing, too, such as the expansion of Othership, a social sauna + cold plunge bathhouse.
KEY RTW + BEAUTY TRENDS
Cortisol Face: +10,825% to LY
Magnesium Spray: +42% to LY
Natural Fibers: +12% to LY
BRANDS
Nara Smith: 5M followers
Gap: 1M average weekly searches
Loro Piana: 2M followers
Loving 6 + 7.