If you felt your wardrobe shifting this year, you’re not imagining it. Pop culture’s biggest moments didn’t just break the internet…they also broke fashion rules and rewrote the dress code. Here are eight pop culture moments that defined our closets this year.
8. The Labubu Takeover
You couldn’t escape them in 2025: fuzzy creatures with big eyes and even bigger ears hanging from everyone’s handbags. The Labubu, created by artist Kasing Lung, exploded from the realm of collectible art toys into a fashion phenomenon. Suddenly, plush outerwear and playful accessories were everywhere, proving that fashion inspiration can come from the most unexpected corners of pop culture.
7. The Cinephile Tee
Following the Cannes Grand Prix win for his film Sentimental Value, Norwegian director Joachim Trier became the face of a new fashion movement. As anticipated by trendsetters like Charli XCX and Elle Fanning, cinephiles began showing their appreciation with simple, scrawled-on t-shirts showing the director’s name. This DIY-style trend celebrated the power of art-house cinema and offered a refreshing way to signal one’s cultural-insider status.
6. Taylor Swift’s “Showgirl” Glamour
With the release of her album The Life of a Showgirl in October, Taylor Swift transported us to a world of glittering, chorus-girl glamour. Drawing inspiration from Pamela Anderson in The Last Showgirl and the iconic The Great Gatsby, the “Showgirl” look was all about feathers, sparkly headpieces, and crystal-encrusted everything. This glamorous style, finished with a crimson pout, had fans everywhere their inner showgirl.
5. Harry Styles’ Marathon Man Moment
In September 2025, Harry Styles was spotted running the Berlin Marathon under the pseudonym “Sted Sarandos,” and his effortless running ensemble went viral. This moment captured the essence of “elevated athleisure,” a trend that blends performance wear with everyday style. Sporty shorts, technical fabrics, and sleek running shoes are now a common sight in everyday fashion, proving that comfort and style can go hand-in-hand.
4. The Met Gala’s Ode to Dandyism
The 2025 Met Gala’s theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” brought the art of Black dandyism to the forefront of the fashion conversation. Zendaya stunned in a spotless Louis Vuitton zoot suit, while co-chair Colman Domingo was striking in a black-and-white Valentino ensemble. The event sparked a renewed appreciation for a well-made suit and inspired a move towards more structured, tailored silhouettes in everyday wear.
3. Defying Gravity with Wicked
The release of Jon M. Chu’s Wicked was a cinematic event, and its impact on fashion was just as magical. The film’s fantastical costumes, worn by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba and Ariana Grande as Glinda, sparked a wave of emerald and bubblegum-pink looks. The movie’s tagline, “Pink goes good with green,” became a fashion mantra, with fans embracing the message of finding harmony in unexpected pairings.
2. Alt-Girl Summer
After the high-energy “Brat Summer” of 2024, 2025 ushered in a new, more relaxed vibe: “Alt-Girl Summer.” Championed by the likes of Lorde and Doechii, this was the era of the “whatever girl.” She’s effortlessly cool, a little quirky, and completely individual. The look was a mix of boyish polo shirts, baggy jeans, pajama shorts worn as daywear, and lingerie paired with loafers. Accessories like wallet chains, weird vintage bags, and kooky socks also became essential.
1. Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Bootcut Jean
At his record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show, Kendrick Lamar didn’t just deliver an unforgettable performance. He also resurrected the bootcut jean. His choice of bootcut Céline denim, paired with a custom Martine Rose varsity jacket, screams modern cool. The performance sparked a resurgence in bootcut and flared styles, and in an instant, the disgraced silhouette was back on the fashion map.