The leaves may turn elsewhere, but in Southeast Asia, the only thing falling is our patience for anything less than sweltering. Paris Fashion Week F/W25 may have been designed for cooler days, but these trends are hot enough to make their way into our year-round heatwave. From flashes of skin to strong moves in confident shoulders and boots, this season’s looks aren’t hibernating.
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Red Hot Forever
The past seasons have taken a softer approach, marinating in pastels and barely-there hues. Even PANTONE’s Color of the Year, Mocha Mousse, leans into the safety of subtlety. But now, red is waking from exile. It’s the shade of urgency, of lipstick stains on collars, of cherries that dare you to take a bite. Valentino’s crimson sheer looks and Chanel’s blood-red tweeds pulse through the season like a warning light.
Mid-Driff Season
Cold-weather collections aren’t typically in the business of midriff-baring, but when has tropical dressing ever cared for tradition? Here, the stomach remains the main event. Sharply cut crop tops, micro cardigans left strategically unbuttoned—these are commitments. In our heat, abs aren’t seasonal, but expected.
Confident Shoulders
Blazers once owned the monopoly on power dressing, but the shoulders have emancipated themselves. They now stand proud in capes, exaggerated coats, and structured tops. McQueen cuts them with military precision, Saint Laurent sculpts them into colorful defiance.
Ruffle Me Up
Drama lives in the details, and this time, it’s through layers of ruffles. Not the twee, doll-like variety, but the kind that takes up adult space. Crisp white ruffles tumbling from sharp vests, while billowing skirts move like restless water. Whether controlled or chaotic, the ruffle refuses to be quiet.
Outside Lingerie
Fashion has long borrowed from men’s tailoring, but there’s something about reclaiming the right to dress in silk and lace outside the bedroom. Slip dresses slinked their way onto the runways, sheer negligées peeking from beneath coats. It’s the rule of seduction and it’s meant to be listened to.
Giddy Up
The hemlines are high, and the boots are higher. Thigh-highs walked the runway, equestrian-style boots galloping through Hermès and knee-grazing leather stomped through Stella McCartney. When your outfit is already revealing, a solid boot grounds it—literally and stylistically. They may not be the breeziest choice for tropical weather, but dressing for comfort is a choice–and one can always choose to step away from it now and then. It’s fashion, after all!
Paris Fashion Week may have styled these looks for the chill, but Southeast Asia runs on sun, and these trends are too good to be left in the cold. While the rest of the world layers up, we’ll be finding new ways to wear less, look confident, and make sure our looks do the talking.
Photos: COPERNI, ZIMMERMANN, ANN DEMEULEMEESTER, LOUIS VUITTON, DIOR, HERMÈS, LACOSTE, MIU MIU, GABRIELA HEARST, CHANEL, VAQUERA, VALENTINO, MARINE SERRE, SAINT LAURENT, and TOM FORD
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