The loose fits and all-indigo styles of the previous seasons are probably going to be carried over into 2025 denim trends. From designer collections like Gucci, MSGM, and Roberto Cavalli to high-end denim brands like DL1961 and Citizens of Humanity, wide legs continue to be the preferred form in the denim industry.
The details—some delicate, some more striking in terms of color and design—will be what’s new. Here are six ways that designers are bringing denim into the new millennium.
Shredded
Denim trends go in extremes. While clean finishes continue to be fixture in collections for their versatility and enduring appeal, shredded denim is surfacing in directional collections by Off-White, MM6 Maison Margiela and Philipp Plein. Whether you call it punk, grunge, indie sleaze or brat, the thread-bare look instantly injects a dark and edgy vibe to slim and skinny jean fits.
Shorts
Denim shorts began as a men’s trend in 2023 and became a full-fledge ‘It’ item for women last summer. Now designers are moving away from basics, combing jorts with other denim trends like stacked waistbands, prints and paneling. Some are slim, like Etro’s tailored jorts, but most are roomy hitting the knee or just below it.
Seams
The re-introduction of center seams brings a retro yet polished look to men’s and women’s jeans. The detail adds a crispness to classic fits like Bally’s straight jeans and emphasizes the curvy shape of others like Marques’Almeida’s flare jeans. Seams are also used to give wider leg jeans definition.
Prints
Designers use prints as a storytelling element and to link denim to the rest of their collection. For S/S ’25, florals are a must-have with labels like Marco Rambaldi and Cinq à Sept enveloping blue denim in laser printed flowers. Also look for designers to use laser prints to add a 3D effect to jeans like Vaquera.
Embellishments
Designers are reinventing the bling trend with elevated uses of crystals, rhinestones, sequins and jewels on denim. Stepping away from youth-driven Y2K trends, brands like Chanel, Dice Kayek and Kobi Halperin bejeweled wide-leg jeans and relaxed denim button-down shirts with feather-like sprays of sparkle and strategically placed appliques. Others use crystals and silver adornments to add shine to jeans like Monse and Casablanca.
Dye Effects
Though there is less color in denim compared to other spring/summer seasons, there is variety in dye effects. Ganni, Laquan Smith and Tove show how to enliven basic denim with tie-dye effects that contrast vivid indigo shades with deeper casts. Monse makes a case for ombre dyes with a baggy jean that transitions from white to dark blue, while Lutz Huelle and Masha Popova lean into cloudy dye effects with different results.
