Maximalism Takes Center Stage This Spring/Summer: Inside the Season’s Boldest Trends

As predicted, this year’s spring is not about the florals, but the layering of opposing patterns, fabrics and textures to create an exaggerated form. 2025 is shaping up as a true Denim to the Max summer, where bold pairings of denim with contrasting styles and colors set the ultimate style standard. As the ready-to-wear collections strutted down the runway, with it’s delicate lace, titled pattern work and inflated sleeves, we can now conclude that 2025’s Spring/Summer season is a maximalist return! 

Between the repeated use of chiffon fabrics and lilac, volumized silhouettes was the obvious style on the Spring/Summer 2025 ready-to-wear runway. This signifies the coming of maximalism, soaring in on padded shoulders and huge skirts. Designers embraced exaggerated, voluminous silhouettes this season, most of which were a tribute to the climate pretences and current economics terms.

Stella McCartney’s ‘Save What You Love’ collection unveiled a striking range of gathered blouses, oversized coats and open dresses. The flowy fabrics and gathers was an obvious salutation to the many fowls slaughtered year after year in the name of ‘high fashion’. The repeated padded shoulders and large totes were not forgotten, as it was styled with the oversized suits and glittery minis.

photo: Women’s Wear Daily

Marc Jacobs’ ‘Courage’ collection defied conventional tailoring, featuring voluminous rounded dresses, inflated trousers, and statement-making busty blouses. The colour palette was rather neutral and grey with pops of animal print, bubblegum, lilac and metallics. Alongside the overblown jackets, knitwear and skirts were the bubbled midi-heels and pointed, elongated boots. Giving an almost cartoon-look, the models hair was nested and the makeup was bold, a circular press-on sitting on top of their lips. 

photo: @marcjacobs (Instagram)

Comme Des Garcons came in strong, commenting on how clothing can be as big as you want it to be, and a shield when you need it to be. Titled ‘Uncertain Future’, the elaborate headdresses and the monstrous skirts were sculpted from a mixture of materials, many of which were then wrapped in a sheer layer of fabric. Obscure, pillow-shaped silhouettes moved down the runway decorated in various florals with rounded edges and large shoulders. 

photo: @commedesgarcons (Instagram)

Finally, Balenciaga, much like Marc Jacobs, provided their interpretation of the human appeal with a clear nod to erotism and sensuality. In leather, sheer stockings and lace garter belts, the collection also carried an overall muted tone, layering plaids and animal prints alongside each other. Square shouldered gowns, oversized coats and inflated jackets with jutting out elbows were the feature details. Most noticeable were the structured pairs of jeans on the model’s neck. 

photo: Women’s Wear Daily

Needless to say, maximalism is making an appearance, returning in delicate lace, sweet colours and cartoonified forms. If you’re looking for your next Spring fit, style a large, padded blazer-suit bedazzled in rhinestones with an oversized, lilac pair of trousers. Alternatively, you could wear a bold, rounded mini dress and complete it with lacey stockings and a neon tote.

Maximalism is about going all out, experimenting with contrasting colours, accessories and fabrics. It is about embracing the excess and the extravagance, where more is always more.

With Spring comes the promise of something innovative, something fresh and something romantic. Each collection infused a feeling of sensuality and sexiness, like Stella McCartney with the layering of sheers and lace, or Balenciaga with the literal lingerie sequence and the thigh-high, lace trimmed stockings. But the designers also showcased their understanding of ‘love’ in lilacs, expressive layering and overstated forms. ‘Bigger is better’ emerged as the unmistakable theme of Spring/Summer 2025.