Metallic is the sizzling (and surprisingly versatile) trend for spring/summer 2025

There’s a different light shining through fashion this season. It’s the glow of metallics, weaving through fabrics, shapes, and movement with a sharp grace, like a reflection on water at sunset. Spring/Summer 2025 has chosen to shine, but to do so with wit and irony. No longer just about evening sequins, ’80s clubbing looks, or revivals of the Space Age, this time metal is worn at breakfast with a macchiato and a canvas tote, or at the office over an oversized suit. It tells different, even opposite, stories, but always fascinating ones: the tale of the urban warrior, the romantic icon, the intellectual indulging in a whim. It’s liquid, soft, fluid.

Metallics on the SS25 runways: between space-age nostalgia and medieval couture

The Attico

The Attico

Stella McCartney

Stella McCartney

Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini

Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini

Erdem

Alexander McQueen

N°21

N°21

Phillip Lim

Phillip Lim

Prada

Prada

Versace

Versace

Versace

Ralph Lauren

Rabanne

Rabanne

Dior

Dior

Dior

It all started, of course, on the runways. And if there’s one name that defined the return of metallics to the catwalk, it’s Rabanne. The maison, long a guardian of futuristic and ultra-feminine aesthetics, played with pastel colors - mint green, pale pink - made precious by gold and silver foil on miniskirts and blazers. Tank tops and t-shirts were paired with shiny metallic knit skirts featuring sarong-like details, not to mention Rabanne’s iconic mini dresses echoing the Space Age, which also inspired the Silver 1969 Nano Bag. Handmade with 282 metal links, this hybrid between a medieval jewel and a post-human gadget is the season’s cult accessory—a wearable fragment of art that looks stolen from a stellar warrior.

Alongside this avant-garde vision, Christian Dior embraced a more sensual yet equally powerful approach. Its metal is soft, almost whispered. Rose gold, satin silver, with delicate draping and just a hint of shimmer, like the light reflected on water on a June evening. At Ralph Lauren, metallics merge with western glam: silver blazers over nude silk and gold pencil skirts for an eveningwear cowgirl. In the realm of full-on glamour, Versace is a must. Donatella stays true to her ultra-glam DNA: silver mini dresses, plunging slits, and gold sandals. Her models look ready for a night in Mykonos… or, with the right attitude, for the supermarket. Prada? Brilliant. It transformed the metallic skirt into a daywear piece, paired with a white poplin shirt, a transparent trench coat, or a flared bon-ton jacket, slightly “sciura”.

Phillip Lim and N°21 take a more urban cut, offering a daywear version of metallics, while Erdem turns it into poetry, combining it with pastels and romantic slip dresses. But it’s McQueen who sculpts the most powerful vision: metal here is medieval, almost mythical. Armor that doesn’t cover, but reveals. Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini and The Attico complete the story with light play, tech fabrics, and urban sensuality. And Stella McCartney? True to her values, she brings sustainable metallics, proving that ethics can shine brighter than gold.

Celebrities who love a metallic touch in their outfits

Between red carpets and star-studded events, the trend has already found high-profile ambassadors. Jenna Ortega, at the 2025 Met Gala , stunned in a Balmain that looked like a futuristic silver armor. Aimee Lou Wood wore a silver metal mesh dress by Rabanne at the White Lotus finale at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village, California. Iris Law opted for a metallic outfit accent to challenge the idea of minimalism, playing with textures and reflections for her appearance on the Croisette. Also at the Cannes Film Festival, silver was worn by Dakota Johnson in Gucci and Bella Hadid, who chose a vintage dress from John Galliano’s 1997 collection, in fitted metallic mesh. Her look was completed with silver heels, diamonds, and a flawless chignon: metal has never looked this refined.

How to wear metallics in real life: street style leads the way

If you think metallics are just for the red carpet, look again. On the sidewalks of Milan, Tokyo, and New York, it’s a parade of creative styling, and Instagram is a masterclass worth taking notes from. Because while the runway sets the pace, real life decides whether a trend sticks. And metallics, right now, are no longer just a glam statement for fancy nights, but a daily storytelling tool, a style choice that can feel comfortable, cheeky, even cute. It’s no longer about wearing a full silver look to impress, but about playing with contrasts. A metallic skirt can be perfectly paired with an oversized sweater, maybe one borrowed from the men’s section, worn with sneakers or chunky boots. And a satin gold jacket works beautifully over a vintage tee and a pair of light jeans, or with a basic white tank top and silver cargo pants or a gold pencil skirt, with the nonchalance of someone who knows how to serve wow factor without losing their cool. The goal isn’t to look like a gift wrap, but to turn shine into an everyday texture, a vibe to carry without performance pressure. And it’s not just about clothes.

Metallics have also taken over accessories, becoming the highlight of jewelry, bags, like the Silver Nano Bag by Rabanne, already labeled the must-have accessory of the season. And then there are the shoes. Ah, the shoes! The quintessential shiny detail. All-in on ballet flats, mules, sandals. Metallic sneakers are having a fashion renaissance, evolving from cult favorite for the sporty crowd to the perfect statement piece for anyone who wants to be both comfy and stylish. Just look at the street style in Paris and Copenhagen, where silver sneakers peek out beneath suits, floral maxi dresses, and even daytime pleated skirts. It’s as if we’ve finally accepted that sparkle doesn’t mean uncomfortable or only for party outfits, but can actually be the ideal ally to add an extra touch to everyday life.