In the age of "Brat Summer"—a cultural moment where youthful defiance and nostalgic girlhood collide—it’s no surprise that Sinead Gorey delivered a Spring/Summer 2025 collection that feels like a teenage rebellion in motion. Drawing from her own experiences and ever-sharpening eye for subcultures, Gorey took the quintessential coming-of-age moment, prom, and turned it on its head. In her hands, the prom queen is the anti-heroine, the misfit who rolls her eyes at the event’s rituals, preferring to own the afterparty in something far more subversive than tulle and tiaras. It’s prom, but from the vantage point of the outcast, the girl who skips the slow dances for something much more exciting—and far less polished.
Gorey’s SS25 runway was a visual diary entry of every outsider’s dream prom. Held in a sports hall drenched in retro kitsch—think pink foil, tinsel, and cheap plastic ribbons—this wasn’t the sanitized version of prom we’re used to seeing. No, this was the grungy, post-party aesthetic, a nostalgic nod to those chaotic high school moments that teeter between innocence and rebellion. The disco ball flickered overhead, casting light over models who looked like they were on their way to the after-after party, if they had ever bothered with the main event at all.
In true Gorey fashion, the SS25 collection was filled with the tension between sweetness and rebellion. The candy floss pinks and pastel hues set the stage, but it was the dark, punk-inflected details—studs, exposed hardware, and sweetheart necklines—that stole the show. Imagine the moment Georgia from Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging sneaks into the party in a daring dress, catching everyone off guard. That’s the Gorey girl: sweet, but not naive, rebellious but playful.
Body-con mini dresses, pierced corsets, and outrageously short shorts broke every prom dress code in the book. The collection’s signature touch? Ribbon-fastened outfits dripping in diamantés, complemented by lace-up fronts that teetered on scandalous. School is out, and this girl is ready to show off her style evolution. Gone is the innocence of childhood, replaced by a new awareness of her body, her desires, and her power.
Gorey spotlighted another surprise on the runway: the return of Converse, but this time reimagined. Custom versions of the XXHi, Chuck Taylor All-Star, and Chuck 70 Wedge adorned the feet of the models, each pair revamped with Gorey’s rebellious touch—think belly button bars and intricate detailing that made the iconic footwear look like the only acceptable choice for the outsider’s prom. These were not the sneakers you wear to gym class; they were the footwear of the future, where comfort and punk aesthetics collide.
Adding an unexpected element, Gorey debuted her collaboration with Human Mobile Devices, unveiling the “HMD Skyline” as part of the new “Phonecore” collection. Tech meets fashion in the most practical of ways: phones tucked into spiked belts, bras, and pockets, all seamlessly integrated into the clothes. It was a Gen Z’s dream of fashion meeting functionality, perfectly capturing the moment we’re in.
This wasn’t a prom of pastel chiffon and glittery tiaras. Instead, Gorey played with an eclectic mix of fabrics, pairing traditional prom materials like silk and satin with harder-edged textiles: denim, fur, and nylon bodysuits. The juxtaposition of soft, luxurious fabrics against rebellious elements like studded detailing and faux Mongolian fur was a nod to the designer’s ethos of blending innocence with defiance.
A standout moment came with her reinterpretation of the faux Mongolian fur jacket. Reworked in unexpected hues of meringue, frosted ochre, and bubblegum pink, the piece was a standout, cementing Gorey’s reputation for turning the familiar into something innovative and daring.
Prom might have been the initial inspiration for the collection, but it was Gorey’s fearless exploration of tech and youth culture that defined this show. From the plaid leggings and boyfriend patchwork shirts, evoking post-prom sleepover vibes, to UV-reactive leatherette sets, this collection didn’t shy away from celebrating the chaotic, messy moments of youth. The collection’s finale was a spectacular disregard for tradition: models donned exposed fly skater jeans, military-inspired micro skirts, and admiral jackets, stamping out the notion of a typical prom wardrobe.
In short, Sinead Gorey’s SS25 was a celebration of the anti-prom queen—a girl who doesn’t fit into the mold, who chooses self-expression over conformity, and who, above all, knows how to break the rules in style. It’s the perfect collection for an era where individuality reigns supreme, and rebellion is just another form of self-discovery.
