Not long ago, a sneaker could make you cool. A Nike collab with an obscure Japanese graffiti artist could elevate a TikTok nobody into a street-style somebody. The right Jordans (in a rare colourway, naturally) gave you an aura of knowingness: you were in the club, you knew the codes, you were part of culture. But like all trends that burn too bright, sneaker culture is now on life support, bloated by hype, resellers, and a saturation of bad taste disguised as exclusivity. Sneakers — once a subcultural shorthand for rebellion, sport, or identity — have become the default footwear of everyone. Your boss wears them to the office. Your cousin wears them to his wedding. Your dentist wears them, which really says it all. When everything is sneaker culture, sneaker culture is nothing. This isn’t to say sneakers are going anywhere. They’re functional. People will always need to walk. But the culture around them — the queues, the raffles, the resale bots, the obsessive collector energy — is fading. What we’re witnessing isn’t a style evolution. It’s the fashion equivalent of a candle sputtering out after a party that went on too long. The death knell sounded not with a bang, but with a Louis Vuitton x Nike Air Force 1, designed by the late Virgil Abloh. A beautiful shoe, yes. A historic collaboration, absolutely. But also: a high-fashion eulogy. When you put a sneaker in a Sotheby’s auction house and sell it for the price of a small car, you’re not celebrating a movement — you’re embalming it. And even Abloh, who helped catapult sneaker culture into the luxury space, saw this moment coming. In 2020, he predicted that the new decade would be less about hype and logos and more about “thrifting, finding your personal style,” and valuing “archival pieces and your knowledge on the fashion you consume.” If sneaker culture had a prophet, it was also its philosopher-critic. That shift is already visible in data. According to Lyst’s 2024 “Year in Fashion” report, searches for “quiet luxury” surged 138%, while brands associated with more logo-heavy, hype-driven aesthetics — think Off-White, Balenciaga, Yeezy — saw declining demand. Meanwhile, brands like The Row, Khaite, and Loro Piana gained traction, thanks to their understated, ultra-refined silhouettes. The most-wanted shoe of the year? Not a sneaker, but a pair of sleek, minimalist Mary Janes by Alaïa. Drop fatigue is also real. Sneaker launches used to be an event. Now they’re an algorithmic grind. You don’t score shoes because you’re stylish — you score them because you’ve learned how to hack SNKRS or you paid someone in Discord to do it for you. When the aesthetic of a subculture becomes indistinguishable from financial speculation, it stops being cool. Luxury fashion has already pivoted. In case you missed the memo (maybe you were busy defending your Travis Scott x Jordan 1s), the new codes are quiet, flat, and often hard-soled. Even A$AP Rocky, once sneakerhead-in-chief, has been spotted in square-toed Bottega Veneta shoes. The new status symbol is not a shoe you had to fight the internet for — it’s one no one recognises at all. That’s the real shift: taste has replaced hype. People are tired of queuing for a product they’ve been told they need. They want to feel like they discovered something. They want minimalism, quiet craftsmanship, even (gasp) elegance. You know what feels elegant? A hand-stitched Italian loafer. You know what doesn’t? A size 11 sneaker covered in plastic zip ties and irony. So no, sneaker culture isn’t dead. Not quite. But it’s limping. And in the world of luxury fashion, that’s the first sign of rigor mortis.

It’s the Super Bowl of fashion, it’s the fashion Olympics, it’s the night newly rising stars solidify their place on the world stage—or fall into oblivion. The stakes are high, and the heels are higher. Who is falling, and who is flying this season? This year’s Met Gala theme, “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” , is a revelatory exploration of Black dandyism—a style movement that redefined elegance, sophistication, and self-expression against the backdrop of historical and societal challenges. Dandyism, often associated with European aristocracy, was reclaimed and revolutionized by Black men in the 18th and 19th centuries, transforming it into an act of resistance, autonomy, and cultural pride. The accompanying dress code, “Tailored for You,” invites attendees to embrace their personal style through tailored silhouettes, reimagining the world of menswear. From Kim Kardashian’s audacious spin on the theme to Sabrina Carpenter’s chic take on classic tailoring, the red carpet was awash with statements both bold and beautifully restrained. Teyana Taylor pushed the envelope with an avant-garde silhouette, while Lewis Hamilton delivered a masterclass in refined homage to Black sartorial heritage. Then came Diana Ross, dazzling in a self-designed creation that nodded to her iconic Mahogany era — a reminder that no one commands a room quite like Miss Ross. Throughout the night, celebrities paid tribute to Black fashion pioneers, weaving history and contemporary flair into looks that sparked conversation worldwide. As the evening wore on, it became crystal clear who nailed the brief — and who left us scratching our heads. Ahead, we break down the most buzzed-about looks of the night, from the showstopping triumphs to the ensembles that faltered under the spotlight. The Best The Boring List The Worst Dressed

The first Monday in May isn’t just another date on the fashion calendar — it’s the Met Gala, a night when celebrities, designers, and stylists converge on the Metropolitan Museum of Art for what’s arguably the most extravagant red carpet of the year. Unlike the Oscars or Cannes, the Met Gala thrives on spectacle, where the goal isn’t just to look polished, but to make a statement. It’s a night where fashion goes beyond beautiful gowns and sharp tailoring and dives into the realms of art, performance, and occasionally, pure chaos. This year’s theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style , promises to celebrate the craft, influence, and cultural impact of Black fashion. But before we get swept up in the anticipation, it’s worth looking back at the unforgettable moments that have defined the Met Gala over the years — because this isn’t a red carpet that rewards playing it safe. Rihanna’s sweeping yellow Guo Pei cape in 2015, Solange’s latex Iris van Herpen gown and halo in 2018, Sarah Jessica Parker’s tartan McQueen moment in 2006, and Kim Kardashian’s dripping wet-look Thierry Mugler dress in 2019 didn’t just stick to the brief — they set new standards. From Princess Diana’s sleek Dior slip in 1996 to Lady Gaga’s theatrical Brandon Maxwell striptease in 2019, these looks weren’t just fashion — they were cultural milestones. And whether it’s Zendaya’s light-up Cinderella moment, Bad Bunny’s daring Margiela, or Blake Lively’s dramatic Versace gown, the Met Gala’s greatest hits are the ones that continue to shape how we think about style, spectacle, and risk on the red carpet.

In what can only be described as a meeting of British craftsmanship and motorsport heritage, Brixton-based footwear brand Duke + Dexter is joining forces with the BWT Alpine Formula One Team for a limited-edition capsule collection, timed to the 2025 Miami Grand Prix. Best known for reimagining classic styles — including their cult penny loafers — for a modern audience, Duke + Dexter has steadily expanded into apparel with a distinctly vintage touch. Now, they’re stepping fully into the fast lane. The collaboration builds on the success of Duke Racing, the brand’s first foray into motorsport-inspired fashion, and marks a natural progression: a collection that fuses the technical precision of Formula One with the relaxed confidence of British streetwear. Launching on 30 April to coincide with the opening of the Miami Grand Prix, the drop features four hero pieces. Expect graphic tees and racing jackets stamped with Duke Racing iconography in Alpine’s unmistakable pink; vintage-style jerseys emblazoned with driver Pierre Gasly’s number 10; and, perhaps most notably, the first co-branded edition of the recently released "Plus Duke" sneakers. Designed with a nod to Duke + Dexter’s signature loafers, the sneakers include a removable lace guard and a screen-printed Alpine “A” logo — a detail clearly designed to resonate with motorsport obsessives and sneaker collectors alike. Speaking about the collaboration, Archie Hewlett, Founder of Duke + Dexter, said: “We’ve had ties to F1 and racing since the very early stages of the brand — an iconic world and lifestyle I've always loved. It was the theme of our first apparel collection: D+D Racing. So when BWT Alpine Formula One Team reached out about designing a capsule together, it felt like a no-brainer — especially with our connection to Michael B. Jordan, who's now an investor in the team.” It’s a smart play for both parties. While Alpine may have French roots, its operations in Enstone, Oxfordshire, point to a shared British sensibility — and a mutual appreciation for sharp engineering, whether in the form of race cars or hand-finished footwear. An Alpine team spokesperson called the project a "perfect synergy," pointing to the collection’s blend of “classic heritage through a modern lens.” It’s a phrase that neatly captures both brands’ ambitions: to honour legacy without getting stuck in the past. While Formula One’s Miami Grand Prix may be relatively new, it has quickly become one of the sport’s most high-profile events, with a celebrity-studded paddock and a distinctly fashion-forward crowd. For Duke + Dexter, it’s the perfect place to show off a collection that feels as at home at a race track as it does at a rooftop party later that night. The collaboration also nods to a broader shift in Formula One’s cultural cachet. Thanks to the rise of driver profiles and an increasingly global fanbase, F1 is no longer just a petrolhead’s pursuit — it's now firmly part of the fashion conversation.

Spring 2025 has arrived, and with it comes a parade of clothes that seem more interested in confusing you than impressing you. If previous seasons asked us to dress for the fantasy life we wanted — sipping espresso on an Italian terrace, leading a startup from our Soho loft — this season seems to ask: What if you didn’t have a plan at all? The trends are chaotic. Playful. Sometimes aggressively impractical. It’s as if designers got tired of pretending that everyone wants to look effortless and instead decided to lean into the chaos of real life: the mornings when nothing matches, the nights when your outfit makes sense only after two glasses of wine, the moments when you catch your reflection in a shop window and think, "Maybe it’s fashion?" Expect to see a lot of looks that feel like inside jokes — fishnet gym wear, sailor sweaters gone rogue, and handbags that stretch across your body like you’re smuggling baguettes. Tailoring has tightened up, but not enough to erase the sense of irony that runs through everything this season. Sporty is in, but only if you look like you might never actually go to the gym. Minimalism is still hanging on, but it’s less "quiet luxury" and more "mischievous whisper." Aquatic Chaos: The Mermaid Who Goes to the Gym This season, designers decided that mermaids no longer lounge on rocks, brushing their hair with a fork. No, the 2025 mermaid is busy, sporty, and probably has a ClassPass membership. Sequins shimmered alongside scuba zippers and sporty mesh. Think fishtail skirts paired with windbreakers, fishnet leggings worn unironically, and swimsuits doubling as officewear. If it sparkles, stretches, or looks like it could survive a riptide, it's in. But forget the old ethereal Ariel vibe — today’s sea siren has a protein shake in one hand and a waterproof tote in the other. Key pieces: fishnet joggers, scuba jackets, bodysuits styled as real outfits, anything that looks like it could be found washed up on a beach — in a chic way, obviously. Fisherman's Daughter: Coastal Prep Gets a Weird Makeover Coastal dressing isn't new, but Spring 2025 drags it down to the docks and gives it a few martinis. The classics — Breton stripes, chunky cable knits, pea coats — all make their expected appearances, but this time with a winking, slightly absurdist twist. Stripes are thicker, sweaters are slouchier, and there are actual fish-shaped bags floating around like it's completely normal. The vibe is less “yacht club” and more “I borrowed this from my slightly unhinged uncle who lives on a houseboat.” Comfort and fluidity are key — expect everything to be just oversized enough to suggest that you might be about to board a sailboat, even if your only plan is brunch. Mad for Plaid Plaid isn’t here to play nice anymore. It ditched its neat, preppy image and showed up this season looking loud, rebellious, and occasionally kind of unhinged. Designers messed with colorways, blew up proportions, and paired checks with unexpected textures and silhouettes. Forget about looking polished and buttoned-up. The new plaid is jagged, oversized, and a little bit punk — more “broke into the country club” than “member since birth.” Best worn clashing wildly with itself or something equally inappropriate. AMY LYNN - Cher Alexa Plaid-Pattern Puffball Woven Midi Dress - Buy here - £74.25 alice + olivia - Kidman cropped jacket - Buy here - £432.00 The High-Fashion Windbreaker In the most practical plot twist of the season, the humble windbreaker became the most glamorous item in your closet. Designers seized the waterproof jacket and decided it should be worn with sequin dresses, layered over tutus, and styled with a level of drama previously reserved for opera capes. This isn't about hiking. This is about showing up to dinner in a floor-length crochet gown — with a bright yellow zip-up thrown on top like you’re that confident. If your windbreaker isn’t clashing aggressively with your fancy outfit, are you even trying? Fringe Benefits: The Return of the Swingy Drama Queen Fringe was so omnipresent this season it practically replaced hems altogether. Designers couldn’t resist the urge to attach tassels, shreds, and strings to anything that stood still long enough: jackets, dresses, handbags, even shoes. But this wasn’t your basic Coachella fringing. Think heavy metallic strands, sophisticated flapper nods, and bursts of technicolor chaos. Fringe for 2025 isn’t for wallflowers — it's for anyone who wants to make a grand entrance and leave a glittering trail of confusion in their wake. Skirts Layered Over Everything Somewhere between Y2K nostalgia and sheer impatience with normal pants, the layered skirt-over-trouser look officially completed its comeback tour. It’s no longer just a cute trick for Gen-Z TikTokers; now it’s business casual. Tailored trousers with pleated skirts, long tunics layered over slouchy pants, hybrids that can't decide what they are — it’s all happening. The best versions played with proportion: razor-sharp skirts over soft wide-leg trousers, or see-through chiffon dresses revealing matching sheer trousers underneath. Basically, if it looks like you couldn’t decide which bottom half to commit to this morning, you're doing it right. Long and Low: The Rise of the East-West Bag The East-West bag is back, and it’s skinnier and longer than ever — like the fashion world’s version of a low-rise jean for your arm. This stretched-out silhouette dominated runways, reworking classic shapes into elongated, borderline impractical versions of themselves. Bags now dangle horizontally across the body, with structured straps that look almost architectural. If you’ve ever wanted a bag that’s about two inches too wide for every chair and elevator, this is your year. Style tip: The more it looks like a baguette you forgot to eat, the better. Work Hard, Dress Soft: Reality Dressing is In After years of aspirational dressing — outfits chosen for Instagram likes and not much else — fashion is swinging back toward reality. Not the boring version where you wear the same black pants for three years, but a new kind of chic practicality. Soft tailoring, relaxed silhouettes, and clothes that understand you might actually have to move around during the day. The new "real" dressing isn't about giving up on style; it's about being stylish and comfortable enough to go to work without fantasizing about ripping your shoes off on the tube. Expect plenty of smart trench coats, wearable tailoring, and low-key but devastatingly good jewellery. Minimalism with an Attitude: Quiet Luxury Grows a Personality Minimalism isn’t dead — it’s just tired of being boring. For 2025, pared-back fashion gets an upgrade with playful details, unexpected materials, and a few flashes of personality peeking through the neutral palette. Cargo pants come with couture-level tailoring. Windbreakers get sequin embellishments. Pastels sneak into otherwise serious wardrobes, offering a burst of energy without sacrificing sophistication. Beige still exists, but it’s flirting shamelessly with blue mints and soft lilacs. The vibe? Luxe, but not like you’re trying too hard to prove it. Move It or Lose It: Sporty Fashion Grows Up Fitness and fashion have been dating casually for a while now, but in 2025, it’s officially serious. Activewear is no longer reserved for actual workouts; it's built to blend seamlessly into daily life. Think elevated track pants, asymmetrical workout tops that could pass for designer blouses, and sleek capri pants (yes, capris — sorry). The new sporty style is less about running errands and more about running your life — polished, functional, and a little bit smug about how versatile it is. Bonus points if your leggings outfit looks just as good at the coffee shop as it does doing Pilates. Suited Up: Masculine Tailoring, No Apologies Tailoring for 2025 feels like a power move — strict, structured, and intentionally buttoned-up. Suits aren’t trying to be sexy by way of missing half their buttons or pretending shirts are optional. They're dressed, pressed, and slightly intimidating. Wide shoulders, sharp collars, ties (yes, ties) — it’s a uniform that doesn’t flirt, it commands. Whether it's trousers so long they puddle dramatically around your shoes or jackets that could moonlight as armour, this trend says: I have somewhere to be, and you’re in my way.

Royal Ascot has always been a little bit fashion, a little bit monarchy, and a lot of pageantry. It’s where people dress like they’re going to a Met Gala held at a garden centre curated by the Queen’s hat stylist. And in case your spring calendar didn’t already include five outfit changes and a last-minute hat rental, the 2025 Lookbook is here to gently remind you it’s time to get serious about occasion dressing. Yes, Daniel Fletcher—the Central Saint Martins graduate who’s dressed everyone from Robert Pattinson to Dua Lipa—is back for his second year as Royal Ascot’s Creative Director. And no, he’s not here to tell you to wear beige. This year’s Lookbook is bolder, cheekier, and more inclusive, with edits that span from vintage romance to high-street polish (plus a heavy dose of high-gloss international flair). Ascot’s Fashion Rebrand (Because Style Guides Are So 2022) Once upon a time, Royal Ascot had something called a Style Guide—essentially a polite memo telling you how not to embarrass yourself in the Royal Enclosure. But then came the Lookbook: an aspirational, editorial-style spread that’s more Net-a-Porter than Notting Hill charity shop. The dress code still exists (no midriffs, no spaghetti straps, God forbid a wedge), but the Lookbook is where the fun lives. And if you were wondering what fashion mood you should be channeling this summer, Fletcher’s four edits for 2025 have a few ideas. The Archive Edit: Vintage, but Make It Royal The Archive Edit leans into secondhand, borrowed, and (finally) sustainable dressing—but without sacrificing drama. It’s giving Great Gatsby in a recession. Think rental Chanel, inherited fascinators, and Oxfam finds styled like they came off a Paris runway. “This felt like a natural evolution of last year’s sustainability focus,” Fletcher said, which is British fashion-speak for “let’s not all panic-buy new outfits again.” Best of British: Strawberries, Tailoring, and a Touch of Chaos Fletcher first debuted this edit last year, and now it’s back with even more strawberries, daisies, and politely eccentric tailoring. Imagine an English picnic but the sandwiches are Gucci and your aunt’s handbag is from Self Portrait. British brands—both heritage and high-street—get a glow-up, proving that “Made in the UK” still slaps. The International Edit: Where Ascot Goes Global This one’s for the guest who flies in on a Thursday from Tokyo and attends Ascot on Friday. The International Edit celebrates designers from around the world and even makes room for traditional dress—like kilts, which apparently pair well with Moët. It’s cosmopolitan, elegant, and more than a little aspirational (read: budget for DHL shipping and last-minute tailoring). Prints & Patterns: Because Plain Is Not in This Season Florals? Yes. Polka dots? Obviously. Appliqué fruit motifs? Surprisingly, also yes. Fletcher taps into Spring/Summer 2025’s wildest print trends and spins them into high-octane race-day looks. If you’re not clashing three patterns and a hat shaped like a chrysanthemum, are you even trying? So, Who Is Daniel Fletcher? If you don’t know the name Daniel Fletcher, you probably haven’t been paying attention—or you’ve been too distracted by the outrageous hats at Royal Ascot to notice who’s quietly redefining occasionwear behind the scenes. Fletcher is a Central Saint Martins graduate (naturally—because where else do all the great British fashion disruptors come from?) who launched his namesake menswear label in 2015. He cut his teeth at Louis Vuitton and JW Anderson before landing at Fiorucci as Artistic Director, where he helped revive the brand’s playful, disco-era DNA with a new-gen energy. His work is known for being quietly political, often gender-fluid, and always cut with the kind of precision tailoring that makes you wish you hadn’t given up on ironed trousers. Today, Fletcher splits his creative energy between his own label and a role as Creative Director at MITHRIDATE , a London Fashion Week regular known for marrying British design codes with Chinese craftsmanship. In both roles, Fletcher has become a master of modern tailoring and expressive silhouettes—designing pieces that look just as good on Ncuti Gatwa or Dua Lipa as they do on your most stylish cousin at a country wedding. At Ascot, Fletcher’s magic lies in balancing tradition with risk. His vision of occasion dressing doesn’t beg for approval—it makes a statement. Whether he's collaborating with Oxfam or styling a £3,000 Gucci coat next to a vintage find, he’s proving that race-day fashion can be both elevated and democratic. And this, really, is his whole thing: reinventing British style by taking it apart and stitching it back together—with a little more relevance and a lot more fun.