By Sasha Brandt
Let’s be honest: Pantone’s Colour of the Year 2025, Mocha Mousse, feels like a beige too far. I managed to ignore 2024’s Peach Fuzz, but this year’s choice is an affront to good taste. At GAY45, we staged a lively debate over Purple Basil before ultimately settling on Solitaire Deserted Beach for our backdrop. The names alone—poetic, absurd—are a study in imaginative excess.
Illustration by GAY45
At GAY45, our Gen Z team curates a moodboard every year—not just to track trends, but to capture the vibe that resonates with us. For 2025, it’s about celebrating the irrational, the inventive, and the queer.
The Return of the ’90s (and Very Short Shorts)
Men’s streetwear swung firmly back to the 1990s. It’s not just baggy jeans and chunky trainers continuing the comeback; this time, impossibly short shorts have invaded every runway and pavement. Why bother? Surely, we’re but a season away from ditching them entirely.
Runway shows for 2024 have been refreshingly bold, with designers embracing exuberant prints, utility wear with oversized pockets, relaxed tailoring, and sporty elements. But the subtext is clear: it’s not just about clothes; it’s about what lies beneath.
Illustration by GAY45
Sex, No Shame, and Cruising Culture
In Milan, Luca Magliano’s collection was a heady mix of boldness and intimacy. His cheeky nod to cruising culture and the raw sensuality of queer spaces was unmistakable. ‘They have to be addressed with no shame or judgement,’ Magliano said of his inspirations. ‘Because it’s who we are.’ It’s hard to argue with that.
Techno-Fashion: The Future is Wearable
The collision of technology and fashion intensifies in 2025, with innovations that once seemed absurd now becoming indispensable. Jackets with embedded smart screens, fabrics that shift colours with body heat, and shoes that record every step are no longer novelties—they’re tools for expression. The lines between utility and aesthetics are blurring faster than ever.
Naturally, the daddy trainer saga continues. Yes, we prefer the British version instead of the American sneakers. From retro reboots to avant-garde reimaginings, these behemoths of comfort remain stubbornly relevant. And then there’s the resurgence of shirts with slogans that do all the talking for you—a nod to the era when fashion was protest, statement, and conversation starter all in one.
A Palette of Past and Future
Men’s streetwear in 2025 is a dizzying interplay of contradictions: past and future, comfort and boldness, nostalgia and innovation. It’s a playground for personal style and cultural commentary, constantly redefining what fashion can mean.
Illustration by GAY45
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