A new season means many things: pulling out your old favourites from the wardrobe, investing in some new gems for the colder weather and, of course, a bevy of trends to try and get your head around.
From butter yellow and rich burgundy to barrel jeans and the return of Y2K fashion, this year has already seen some strong trends, but what awaits us in autumn and winter?
We caught up with tastemakers at the Brown Thomas Autumn/Winter 2025 fashion show, 'Redefining Elegance', which took place in The Westbury Hotel last night, to hear all about the key pieces to look out for this season.
Opening with a stunning bohemian look by Chloe, featuring a pussy bow blouse and flowing black skirt, and ending with painterly skirts and jackets by Erdem and a statement green leather coat, the show tapped into the dark romance of autumn with a decidely wearable focus.
"This season at Brown Thomas we're redefining elegance", Darren Feeny, Head of Art Direction & Creative, said, "and we wanted the show space to kind of reflect that, and created a rich and opulent salon-style show with tapestries and the furniture we got from Paris."
The show was held to also celebrate the store's campagin launch, which was shot on location at Leixlip Castle, one of the homes privately owned by the Guinness family.
"It was trying to bring that rich and eclectic, antique feeling", Feeny added. "This season is about something unexpected."
Oversized prints, lush, autumnal colour palettes and antique furnishings added to the aesthetic of the presentation and set the tone for the looks ahead.
Feeny pointed to the opening look which combined a sheer skirt and a flat shoe, as one example of unexpected glamour.
Colour played a key role in the presentation, with earthy shades like forest green, chocolate brown and deep blue contrasted against pops of lime green, pale pink and baby blue.
"When you look at the colours, first off, that's always a starting point for me", Tracey Despard, Head of Fashion, said.
Jewel tones are strong contenders for colour of the season, but no colour is as evident this autumn as red, in all its shades, Despard said.
"From the bright cherry red, we've got some amazing occasionwear dresses coming down the runway this evening. Right the way through to burgundy, and we've some stunning, burgundy tailoring. It's really sharp, there's a real edge, I think, to burgundy tailoring."
Aside from that, there are many wearable and classic palettes that are proving popular once more, such as grey, black and navy - the "foundations of everybody's wardrobe", Despard added.
Leather proved to be a key trend for both womenswear and menswear, with a striking leather piece by Loewe in the presentation. For Despard, it is the key investment buy for the season.
"It used to be just biker jackets; if you wanted to wear leather, it was a biker jacket. Whereas I think that this season we're seeing the evolution and we're seeing leather dresses, we're seeing leather tailoring, always leather trousers, which are an absolute investment buy and always keep an outfit [having] a little bit of edge, a little bit more fresh as well.
Her star buy for the season? "A Khaite leather jacket."
This season also brings a host of new and returning brands to the store, including Givenchy, Sacai, Proenza Schouler and Staud for Womenswear, and Dries Van Noten, Les Deux, Almost Home, Robyn Lynch and Profuomo for Menswear, among others.
But it's clear from the chatter in the room that no brand feels as personally exciting to Irish fashion lovers as Dior, now that Derry man Jonathan Anderson has taken up the reins of the storied French fashion house.
"Jonathan Anderson moving into Dior is probably one of the most exciting news in fashion this season", Despard said. "I'm so looking forward to seeing his first collections coming through."
Although his first Womenswear collection won't be presented until 1 October, and won't hit the shops until February, there was plenty of Anderson in last night's presentation as looks from his eponymous brand took centre stage.
As Despard said: "Irish design is always going to be key, within our DNA."
