Nostalgia is back for 2025

2025 is the year of nostalgia and the year of digging some of your old designer pieces from the back of your wardrobe that you thought would never make a come back.  These items I am about to list below are so nostalgic to me as they were all the pieces that were in style when I was a fashion student.  So why all of a sudden all the nostalgia?  There seems to be a longing for simpler times and the items we had during those simple times and a desire to connect with past experiences.  The Y2K fashion and retro styles have been making a huge comeback in recent years.  It also allows the brands to try and connect with their older consumers as well as today's.  Although the one question that I have, is why would you not just buy vintage?  All of the below pieces I have found preloved and they are not only cheaper but in some cases look a lot better.  Unless you are wanting a slightly more modern version, then there's not much point paying full price.   There are many nostalgia examples from what celebrities have worn on red carpets to what was shown down the runway, but these 5 items below are the items that ring the most nostalgic to me.  You can make up your own mind whether you would prefer the newer items or the preloved?

1) Alexander McQueen skull scarf 

I was so desperate for one of these scarfs back in University.  I used to see pictures of Nicole Richie and the Olsen twins wearing them with plain white tank tops and black skinny jeans and they looked so cool.  The newer scarfs look exactly the same in my opinion, so I would prefer to buy vintage.  Considering inflation in the past 10 years, this scarf is not much more expensive than it used to be.  It used to be £260 in 2013 and in 2025 you can buy one for £280.  Preloved you could pick one up for around £70, it's a no brainer for me.

2) Fendi spy bag

This was never a bag that I really liked and it's still not really my style, but I like the twist on the 2025 versions.  The images of the Y2K versions tended to be more slouchy leathers and bohemian styled and the 2025 versions play with materials and have a twist handle that make the bag more modern.  I actually think I prefer the vintage here though, what do you think?  The newer versions haven't hit the store yet so I don't know the price it will be ,but you can pick up a preloved one for around £500 and as low as £230.

3) Chloe Paddington bag

The Chloe Paddington bag was an icon and one that everyone wanted, although I remember them being so heavy.  The IT bag of the bohemian Y2K era was inevitably going to return as the bohemian style of Chloe returned end of late 2024 with ruffles, lace and wooden wedges and bangles.  The Chloe Paddington bag was released in 2005 when Phoebe Philo was creative director and the current 2025 creative director of Chloe is Chemena Kamali, who worked under Philo for years.  So it only makes sense that she felt inspired to eventually bring back the Paddingon.  Again this hasn't dropped yet, so if you wanted to grab a preloved version, do it quick before the prices increase with the demand of the reissue as you can currently pick one up for £500.

4) Dior J'adore t-shirt

The J'adore t-shirt was first seen down the runway in 2001 and then famously known as Carrie Bradshaw's favourite t-shirt as she wears it many years later in Sex and the City 2 in 2010.  Could it be the 'And Just Like That' season 2 release later this year that gives this selling power?  The series has featured so many of her iconic clothes and accessories through the years, could this be a clue the t-shirt will be featured?  Resurrecting the series wardrobe favourite items has sent people mad and also sends a really important message that you should be re-wearing, re-using and re-styling your clothes.

5) Gucci horse bit 

Gucci has always liked the nostalgia and has been bringing back styles for years with the Gucci Jackie bag, the bamboo handle and the horsebit clutch., but this larger half horsebit is the latest in Gucci's reissue collection.  The bottom left bag is a vintage one I found for £240 and the right bags are priced between £1660 and £2560.  Out of all the bag reissues this year, this one is my favourite as I think it's more wearable and also a style that won't go off trend, it's more classic.