Saturated Color, Denim and Slouchy Slacks Mark 2025 Street Style

Simbarashe Cha, a Times photographer and visual columnist, documented recurring style motifs across seven cities on three continents in 2025 for the Style Outside column.

Cha singled out denim as a prominent theme, noting the many bold and creative ways people wore the material — from head to toe to accents that tied outfits together — and called it a reminder that even basic staples can be anything but ordinary.

Other motifs Cha highlighted included saturated color, which he described as enlivening; sharp tailoring, with zippy suit jackets and pants worn together or separately; slouchy slacks, popularized by Gen Z and embraced by people of various ages; and varied presentations of black and white. The photographs were taken in cities including New York, Milan, Paris, Copenhagen, London, Florence and Hong Kong.

The images and accompanying text for the Style Outside column, Cha wrote, show ensembles that “shared at least one trait: They were exciting to behold,” illustrating the recurring threads he encountered while photographing street style around the world.

Key Topics

Culture, Simbarashe Cha, Street Style, Denim, Slouchy Slacks, New York