Mixing colors without thinking. The secrets of “maximalism”, the fashion trend that starts in 2025.

“This year […] we layer bold patterns, eclectic prints, and rainbow colors for the ultimate maximalist style.” It’s with this sentence that Pinterest introduces one of the top trends of 2025: the term that brings the two together: ” mixi” for mix and “malism” for all that excess and excess aesthetics.This year the American social network predicts that the new cool will be the association of patterns and shades that do not necessarily compliment each other. And this applies to both the world of interior design and fashion.

Embrace more than three shades every day in 2025? A very French “instruction of elegance” by color designer Jean-Gabriel Cousset The amazing power of colors (2014), “Many in France are afraid of shimmering shades. Choosing one is already difficult, beyond that, unimaginable. But limiting yourself to three colors is a bit like saying that three musical notes are enough to make a song.”

Being limited to three colors is a bit like thinking that three musical notes are enough to make a song.

Jean-Gabriel Kos, color designer and author

The expert elaborates. “Let’s take the example of monochromes. If you put three beige pillows next to each other, which are very different tones, it risks being too ugly… On the other hand, if you put ten different shades, it will work. This trend is established in complexity, which will create harmony.”

The concept is all the more unexpected given that the clothing industry has been celebrating minimalism for at least two years, a trend on the catwalks of major brands in recent seasons quiet luxury and its magnificence without ostentatiousness, everything is reversed with Maximalism. So it’s time for bright and festive shades that we wear and match without thinking. It wears a carmine red sweater, a burgundy leather jacket, mustard suede pants and pine green Mary-Janes…

This trend also helps turn the page on the last taboos around color and ignores all these rules that defined certain combinations of shades. At that time, learning to dress meant avoiding pink and red, purple and green, dark blue and black, orange and yellow.. .The idea here is to reject what we have for decades considered banal, even when it comes to print. To hell with the rules, make way for stripes and polka dots, checks and houndstooth, leopard and python, it’s enough to (already) make Mocha Mousse, Pantone’s star color of 2025, too muted.

Star of the 1980s

Historically nothing new. Jean-Gabriel Cos remembers that in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it was common to wear bright colors; Colors that don’t go together were the great work of 1980s couturiers such as Christian Lacroix, who had a lot of fun mixing red and pink.

Little by little pop madness is fading. The 1990s ushered in minimalism on the catwalks and streets. Calvin Klein’s impeccable shirt becomes the fashion standard. With the crisis, dynamic shades are finally back – content on social media by creators who are all nostalgic for the edgy fashion of the early 2000s.

From Scandinavia with love

This resurgence of cheerful shades, which we wear in abundance, also owes a lot to Copenhagen. Nice materials, clean cuts, a marriage of minimalism and maximalism… But above all, colors, very often vibrant, put on a sweater, a shirt, a dress… or as a general look. Therefore, it is in the heart of this city where the audacity of the robber knows no bounds. many micro-trends emerge that eventually infiltrate the Instagram algorithm of fashion stars from other European countries. Result: its annual fashion weeks are now as famous as those in New York, London, Milan and Paris.

It is this very pronounced Scandinavian DNA that has brought the success of Ganni, a Danish brand loved by content creators. We also think of the Saks Potts label launched by Barbara Potts and Catherine Saks, two stylists who with prints and bright hues.Not forgetting Acne Studios, perhaps the first Swedish brand to shine internationally. “I also see Desigual in Spain, this colorful brand that is renewed,” continues Jean-Gabriel Cosse.

Like it or not, one question remains. Is it possible to adopt this maximalism and avoid the “rainbow” look? Jean-Gabriel Cosse reassures. there are no forbidden chords or chromatic palettes to avoid. The most important thing is to “not force yourself, follow your instincts and not limit yourself to three colors”. Therefore, the key to achieving a maximalist look is without thinking, planning… or being afraid of looking like a clown simply because “we dare to use color.” I think the best example is Hermes. Their squares come in threes with colors. And I don’t think anyone would ever say that a Hermès scarf is ugly, on the contrary.”