This controversial 2010s trend is back - here's a fashion editor's advice on how to wear it in 2025 (if you have to)
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more
With the trend cycle moving as fast as it does in today’s sartorial landscape, it’s only a matter of time before a trend we thought we'd sworn off for life creeps its way back into our wardrobes.
So far this season, we’ve seen the fashion crowd embrace two staples from our grandfathers’ wardrobes (the striped polo shirt and the boat shoe), fall back in love with flared jeans and reach for 90s-inspired glasses. And it looks like they’re coming around to another item we’ve banished to the back of our wardrobes: the peplum top.
The flared silhouette first came into fashion in the 1940s, when Christian Dior’s New Look set the course for post-war fashion with ultra-feminine silhouettes tightly cinched at the waist to create an hourglass figure. In the 1980s, the peplum came back bigger and bolder, with exaggerated looks from designers like Oscar de la Renta and Karl Lagerfeld.
A guest at Paris Fashion Week in a peplum top
Then there was the brief, business-casual revival in the early 2010s, fuelled by designers like Lanvin, Jil Sander and Alexander McQueen. The look gained further momentum when celebrities like Kate Middleton, Victoria Beckham and Rihanna started wearing it; and retailers like Zara and H&M jumped on the trend.
Now, the peplum top is having another moment. While the flared hemline remains (it’s what makes it such a flattering silhouette, after all), most brands are opting for a less pronounced ‘flow’ from the bodice to the peplum this season.
The key to styling peplum tops in 2025 is to focus on minimalist designs. (Nothing too ruffled or flared out at the waist). Pair them with relaxed jeans and ballet pumps for an effortlessly cool outfit; with midi skirts to show off the sculpted silhouette; or with tailored trousers for a sleek, sophisticated look that’s office-appropriate.
Keep away from synthetic fabrics too. Instead, opt for elevated linens, cottons and denims – you’ll thank us come summer.
The best peplum tops for SS25
To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), TikTok (@you_magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial).
