From Tights Layering to Bikini Styling: 11 Ideas I'm Stealing From the Runways for Spring

The runways, to me, aren't just a place to find shopping inspiration for the season ahead or a resource for trend scouting. Catwalks also act as a treasure trove of styling ideas for anyone like me who likes to zoom in on every single look and discover those tiny, minute details that make an exceptional runway look, well, exceptional. Stylists are every high-end brand's secret weapon when it comes to producing a great fashion show, so if you have time, I always recommend spending a few extra minutes really diving into each ensemble and taking away styling tips for future use.

I've been busy doing this since September of 2024 when the spring collections debuted in New York and across Europe's fashion capitals. After months of inspection, I'm finally ready to dole out my 11 favorite spring 2025 runway styling ideas that I plan on copying when the season in question arrives. There are bikinis styled underneath crisp button-down shirts, boxer briefs peeking out from underneath low, relaxed denim, and sheer tights styled with heeled sandals—and those are just my personal highlights. Scroll down to check out all 11 winners. Get your Pinterest ready. I have a feeling you'll be doing a lot of pinning.

Leather Jacket Over Suit

Unless you've been living under a rock since September, you probably already know that Saint Laurent's S/S 25 collection sent demand for ties into the stratosphere. Because of that, I'm not going to report on that particular styling trick from the show. (I actually did months ago—read all about it here.) Instead, I'm here to highlight the leather bomber jackets that were styled on top of the now-famous menswear-esque suits at the show. The outerwear addition created an effortless appeal to the otherwise formal ensembles, making suits look lived in and cool as opposed to stuffy.

Sheer Tights With Heeled Sandals

Celebrities like Zoë Kravitz are already catching on to this new styling trick for spring that involves keeping your winter tights in rotation, but instead of wearing them with boots or closed-toe pumps, you style them with open-toe, strappy sandals. Pair this Toteme and Proenza Schouler–inspired hack with dresses and skirts for a fresh look come spring.

Triangle Bikini Under a Button-Down Shirt

Perhaps my favorite new styling trick for spring arrived at Max Mara's S/S 25 show in the form of a black triangle bikini peeking out from underneath a crisp, tucked-in white button-down shirt. The pairing was styled with a long, black column skirt and Grecian sandals. Perfect.

Long White T-Shirt Under a Cropped Jacket

Even an item as simple as a white T-shirt can make a huge impact on an outfit, as shown here at Khaite's S/S 25 show in New York last fall. Style a boyfriend tee underneath a cropped jacket with cigarette pants to break up the tailored look of the top and bottom and give it a more relaxed feel.

Boxer Briefs Peeking Out From Under Jeans

I still remember this look debuting on the runway and just how genius it presented to me. The sheer blouse. The low-slung jeans. The peekaboo boxer briefs with Kallmeyer printed on the waistband in serif gray capital letters. Everything about this look, including the forever-favorite Nike Cortez sneakers, was and still is genius, if you ask me.

Pulled-Down Cardigan Sleeves

One of the easiest-to-incorporate styling tricks in this bunch is simply pulling down the neckline of your favorite cropped cardigan to create an off-the-shoulder appearance à la Paloma Elsesser's S/S 25 Michael Kors Collection look. Pair the knit with a sheer mesh or lace midi skirt to completely re-create the supermodel's ensemble this spring.

Baseball Cap With a Formal Dress

When it comes to classic, cool, and chic styling, no one does it like Ralph Lauren—period. He's been showing people how to dress in this fashion for decades, and what he presented for S/S 25 was no exception. Here, Naomi Campbell walked in a two-tone baseball cap paired with a track jacket and maxi-length silk slip dress, combining elegance and effortlessness beautifully.

Skirts Styled Over Dresses

If you're ever in need of a way to make the dress you're wearing look that much more interesting and stylized, simply follow Tory Burch's lead and throw a wrap skirt on top. Tip: Make sure the hem of your dress is longer than that of your skirt so it peeks out from below the bottom hem as well as the top.

Double Belting

This gray, henley-style Brandon Maxwell maxi dress is special in its simplicity. The possibilities it creates are seemingly endless, and with the right accessories, it can be transformed into something truly special. Here, it's styled with a double-wrap belt, a trick I'll happily copy all spring long.

Randomly Placed Brooches

In 2025, anytime an outfit's erring on the boring side, your best styling bet is to add a brooch. However, if you want to look really in-the-know, take inspiration from Bottega Veneta's S/S 25 show and steer clear of brooches in expected places like a lapel. Instead, gather some fabric in a random spot on your top, dress, or skirt and clasp your favorite brooch there. It's a great way to add shape and intrigue to an outfit.

Cape Dresses Over Trousers

Take a cue from Jennifer Lawrence or Proenza Schouler's S/S 25 show and style your favorite minimalist midi dress on top of trousers for a cool, downtown ensemble that'll have passersby wondering what you do and where you shop.