In the third quarter of 2025, Saint Laurent has risen from third place to the top of the Lyst Index, overtaking Miu Miu, which had dominated the rankings for several consecutive seasons. Aimee Yan unpacks the reasons behind this shift
Over the past few years, creative director Anthony Vaccarello has redefined sensuality with restraint and precision, no longer through exposure or exaggeration, but through structure, poise, and power. Bella Hadid also returned to the runway at the Spring/Summer 2026 fashion show, create the buzz for Saint Laurent.
The Winter 2025 collection continues this tension-filled minimalism: strong shoulders, silk blouses paired with cigarette trousers, and long leather coats cast in shadow and light that evoking a sense of controlled strength.
According to Lyst data, searches for Saint Laurent blazer and Le 5 à 7 bag increased by over 20% following the show.
The Le Loafer ranked the second place at the Lyst 2025 Q3 hottest item chart. Even the searches for Saint Laurent’s Le Loafer increased by an average of 66% month-over-month according to Lyst data from the Q3 2025 report.
This renewed focus on tailoring and texture has re-established the brand as a modern symbol of feminine power, reflecting a growing appreciation for clothing as attitude and a cultural shift toward independence and self-possession.
However, good design alone does not explain Saint Laurent’s leap to the top. Vaccarello’s mastery of cultural timing is equally crucial. In recent years, Saint Laurent has expanded beyond fashion into film.
Its artistic film collaboration with Jim Jarmusch’s Father Mother Sister Brother, received acclaim at the Venice Film Festival, while the Velvet Heat campaign starring Kate Moss reimagines sensuality with nostalgic undertones for the brand’s Fall 2025 collection. Together, these efforts have transformed Saint Laurent into not just a label, but a new lifestyle and aspiration.
Meanwhile, Miu Miu’s slight decline represents a natural shift in the fashion cycle. After several seasons at number one, its school-girl rebellion aesthetic about low-rise trousers, cropped knits, and collegiate charm that defined an era of playful subversion. Yet as that trend reached saturation, consumers began seeking a new emotional tone and signalling fatigue toward the “cute rebellion” narrative.
After seasons dominated by youthful provocation and soft sensuality, fashion is now turning toward composure and maturity. Saint Laurent stands at the centre of this transition that responding to restlessness not with noise, but with quiet confidence and precision.
Whether this cool, refined sensibility will continue into the next season remains to be seen, but for now, Saint Laurent has reclaimed its place at fashion’s summit.
Also see: Fashion trends for Spring/Summer 2026 – State of play
