Culture
The season for bold dressing! Summer 2025 trends with Malta’s Malcom Gauci
What should you be wearing for your summer holidays? Sarah Muscat Azzopardi gets the goss from three leading local fashion experts.

Sarah Muscat Azzopardi

‘Miu Miu’s playful take on preppy chaos and Loewe’s sculptural, asymmetric designs are already trickling into more accessible collections like ZARA and Mango’ – Malcom Gauci is an award-winning fashion stylist and content creator, celebrated for his individual style and love of layering.

“This season, I’m excited about the return of relaxed tailoring – think unstructured blazers, wide-leg trousers and breezy sets that blur the lines between resortwear and daywear,” says Malcolm, highlighting an effortless elegance that he really resonates with.

“I’m also seeing a shift toward tactile fabrics such as raw silks and soft linens which add depth to otherwise minimal silhouettes,” he adds, noting that for styling work, he favours playing with contrasts, so pairing elevated, flowing pieces with sportier or more rugged elements will definitely be a theme.

Moving onto accessories, the stylist says it’s all about pieces that feel intentional. “We’re seeing a move toward sculptural jewellery like bold cuffs, asymmetric earrings and chunky rings in mixed metals. Belts are having a moment too, especially in unexpected placements,” he notes, adding that oversized sunglasses are also making a comeback – “very Y2K, but reinterpreted with a cleaner edge.”

Meanwhile, bags are either tiny and sculptural, or big and slouchy – for Malcolm, “the bigger, the better”.

He goes on to point out a shift toward footwear that’s both striking and wearable. “Chunky sandals are still going strong, but more refined now, including leather platforms with a slight retro feel. I’m also seeing a return of the pointed flat which I think will surprise people,” he forecasts, advising that mesh materials, woven leather and unexpected pops of colour like pistachio or butter yellow will define the season’s shoe palette.

On the designer front, Malcolm points Prada’s Spring/Summer 2025 collection, with its mix of utility and romance, deconstructed tailoring and sheer overlays, which he believes will be reinterpreted across the high street. Apart from that, he notes, “Dries Van Noten’s bold prints and metallics will influence festival and everyday wear, while Saint Laurent’s minimalism will appeal to those craving understated sexiness. Miu Miu’s playful take on preppy chaos and Loewe’s sculptural, asymmetric designs are already trickling into more accessible collections like ZARA and Mango.”

And while his personal style favours the layered dressing of the colder months, Malcolm also appreciates the freedom in warm season dressing. “It pushes me out of my comfort zone and makes me get creative through texture, silhouette or accessories. I love the challenge of making simple pieces look styled and elevated.”

Finally, here's Malcolm's advice for looking stylish, no matter the season: “Style isn’t about having the most clothes. It’s about knowing what works for you and wearing it with intention. I always say: invest in understanding your proportions. Once you know how to balance your silhouette, you can play with trends in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. Also, looking stylish is really about mastering the art of individuality. The goal isn’t to look like 30,000 other people wearing the same trending outfit from Instagram. Instead, focus on expressing your point of view through style. The most stylish people are the ones who know how to edit, mix and reinterpret in a way that feels uniquely theirs.”

This article first appeared on Guide Me 2025

20th July 2025


Sarah Muscat Azzopardi
Written by
Sarah Muscat Azzopardi
A keen traveller with an interest in most things, Sarah loves her island home as much as she loves getting away from it, and enjoys discovering and re-discovering the gems, hidden corners and unique stories of her native Malta and Gozo.

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