Comme des Garçons: A 2025 Overview
Founded in 1969 by Rei Kawakubo, Comme des Garçons has long stood at the intersection of art, fashion, and provocation. With Paris as its de facto headquarters and deep ties to Tokyo’s avant-garde scene, CDG continues to challenge convention through sculptural silhouettes, conceptual narratives, and fearless materials.
What’s New: Spring & Fall–Winter 2025
- Spring 2025 Ready-to-Wear: Showcased monumental white sculptural forms, evolving into quilted silk jacquards and oversized sleeves—playing with transparency, layering, and protest-coded imagery.
- Fall 2025 Ready-to-Wear: Titled “Smaller is Stronger,” the collection reinterprets traditional menswear fabrics (pinstripe, tweed, checks) into bubbled, deconstructed dresses and tailored pieces—fusing masculine structures with feminine ornamentation.
- Men’s suiting series explored in “Not Suits, But Suits,” abandoning standard tailoring by reconstructing jackets and trousers with exaggerated hips, hidden layers, and layered knit shorts—all drenched in rebellion against conformity.
- CDG also launched a new fragrance collaboration with composer Max Richter, weaving scent elements like vetiver, graphite, cedar, and magnetic tape into a deeply sensory experience titled Max Richter 01.
Focus on Key Pieces: Hoodie, Shirt, Shorts, Pants, Jacket, Sweater
Hoodie
- CDG Play Hoodie (Small Chest Logo) is a globally popular casual staple. Made from a cotton‑elastane blend, it’s soft and slightly stretchy but fits small, so sizing one size up is strongly recommended.
- Styling idea: Pair a hoodie with relaxed sweatpants or jeans and minimalist sneakers (e.g. New Balance, Yeezy Foam Runners). Let it be the casual, off-duty anchor of your outfit.
Shirt
- The Comme des Garçons Shirt line (est. 1988) features oversized cotton shirts often reimagined with sculptural cuts, layering, and CDG’s recognizable tailoring subversion.
- Styling tip: Tuck an oversized shirt into tailored trousers or denim. Layer beneath a sweater or cropped jacket to balance proportions. Experiment with contrasting textures or prints as seen in recent collections.
Shorts
- Shorts appeared layered beneath tailored trousers in the “Not Suits, But Suits” men’s show, often paired with deconstructed knits or pleated elements.
- How to wear: Combine tailored shorts with a lightweight sweater or oversized shirt, finishing with statement socks and loafers or boots. This recontextualization reinforces CDG’s quirky tailoring ethos.
Pants
- CDG’s pants often feature exaggerated shapes—bubble trousers, pinstripe bubble seams, layered chiffon in the Spring 2025 show—blending comfort with sartorial rebellion.
- Styling idea: Slim-fit trousers for tailored minimalism or wide-leg bubble trousers for dramatic flair. Pair with a cropped jacket or fitted shirt to define the waistline, and minimal shoes to let the silhouette shine.
Jacket
- Highlights of Fall 2025 include jackets reconstructed with padded hips, hidden zippers, and layered textures. Cropped jackets over pleated shirts or kilts offered a radical rethinking of suiting.
- Styling note: Let the jacket speak—layer it over simple shirts or knit pieces, worn with clean trousers or denim. Accessorize with understated hats or gloves to echo the runway aesthetic.
Sweater
- CDG’s knitwear (especially within Play or Junya Watanabe lines) includes oversized pullovers, cardigans and sweaters featuring the iconic heart logo or experimental mesh layering.
- Styling suggestion: Wear an oversized sweater off the shoulder over a button‑up shirt or tee. Pair with tailored pants or shorts, and sneakers for a balance of cozy and avant‑garde vibes.
Styling: Building Looks with CDG
Layering & Proportion
CDG excels at playing with scale—think rigid overcoats atop delicate dresses, or bubble trousers under cropped jackets. Balance a voluminous piece with a sleek counterpart, and experiment with peek-a-boo layering like mesh or chiffon under structured jackets.
Mixing Sub‑Labels
- Play offers accessible casual pieces (heart-logo hoodie, tee, cardigan).
- Shirt and Homme Plus focus on experimental tailoring and conceptual shirting.
- Junya Watanabe, Tao Kurihara, and Kei Ninomiya introduce varied architectural and textural visions under the CDG umbrella.
Styling across sub-labels can deliver looks ranging from off‑duty to art‑wear.
Color & Print
Though CDG is known for black and structure, recent lines (especially Spring/Summer) explored pinstripes, checks, florals, and even pink and red satin layering. If you’re wearing simpler heart-logo Play pieces, try mixing in bold prints or textures for contrast.
Footwear & Accessories
CDG collaborations with Converse, Nike (Air Force 1, Vapormax), Supreme, and others provide impactful accessories. Streetwear‑inspired footwear (especially monochrome) pairs perfectly with CDG’s avant-garde silhouettes. Finish looks with subtle jewelry (Pearl line), sculptural hats, or distressed gloves for editorial edge.
Trend Highlights & Must-Haves
- Sculptural outerwear: Oversized pinstripe bubble coats or padded jackets offering bold proportion.
- Layered tailoring: Shorts under pants, layered skirts, shirts peeking under structured jackets—hallmarks of Fall 2025.
- Heart-logo Play pieces: Hoodies, tees, cardigans—ideal daily staples with cult appeal.
- Experimental shirting: Asymmetrical shirts, elongated cuffs, unconventional collars from the Shirt line.
- Art‑fashion fragrances: Max Richter 01 channels CDG’s interdisciplinary aesthetic into scent.
FAQ Section
Q1: Is Comme des Garçons unisex?
A: While certain lines like Play are explicitly unisex, fitting men’s and women’s shapes, sub-labels like Shirt, Homme Plus, and Noir Kei Ninomiya may have defined gendered silhouettes—but CDG often encourages fluid styling that transcends traditional categories.
Q2: How does sizing typically run?
A: CDG Play and Shirt pieces often run small, especially twill tees, hoodies, and cardigans. It’s widely recommended to buy at least one full size up, sometimes even two—particularly for knitwear—to avoid tight sleeves or shortened fits after washing.
Q3: What price range should I expect?
A: Pricing varies. Play items (tees, hoodies, cardigans) range in the several-hundred USD mark. Mainline tailored garments or sculptural pieces can span into four digits. Fragrances like Max Richter 01 may retail around $200–300 USD depending on size.
Q4: Where is it produced?
A: CDG’s garments are designed in Aoyama, Tokyo and manufactured across Japan, France, Spain, and Turkey depending on the line. Play is often produced in Japan/Spain/Turkey, while haute, hand‑made couture items are produced in France.
Q5: Are collaborations still a big part of CDG strategy?
A: Absolutely. CDG frequently collaborates with Nike, Converse, Supreme, and others. The perfume line collaborates with artists like Kaws and now Max Richter. These partnerships span fashion, fragrance, and lifestyle realms at a conceptual level.
Sample Outfit Frameworks
| Occasion | Hoodie | Shirt | Shorts/Pants | Jacket | Sweater/Cardigan | Footwear & Extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Streetwear | Play logo hoodie (size up) | – | Jogger-style CDG pants | – | – | Chunky sneakers, cap |
| Smart‑casual | – | Oversized Shirt line button‑up | Cropped pinstripe pants | Cropped bubble jacket (Fall 2025) | – | Loafers or minimalist sneakers |
| Summer layering | – | Lightweight Shirt or tee | Tailored shorts | Light structured jacket | Play cardigan | Sandals or light sneakers |
| High fashion | – | Sharp deconstructed Shirt | Volume bubble trousers | Sculptural coat or blazer | – | Statement boots, sculptural accessories |
| Cozy & creative | – | – | Wide-leg pants | – | Oversized sweater off-shoulder | Drape accessories, soft leather shoes |
Final Thoughts
Comme des Garçons remains at the vanguard of avant-garde fashion, blending architectural experimentation, socio-political commentary, and timeless design. Spring 2025 invited us into a surreal sculptural world; Fall 2025 urged us to rethink the power of the small, subtle things in global culture. CDG pieces—whether oversized hoodies, deconstructed shirts, bubble silhouettes, or fragrance—are more than clothing; they’re physical manifestations of Kawakubo’s creative vision.
Whether you’re building a curated capsule wardrobe or experimenting with bold, art-driven outfits, CDG offers wearable challenges to conformity and enduring chic rebellion. With its evolving sub-labels and collaborations, there’s room for both everyday playfulness and runway-level intrigue.