Fisherman core is the trend to (re)catch for 2025

How will we dress in 2025? According to Pinterest, which annually publishes a list of emerging trends set to become the next big thing, we will dress like a North Atlantic fisherman. To survive the fierce winds and waves, they wear warm, comfortable, waterproof, and surprisingly cool garments. By analyzing data collected between September 2022 and August 2024, the site observed a growing interest in fisherman sandals, also favored by Hailey Bieber and Gwyneth Paltrow, cable-knit sweaters, raincoats, accessories (including tattoos), and fish-shaped bags, such as the Tommy Staudine by Staud and Bottega Veneta’s woven leather bags with sardine-shaped handles. Add a renewed passion for mesh ballerinas, boat shoes, striped prints, rain jackets, and rubber boots, and it’s clear that the year ahead will embrace the charm of fishing. Perhaps few of us will patiently wait by a riverbank for a catch or cast nets into the sea, but many will take a less demanding approach, adding a navy pea coat, a warm Aran sweater, or a crab-shaped charm to a handbag.

Fisherman Aesthetic: Practicality, Comfort, and Timeless Style

Why do we love the fisherman look? Because it combines practicality and style, with a touch of romanticism born from tales told by lantern light, legends of mysterious lighthouses, and epic whale stories. Thick wool sweaters were designed to retain heat. Coats and oilskins protected against water and wind. High collars shielded wearers from harsh breezes. Boots were sturdy enough to resist rocks and keep feet dry. Every item was crafted from wool, denim, and cotton twill, made to withstand nature’s elements, and drew from its colors: navy blue, forest green, charcoal, earthy brown, and wooden pier-inspired cream. Today’s fisherman wardrobe retains these features but takes cues from related trends such as gorpcore, cottagecore, Balmoral style, and every variation of nautical aesthetics, from kitschy details like anchor-shaped buckles and Nemo-inspired hair clips to pirate-style bandanas and preppy chic looks inspired by sailing the Mediterranean or Atlantic in Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Some simplify by calling the Fisherman trend the 2025 version of Eclectic Grandpa. 

The Essentials of Fisherman Style

The sea's allure has also appeared on recent runways, inspiring designers to draw from sailor life for their SS25 collections. Chanel, Marni, and Moschino added oversized collars and sailor hats, while Alaïa introduced dresses with colors and textures reminiscent of fishing gear. Prada and N°21 reimagined classic Breton stripes and yellow oilskins, pairing them with sparkling cocktail dresses. Tommy Hilfiger and Proenza Schouler explored nautical style's chic, old-money side. From these brands, we can learn how to modernize Fisherman fashion, but to tailor it to 2025 and our personal style, we must know its essential items. Here are three key pieces:

The Marinière

Originally featuring three-quarter sleeves and made of cotton jersey, the marinière has strict white and blue horizontal stripes. Breton fishermen wore it for wind protection, and the French Navy adopted the tricot rayé as part of its uniform in 1853. Popularized by Coco Chanel in 1917, it has since been reinterpreted by fashion giants like Jean Paul Gaultier and Jonathan Anderson for Loewe. This beloved staple became iconic for Beatniks, Nouvelle Vague actors, artists like Pablo Picasso, stars like Kurt Cobain, and style icons like Brigitte Bardot, who paired it with Capri pants and Repetto ballet flats, remaining timeless to this day.

The Aran Sweater

A winter wardrobe essential, the fisherman’s sweater dates back to the late 1800s when its designs began spreading beyond the small island communities that crafted them. Various styles feature thick, intricate textures offering excellent cold protection, including Shetland sweaters and Guernsey sweaters. The most famous are Aran sweaters, named after the Aran Islands off Ireland’s west coast, traditionally hand-knitted by fishermen’s wives. Originally undyed and handmade, they now come in many colors and pair perfectly with winter looks.

Yellow Fisherman’s Raincoat

Fishermen have always needed weatherproof clothing. In Scotland, they wore capes made from sailcloth coated in flaxseed oil, which yellowed with age. These early raincoat prototypes were uncomfortable and low quality, but advancements by chemist Charles Macintosh, Edward Le Roy, and Norwegian sailor Helly Hansen improved them. A bright yellow raincoat, visible if someone fell overboard, has appeared in films like Singin' in the Rain, Jurassic Park, and It, on major fashion runways, and on figures like Greta Thunberg.

Fisherman-core: Inspirations and Icons

If, as predicted, 2025 will be the year we borrow fishermen's style secrets, who are the style muses? It depends on personal taste, the era of inspiration, and the mood we wish to recreate. We could mention Jacques Cousteau and the pictures of Irish sailors that fill Pinterest, but also the entire cast of The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Popeye, and Captain Birdseye, ever impeccable with his hipster beard and navy pea coat. The contemporary celebrity who best embodies and modernizes the Fisherman aesthetic, blending it, as the current trend dictates, with cottagecore and Balmoral style, is Alexa Chung.

The English style icon is always effortlessly cool, whether she’s wearing a Barbour jacket with rubber boots or a cable-knit sweater paired with a bucket hat. However, the only figure who can truly outshine her in the Fisherman look has an edge because she resides in the fictional town of Cabot Cove, Maine, famous for its lobsters and numerous murders. Yes, you guessed it—the ultimate muse of this aesthetic is Jessica Fletcher. Picture the iconic looks from Murder, She Wrote: Aran sweaters, rubber boots, yellow slickers, raincoats, striped tops, relaxed-fit jeans, scarves, and enviable hair volume even under a hat.