Goodbye, Chunky Sweaters—This Sleek Tom Ford for Gucci Esque Alt Is Here to Stay

Certain runway collections are more memorable than others, and then there's Tom Ford's fall 1995 collection for Gucci. It wasn't Ford's first collection for the brand—he was given his seat at the helm of the Italian fashion house in 1994—but it is undoubtedly his most famous, and it's the one that fashion people refer back to most often when discussing his monumental 10-year tenure as Gucci's creative director. (The designer stepped down in 2004, founding his namesake brand a year later.) Why was fall 1995 so significant? It was the start of something new—a complete departure from Gucci's previous look.
Suddenly, fabrics were translucent and slinkier, and necklines were lower and more revealing. Throughout the collection's runway debut, one sleek, sexy garment kept popping up: almost entirely unbuttoned collared knits styled with low and stretchy trousers, fitted suits, and rich fur jackets. To this day, whenever I see anything even remotely like them, I think of this exact collection by Ford. Recently, I've been seeing them everywhere.
Helena Christensen for Gucci Fall 1995
Amber Valletta for Gucci Fall 1995
Unfortunately for big, chunky sweaters, the trend pendulum appears to be swinging away from all things oversize and toward fitted, sleek alternatives like those sultry collared silhouettes at Gucci's show back in '95. A leader in the cause is—big surprise—Sabato De Sarno, Gucci's current creative director, whose work at the house has been compared to Ford's on several occasions. De Sarno's debut collection for spring/summer 2024 included multiple low-cut, unbuttoned polo-neck sweaters styled with tiny leather shorts and pencil skirts. His Pre-Fall 25 collection likewise featured the knitwear design worn underneath a furry, patterned jacket with green split-hem trousers and sneakers.
Gucci S/S 24
Gucci Pre-Fall 25
As a result, more and more brands across the industry have followed suit, and shoppable options in both cardigan and pullover versions are making frequent appearances at popular retailers, from Reformation and J.Crew to Net-a-Porter and Nordstrom. By the final weeks of 2024, many of the most-wanted pieces had already sold out, making room for fresh alternatives this year, many of which are likely to meet the same fate. Scroll down to shop them before that happens.
Shop the trend:
Eliza Huber is an NYC-based senior fashion editor who specializes in trend reporting, brand discovery, and the intersection of sports and fashion. She joinedBest Knockoff Luxury Clothing in 2021 from Refinery29, the job she took after graduating with a business degree from the University of Iowa. She's launched two columns, Let's Get a Room and Ways to Wear; profiled Dakota Fanning, Diane Kruger, Katie Holmes, Gracie Abrams, and Sabrina Carpenter; and reported on everything from the relationship between Formula One and fashion to the top runway trends each season. Eliza lives on the Upper West Side and spends her free time researching F1 fashion imagery for her side Instagram accounts @thepinnacleoffashion and @f1paddockfits, watching WNBA games, and scouring The RealReal for discounted Prada.
-
Ahead of the Curve: The 7 Fall Trends Insiders Are Shopping First
You heard it here first.
-
In Paris, L.A., and London, Basic White Tees Are Getting Sidelined In Favor of This Cooler Alt
We'll always love you, but it's not your turn right now.
-
Dakota Johnson Wore a Completely Backless Mini In This Better-Than-Black Color to the Splitsville After-Party
Plus, see her metallic leather gown from the premiere.
-
This Simple Fashion-Person Approved Layering Technique Changed the Way I Wear My Basics
Effortlessly cool.
-
I Visit Copenhagen Twice a Year—These Cool Scandi Shops Are My Very First Stops
From viral hair accessories to sold-out sneakers.
-
I Live in Brooklyn and Have Laid-Back, Cool Style—Here's Everything I Want FromReplica Store Right Now
Trust me. These items will sell out fast.
-
Goodbye, Bubble Shorts—Everyone Everywhere Is Wearing This "Dated" Pant Trend Instead
Here's how It girls in New York, London, Copenhagen, and more are styling them in 2025.
-
Holy Ref! Holier COS! These 27 Finds Just Got Me So Excited for Fall (Sorry, Summer—I'm Over You)
These buys plus a Gilmore Girls rewatch.