The most wanted pieces of 2025, according to a personal stylist to the ultra rich

In the world where women can buy almost anything, Amrita Singh is the one they call when they need something specific: a rare Birkin straight from the store, elegant eveningwear that’s not too revealing, or a full runway look before it appears in boutiques. For the past four years, Singh has styled and shopped for a roster of ultra-private clients, and she’s often crossing borders to hit three out of the Big Four (London, Paris, and Milan) to secure new season items. “It’s exclusively UHNW women of the GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] who choose to remain private and don’t have public profiles,” she reveals of her clientele.

Despite the noise of viral trends, her clients want none of it. “It’s very rare that someone will come to me for something they’ve seen on an influencer,” she says. If anything, visibility ruins the appeal. “Sometimes, it’s a turn-off for them to have seen a coveted item on an influencer.” Full looks are preferred. Some of the most popular requests? Bags and full looks from The Row. (“Lucky for me, I have a great connect in Paris.”) They almost never buy vintage or resale (“Culturally, secondhand clothing and shoes are not desirable”). The only exception? An ultra-rare Hermès Birkin or Kelly—where provenance matters more than novelty.

So, what was worth buying in 2025? Below, Singh breaks down the most requested, quietly coveted pieces of the year—the real luxury index.

The year of the East-West bag

No category reveals taste quite like bags, and 2025 was the year of the East-West silhouette. The three bags topping every wish list—Alaïa’s Le Teckel, the Hermès Shoulder Birkin 29, and The Row Margaux EW—all share that elongated, low, linear shape. “The East-West style of bags is here to stay,” says Singh. Surprisingly, minis continue to dominate (especially the Hermès Mini Kelly and Kelly Pochettes), even though we all hailed the return of the BAB. Schiaparelli’s surrealist Face bag—with its resin eyes and hammered gold brass nose and lips—was the most sought-after evening bag.

The holy grail, though, is the Hermès Birkin 20, the smallest Birkin, which also makes it the most complex to craft. Singh calls it “the unicorn” because it’s almost impossible to get your hands on—they’re made in extremely limited quantities and never available for open purchases in boutiques. Sotheby’s estimates the retail price for the bags starts around $30,000 and can reach $48,000 depending on materials. Resale, naturally, is another league.

The surprise hit was Manu Atelier’s Le Cambon—a soft, structured tote from the comparatively affordable micro-luxury label. “Manu Atelier bags have been blowing up this year,” she says. “It’s the one bag I’ve been asked about the most from my Instagram fam.”

There’s one trend she steers away from: crystal-covered bags. “It’s simply not my aesthetic. But I also don’t stop people from getting what they truly want,” she says diplomatically. “If they’re in love with something, they should have it.”

Shoes are in the minimal and precise era

The most purchased shoe of the year among Singh’s clients is the kitten-heeled thong sandal. “It’s a minimalist shoe that works with everything,” she explains. Brands like Alaïa and Toteme offered elegant, unfussy styles, while Studio Amelia added a touch of personality with prints and mini rosettes.

“There’s a requirement for a good everyday shoe. If it’s a flat, I am a big fan of the eelskin loafers from The Row.” Another repeat order: ballerina flats, which she insists are a wardrobe staple. Chanel’s ballet flats are a perennial favourite, though she personally prefers the divisive Margiela Tabi ballerina.

As for sneakers, Singh’s clients skipped the Samba craze entirely (“It was the Instagram influencers/Pinterest crowd that were all over it”) and opted for sleek ballerina-style sneakers like the Miu Miu Plume in suede and the Prada Collapse. Also a favourite was the Hermès Jet sneaker—a luxe option with a gum sole that doesn’t look too sporty.

Heels are still happening. The most coveted were Loewe’s Toy mules, a comfortable daytime option with a bit of edge, and Saint Laurent’s styles for the evening.

We’re still saying no to skinny jeans

Denim in 2025 was all about comfort. “When I’m shopping for denim for my clients, it’s less about what’s trending and more about what suits them,” shares Singh. “The thing about good style is that it’s not a one-size-fits-all approach!” However, patterns still emerged. Wide, baggy, straight-leg styles, like the Miro from Citizens of Humanity and slimmer versions of barrel-leg jeans like the Luna from Agolde were big. For two years running, Citizens of Humanity’s Horseshoe jeans—boyish and baggy on the legs but feminine and fitted on the waist—have held their position as one of the most popular styles because they miraculously “work for every body type and height”. No one has asked for skinny jeans yet, thankfully, she adds.

Outerwear: Quiet luxury’s favourite category

Outerwear is where Singh sees clients spend with intention. The fastest movers this year were Bottega Veneta’s Intrecciato-collar bomber jackets and Róhe’s Mandarin jackets, both of which offer subtle structure without logos or gimmickry. The funnel neck was spotted on several outerwear styles—from windbreakers at Jil Sander to Saint Laurent’s oversized leather bombers.

Belts and other accessories

The surprise breakout accessory of the year? Silk scarves. “We saw them tied on everyone’s waists,” says Singh. Belts have had a genuine comeback, with clients gravitating towards pieces like Khaite’s studded Benny belts, Michael Rider’s new Celine belts that are a bit vintage in look, and Alaïa’s bustier belts. “I also highly recommend the Déhanche belts—especially the corset ones over a crisp white shirt dress,” says Singh.

Sunglasses leaned towards big, D-shaped aviators, with Bottega Veneta, Loewe, Tom Ford, and Saint Laurent doing the rounds. Singh also approves of Le Specs’s versions of the style that come at a more affordable price point. Finally, jewellery requests skewed towards sculptural classics: “Anything HardWear or Elsa Peretti from Tiffany & Co.” The American jeweller’s classic Bone cuffs and rings in both silver and gold remain one of the most wanted. For watches, it was Cartier’s oval Baignoire, whose bangle and diamond-encrusted versions oscillate between jewellery and watch.

The next ‘It item’ of 2026 isn’t an item

“It’s hard to say, because we’ve just seen a massive changeover of designers, and I think the amount of product we’re seeing is quite overwhelming,” admits Singh. “There’s this feeling of disenchantment, a lack of aspiration. The most coveted luxury of 2026 will be travel,” she says, adding that perhaps the new ‘It item’ will be a luxe passport cover—a small signifier of where priorities are headed.

To summarise, the most requested luxury items of 2025 (in no specific order):

• The Alaïa Teckel
• The Hermès Shoulder Birkin 29
• The Row Margaux EW
• The Schiaparelli Face Bag
• The Bottega Veneta Intrecciato leather jacket
• The Cartier Baignoire