Have you ever gone all in when shopping for an article of clothing, telling yourself “I’m going to wear this forever”, only to find that garment collecting dust a year later, irrelevant and unexciting within a fast-paced trend ecosystem? Fashion discourse loves to employ words like “timeless” and “investment” any chance it gets without further elaboration, but what really constitutes a forever style?

Back in April, we defined it with eight eternal wardrobe staples, based on a measurement of public interest and a deep dive into fashion history. Kicking off 2025, we’re back with four new additions spanning style, material, footwear and accessories. All of these offer long-lasting form and function rooted in runway recurrences, and an allure that’s risen above the trends. Whether you’re in the market for a new investment that’ll uphold its appeal or in the mood to nerd out, save yourself the elbow grease because we’ve done it for you.

Strongest accessory? The it-bag

A black handbag rests on a stack of magazines, accompanied by a pencil and keychain with multiple colorful charms, including a smiley face.

Call it a handbag or simply your wardrobe’s best friend! Be it metallic, gold, glossy, chain-strapped, or dynamic in shape (you get the point), the fashion system would say that signature handbags possess uniquely long-lasting appeal. They’re an example of the modern fashion industry as we know it, where a design rooted in function took on expressive forms following advancements in manufacturing, evolving into the most decadent display of style.

Currently, Google Trend searches for the term “fun bags” have remained consistently high globally since 2004 and on Tagwalk, 6,099 looks feature the tag “statement bags”. When opening our history books the credibility is there: think Paco Rabanne’s chainmail bag from 1969, a star in our perfect party bag story; something as uniquely cut as Dior’s 1999 Saddle Bag; or the many canvases for eye-catching monogram prints. If you’re looking to invest in a new ultimate accessory for your wardrobe, then the quiet luxury option may not actually be the answer — but opt for something truly memorable.

Invest in it-bags

Fashion’s favourite material: colourful leather

A blue leather jacket hangs on a chair next to red heeled boots and a measuring tape, with yellow tape visible in the background.

Red, blue, and yellow leather are all three search terms that continue to peak in Google searches worldwide, following a steady rise. Even before the mid-aughts, we’ve seen colourful displays of leather leave their mark on the fashion world. Take Tom Ford’s glamorous leather-filled vision of Gucci in the ’90s and 2000s, or Yohji Yamamoto’s legendary cherry red motorcycle jackets — outliers in the designer’s body of work dedicated to using black.

In more recent years, we’ve seen colourful examples of leather take centre stage in the bomber jackets and gloves at Raf Simons’ debut Prada collection in 2021, and Bottega Veneta’s grand resurgence led by Matthieu Blazy. Whether mushroom or calfskin, high-quality leathers are considered to be some of the most luxurious materials to invest in — often with price tags to match. What makes for an even more unique investment, is a bold colour to top them off.

Invest in colourful leather

Investment footwear: the Chelsea boot

Shiny black ankle boot resting on a mound of dark soil, highlighting its sleek design and glossy finish against a white background.

From its origins with England’s Queen Victoria circa 1830, to becoming a worldwide staple of the equestrian wardrobe and eventually a uniform for ’60s Mod-style — we can’t get enough of the Chelsea boot. Whether working its way into western wear wardrobes, biker style, indie sleaze and all things Hedi Slimane rockn’roll, the style possesses a strong connection to fashion and music. It was famously worn by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones in the past, but also by contemporary rockstars like Harry Styles and Ye (formerly Kanye West). We’ve even seen Chelseas widely popularised with a utilitarian sole in the form of Blundstones and Dr. Martens. The trend appeal is sure to endure, no matter the design's ubiquity, so invest in a worthwhile pair.

Invest in Chelsea boots

A style that withstands trends: workwear/utility

A black waterproof jacket with droplets, a silver wrench in the pocket, a red water bottle, green apples, and a padlock on denim.

Of all the genres of clothing and categories we could’ve featured, none have put in as much work throughout fashion history as workwear and utilitarian styles. These garments were already made with durability in mind and a functional use case — even if that use is no longer the primary purchasing driver. Take jeans and denim jackets, which were initially the uniform of coal miners before becoming a closet staple; or everyone’s favourite Timberland boots, worn by construction workers to this day.

In high fashion, designers consistently reference workwear designs to varying degrees. Whether it’s the collectable pieces of Helmut Lang in the ’90s, Bode’s beloved chore coats, or Prada and Louis Vuitton’s recent infatuation with the Carhartt work jacket. Google Trends reports consistently high search results for “workwear”, while on Tagwalk the term garners 3,175 runway looks and “utility” results in a whopping 13,136 looks. Investing in a design with a lasting appeal is important, but checking it’s built strong enough to last is the first part.