eBay’s latest Watchlist trend report positions the resale giant as a real-time barometer for what mattered in fashion in 2025, from luxury powerhouses to indie upstarts and viral pop culture moments. Drawing on live shopper search and sales data, the report tracks how everything from creative-director shakeups to celebrity engagements translated into demand across millions of pre-loved listings.
- Luxury Powerhouses Still Rule
- Next-Gen Labels Break Through
- Creative Shakeups Drive Spikes
- Coach Tops the It-Girl Index
- Pop Culture’s Cartier Watch Moment
- Pre-Loved as Status and Story
- High Shine Holiday Dressing
- Cozy Luxury Resets Everyday Wear
- Loud Layers Take Over Outerwear
- Jewel Tones Spark the Feed
- Vintage Volume Revives Drama
- eBay’s Watchlist as Fashion Barometer
Luxury Powerhouses Still Rule
Louis Vuitton and Gucci cemented their status as the year’s defining luxury labels, with more than 13 Louis Vuitton items listed on eBay every minute, underscoring the relentless global appetite for the maison’s monogrammed icons. Gucci likewise held its grip on shoppers even as it navigated a high-profile creative transition, proving that logo-driven heritage houses remain the backbone of fashion resale.
Next-Gen Labels Break Through
Alongside legacy luxury, emerging names became 2025’s breakouts, with KidSuper searches and activity surging 173% year-over-year and LUAR rocketing 270% as shoppers gravitated toward boundary-pushing, community-driven design. These figures suggest resale buyers are not just chasing classics but also validating a new guard of designers through secondary-market demand.
Creative Shakeups Drive Spikes
Major creative-director moves acted as accelerants across the marketplace, as Jonathan Anderson’s Dior debut drove a 390% jump in searches for his name on eBay. Demna’s arrival at Gucci similarly translated into an 87% lift in interest, highlighting how appointment news and runway buzz quickly flow into search and resale behavior.
Coach Tops the It-Girl Index
If 2025 had an “it-girl” brand on eBay, it was Coach, whose ongoing revival turned into concrete numbers: the label was searched 92 times per minute, signaling mass enthusiasm for its refreshed handbags and leather goods. The performance reflects a broader wave of nostalgia-inflected American luxury, where accessible heritage brands are being rediscovered by younger shoppers.
Pop Culture’s Cartier Watch Moment
The report also captures the gravitational pull of pop culture, noting that Taylor Swift’s engagement photos triggered a 194% spike in searches for the Cartier Santos Demoiselle watch. The jump illustrates how a single viral image can instantly reframe a heritage timepiece as a must-have symbol of modern romance on the resale market.
Pre-Loved as Status and Story
Throughout the Watchlist, eBay frames itself as a destination for “personal, meaningful, and sustainable” fashion, spotlighting cult collectibles like the Chloé Paddington bag and Air Jordan 4 ‘White Cement’. Resident stylist Brie Welch notes that shoppers are “embracing the beauty of pre-loved style” and seeking items “with character and history,” underscoring how secondhand shopping has become both a values statement and a style flex.
High Shine Holiday Dressing
Looking ahead to the holiday season, eBay’s data signals a shift toward maximalist sparkle under the banner of “High Shine.” Searches for metallic Onitsuka Tigers climbed 423% year-over-year, while Seiko rhinestone watches recorded a striking 983% jump, pointing to a mood of shimmer-heavy, statement-making dressing.
Cozy Luxury Resets Everyday Wear
At the same time, “Cozy Luxury” is reshaping off-duty wardrobes, pairing comfort with polish through suede penny loafers, which are up 47% year-over-year, and embellished slippers, which have surged 98%. The trend reflects a post-pandemic equilibrium where softness, ease, and quiet refinement coexist in the same outfit, often sourced via resale for better value.
Loud Layers Take Over Outerwear
Outerwear evolved from a practical afterthought to a headline act in 2025, with “Loud Layers” driving steep gains in bright coats, up 365% year-over-year, and funnel-neck jackets, up 136%. These numbers indicate that shoppers are using a single, high-impact piece to express personality, especially in colder months when a coat effectively becomes the whole look.
Jewel Tones Spark the Feed
“Jewel Tones and Touches” round out the holiday palette, as rich gemstone hues dominate searches for both fashion and accessories. Ruby is being searched 18 times per minute year-to-date, sapphire 33 times per minute, and amethyst 7.5 times per minute, suggesting color-saturated pieces are primed for gifting and self-purchases alike.
Vintage Volume Revives Drama
Finally, “Vintage Volume” confirms the return of retro silhouettes, with tea-length skirts up 90% year-over-year and balloon sleeves rising 20%. The appetite for these shapes underscores a broader longing for timeless, cinematic drama in wardrobes, often fulfilled through pre-loved finds that feel both nostalgic and singular.
eBay’s Watchlist as Fashion Barometer
Taken together, eBay’s 2025 Watchlist offers a snapshot of a year defined by transformation, where creative-director narratives, celebrity storylines, and archival revivals all converged on the resale marketplace.
As the year closes, the platform is leaning into that role, inviting shoppers to explore the full report and “shop the looks that defined 2025” at its dedicated Watchlist hub.
