Wearing Clothes Backward or Inside Out Will Soon Be Everywhere

What if the secret to a fresh, fashion-forward look was as simple as turning your clothes inside out or wearing them backwards? 

In 2025, wearing clothes inside-out or backwards is not just a quirky trend; it’s a runway-approved style statement. From Paris to New York, top fashion designers and style rebels are challenging the norms of how clothes should be worn. Whether it’s a shirt flipped backwards, a coat reversed to reveal bold lining, or a dress turned inside out to showcase raw seams, this growing trend is rewriting fashion’s rulebook.

And let’s be honest, fashion has always been about self-expression. Now, more than ever, it’s about play, disruption, and letting your clothes tell their own story no matter how unconventional. So when in doubt, wear it backwards. Literally.

Ahead, we’ll explore the rise of the inside-out/backwards fashion trend, its runway roots, the fashion designers leading the charge, and how you can confidently try it yourself. It’s simple. It’s liberating. And yes, it’s surprisingly chic.

The Runways That Flipped the Script

At Yohji Yamamoto’s Fall 2025 show, fashion peeled itself back literally. As the models completed their final walk, they began to flip their jackets inside out. What had once appeared as deep purple outerwear transformed before our eyes into exposed linings, raw seams, and unfinished hems. It was spontaneous, tender, even a little chaotic. And yet, in that gesture, the heart of the collection came alive.

Yamamoto later reflected on the moment, saying simply, “Perfection… imperfection… they can switch.” In those few words, he captured what the entire collection seemed to be about: the beauty of what lies beneath, and the quiet strength in showing what is usually hidden.

This theme of reversal and rawness wasn’t unique to Yamamoto’s show. In fact, across the Fall 2025 season, designers appeared united in a quiet rebellion against perfection. Emerging label Zomer, for instance, did something unexpected: it opened its show with a finale.

Models walked out in reverse, wearing clothes that were intentionally backwards; blazers flipped, shirts worn inside out, seams exposed. At first glance, it felt like a fashion glitch. But on closer inspection, it was a thoughtful rejection of order.

Designers Danial Aitouganov and Imruh Asha wanted to challenge fashion’s rhythm, to ask, what happens when you start at the end? What if forward isn’t the only way to move?

This questioning spirit found its way into more refined spaces, too. Sarah Burton’s debut at Givenchy was a masterclass in subtle disruption. Her pieces played with proportion and tailoring that gave the illusion of being reversed: collars flipped the wrong way, seams slightly misaligned, jackets constructed to look like they’d been put on backwards. 

That same sentiment took on a new meaning in the hands of Maria McManus, who brought sustainability into focus by showing garments quite literally turned outward. In her Spring 2025 collection, she presented coats with their linings on the outside. These linings, made from organic cotton and finished with biodegradable buttons, were no longer hidden, they were the main event.

McManus wasn’t just showing how her clothes were made; she was asking why we hide the parts that matter most. Her work was a reminder that transparency, both in construction and values, is the new luxury.

Together, these designers; established icons and rising voices alike, seem to be pulling fashion in a new direction. One that values process over perfection, meaning over polish, and truth over spectacle.

Fashion’s Ongoing Love Affair With Deconstruction

Deconstruction has been a quiet force in fashion for decades, and the current trend of reversed and inside-out dressing is a natural evolution of that philosophy. This isn’t a new idea; it draws from the work of designers who have consistently questioned the traditional structure of clothing.

Maison Margiela built a legacy on exposing inner seams and embracing raw construction. Comme des Garçons has long challenged the idea of symmetry and balance, creating garments that appear off-kilter or incomplete by conventional standards. 

Ann Demeulemeester’s collections often reflect a kind of purposeful disarray, with frayed hems and irregular tailoring. Viktor & Rolf took things even further with their Spring 2006 show, which began at the end and featured clothing worn backwards and upside down. Demna’s Fall 2018 collection for Vetements opened with a fur coat turned inside out, putting lining and structure at the forefront.

What sets the Fall 2025 season apart is the sheer volume of designers leaning into this idea. What was once a niche expression of anti-fashion or artistic rebellion has now become a broader movement. The aesthetic of reversal, once reserved for avant-garde circles, is becoming more widely embraced, signaling a shift in how fashion values imperfection, transparency, and reinterpretation.

Why The Inside-Out or Backwards Fashion Trend Feels So Right

1. It Highlights Craftsmanship

Ever looked at the inside of a well-made garment? The clean seams, the hidden pockets, the soft lining — these are all signs of expert tailoring. Wearing clothes inside out turns those functional details into intentional style elements.

2. It Doubles Your Wardrobe

One coat, two vibes. Flip it and get a new color palette, texture, or silhouette. It’s sustainable and versatile, perfect for anyone trying to do more with less.

3. It Rejects Perfection Culture

We live in a world where everything is filtered, edited, and curated. Inside-out fashion is raw and honest. It says: this is how it’s made, this is how I wear it, and that’s enough.

4. It Questions Fashion’s “Rules”

Fashion rules are meant to be broken or at least bent. Inside-out dressing flips the power dynamic. You decide how your clothes should function. Not a label. Not a trend forecast. You.

How to Wear Clothes Backwards or Inside Out (Without Looking Confused)

Want to try the trend without looking like you got dressed in the dark? Follow these simple style tips:

1. Start with Jackets and Coats

Bomber jackets, trench coats, or anything with interesting lining are perfect starting points. Make sure inner tags are hidden, safety pins or fabric tape do wonders.

2. Try Button-Down Shirts Backwards

This trick creates a high-neck, open-back vibe. Pair with high-waist jeans or a sleek skirt for balance.

3. Wear Dresses Over Pants

A backward spaghetti strap dress layered over tailored pants is edgy, especially when paired with sleek boots.

4. Highlight the Construction

Don’t shy away from visible seams, unfinished hems, or raw edges. These details are the stars of the show.

5. Layer Like a Pro

An inside-out hoodie under a crisp blazer? A backwards cardigan over a camisole? Layering makes the look intentional, not sloppy.

6. Accessorize Thoughtfully

Since the outfit itself is doing the talking, keep accessories minimal or lean into playful contrasts like upside-down earrings or belted scarves.

Why Backwards Fashion Fits the 2025 Mood

The world feels like it’s moving in reverse sometimes; politically, socially, culturally. Maybe fashion is responding with its own version of that movement, but in a more hopeful way. A way to reclaim control, reject rules, and find beauty in flipping the narrative.

As Yohji Yamamoto puts it, “If you feel good, maybe it’s already correct.” That’s the spirit of the trend. It’s not about looking perfect. It’s about feeling right. And sometimes, the truest expression of self is one that doesn’t follow the instructions.

Wearing your clothes inside out or backwards may seem small, but it’s actually a powerful act of rebellion and creativity. It encourages us to see value in what’s usually hidden, to rewrite tired style rules, and to express ourselves without boundaries.

So next time you’re staring at your wardrobe, unsure of what to wear, flip it. Twist it. Reverse it. Whether you’re heading to Fashion Week or just brunch with friends, remember: when in doubt, wear your clothes the ‘wrong’ way.

Turns out, it might just be the right way after all.

Photo: Getty Images