In 2025, one of the fastest-growing social media trends revolves around AI-powered fashion edits, especially those transforming regular photos into cinematic, nostalgic, and stylized portraits. What started as playful filters has evolved into a full-blown digital aesthetic movement that’s capturing imaginations—and feeds—across Instagram, TikTok, and other visual platforms.

What is the Trend Exactly?

The trend is being driven by tools like Google’s Gemini Nano Banana AI, which allow users to upload a selfie and apply prompts that render them in dramatic sarees, vintage Bollywood styles, retro fabrics, or moodily filtered lighting. Users are embracing nostalgic aesthetics—soft textures, golden-hour tones, retro prints, flowing drape—that evoke an emotional, cultural resonance.
The Times of India
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Indiatimes
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One viral offshoot is the “Banana AI Saree” style, where people convert their photos into saree-adorned portraits with fluttering chiffon and cinematic vibes. What’s fueling its rise is the ability to deliver visually striking images with minimal effort: the AI does the heavy creative lifting.
The Times of India

What is the Trend Exactly?

The trend is being driven by tools like Google’s Gemini Nano Banana AI, which allow users to upload a selfie and apply prompts that render them in dramatic sarees, vintage Bollywood styles, retro fabrics, or moodily filtered lighting. Users are embracing nostalgic aesthetics—soft textures, golden-hour tones, retro prints, flowing drape—that evoke an emotional, cultural resonance.
The Times of India
+2
Indiatimes
+2

One viral offshoot is the “Banana AI Saree” style, where people convert their photos into saree-adorned portraits with fluttering chiffon and cinematic vibes. What’s fueling its rise is the ability to deliver visually striking images with minimal effort: the AI does the heavy creative lifting.
The Times of India

Why It’s Taking Off

Visual Appeal & Novelty: These edits look polished and artistic, offering users a way to stand out in crowded social feeds.

Ease & Accessibility: You don’t need design skills—just an AI tool + a creative prompt. This lowers the barrier to creating striking content.

Cultural & Emotional Resonance: Nostalgia, fashion heritage, and cinematic aesthetics are emotionally powerful, especially for those who grew up with classic cinema, traditional clothing, or a love for vintage culture.

Shareability: Such content is naturally shareable. People show off the transformation, friends try it out too; viral loops form quickly.

Implications for Brands & Creators

Brand Aesthetic Opportunities: Brands in fashion, beauty, heritage apparel, bridal wear etc., can tap into this aesthetic to engage audiences—e.g., they could run “AI saree edit” campaigns, contests, or filters.

Authenticity & Transparency: As AI-generated content becomes more common, audiences will begin to ask: “Was this my real photo or edited?” Clear labelling or disclosures may become expected.