Trend watch: The tailored suit is back, but more relaxed
Suits were back on the spring summer runways with subtle updates that felt timeless. At Stella McCartney, they were oversized and cool in pastel shades, while 16Arlington’s elevated vision saw luxurious fabric and detailing. A great suit is versatile enough to carry you through the 9-5 and on to an evening event. For work, layer a thin knit or T-shirt underneath, or a loosefit silk shirt worn untucked. Keep to a tonal colour palette – brown suit with taupe blouse or adopt the same colour throughout with a matching sweater. The key is choosing the right footwear; for a smart, sporty take white leather trainers come top, for a more polished day look a loafer and contrast sock work well. Take the look into summer with a chunky flatform sandal and vest top.
When it comes to colour there’s myriad choices. Most work well for a wedding; as a general rule, as a guest avoid black, grey and white, so Me and Em’s subtle green check (3) and Mint Velvet’s peach (5) are ideal and can be styled as separates after the day. Opt for a double-breasted jacket worn open for a more relaxed effect; as Barbie director Greta Gerwig (left) did at the Vanity Fair Oscars party in a classic Saint Laurent tuxedo.
Rochelle Humes’ Next edit includes a double breasted ecru blazer (£72) and wide leg fluid trousers (£47) easy to dress up with metallic heels and a boxy clutch bag for a formal event. Similarly Next’s premium line camel double breasted suit (£304) could be styled with a simple T-shirt and slingbacks for the office or with a statement earring and a camisole for an event. Essentiel Antwerp’s boxy cropped jacket and pants has diamante pinstripe detail for added sparkle.
1. Khaki embellished jacket £340, and trousers £230, essentielantwerp.com
2. Red jacket £159, and trousers £129, whistles.com
3. Green check jacket £325, and trousers £225, meandem.com
4. Grey jacket £155, and trousers £99, cos.com
5. Peach jacket £169, and trousers £119, mintvelvet.com
6. Pinstripe jacket £169, and trousers £99.99, massiodutti.com
7. Kaiya jacket £69, and kaden trousers £59, finerylondon.com
8. Linen gibson blazer £320, and sand kemp Italian linen trouser £230, jigsaw-online.com
9. Blazer £159, and trousers £119 arket.com
10. Blazer £89.99, and wide-leg suit trousers £49.99 mango.com