Meet This Summer’s Cool-Girl Style Staple

It’s the trend no one could have seen coming. At a time when more of us are working from home than ever, and even the most corporate dressers among us are ditching high heels in favour of flats, the latest fashion hero is none other than… the waistcoat.

Yes, the waistcoat – a garment so formal that it’s rarely seen outside of actual weddings – is the style staple of this relaxed, post-pandemic moment.

And yet the waistcoat makes a strange kind of sense. Not only is it a natural progression from the slouchy tailoring that’s dominated runways and social media feeds for what feels like aeons, but it’s versatile, too.

full-img — Waistcoats were everywhere at fashion month

Think of it as a cool-girl upgrade to the white singlet. Or a downgraded, deconstructed blazer. Forget day-to-night dressing, this is the ultimate in office-to-off-duty style.

Need more proof? Take a peek at the latest street style shots from… well, any fashion week you like; from Paris to New York, Sydney to London, waistcoats were everywhere.

Waistcoat by Matin Studio, available here

This summer there are essentially two types of waistcoats: a shorter, slightly boxy cut and a more timeless, long-line silhouette. “They shouldn’t be too snug,” advises stylist Lucy Wood of the shorter style. “But they can still be tailored at the waist. The length should comfortably sit over the waistband of your trousers.”

The trick to not looking like an actual groomsman is to look for summery fabrics like cotton or linen in neutral colours, she adds, and pair them with modern, seasonal accessories like strappy sandals (flats or heels). Avoid clompy brogues or close-toed shoes. “Crisp neutral tones with summery, modern accessories take the look far from groomsmen!”