Without fail, summer always manages to bring a few unexpected trends into the fold, and the most intriguing one of the moment (in my opinion) is summer suiting. Hear me out on this. Sure, there are a ton of noteworthy bikini, shoe and dress trends that are defining the summer 2022 look, but none are as surprising and stylish as suiting. While suiting has become a staple part of runway collections and everyone’s wardrobes for the past few seasons, one thing that makes this “trend” intriguing is its common association with colder months. It’s not exactly the most tempting of thoughts to be trying to schlep through a hot summer day in a suit, yet the celeb and fashion set can’t seem to stop doing just that. And it’s not just the counterintuitive nature of wearing a suit during sweltering heat that makes this an exciting trend to watch. It’s the styling itself that’s noteworthy. These aren’t the overly romantic, pastel-hued pantsuits of the past or even the starkly minimalist iterations. These feel intentionally genderless. They’re less focused on sharp tailoring and lean into androgynous separates like waistcoats. Fashion people are opting for oversized silhouettes and finishing off the look with “ugly” accessories like chunky sandals and sporty sunglasses. The result is an anti-pretty relaxed-suiting look bound to turn some heads. But if you’re unsure how exactly this is different from former suit trends, keep scrolling, as I’ve rounded up some examples of how celebrities and people in fashion are styling their suits this summer. Plus, I’ve shopped out the key pieces you’ll need to create the look for yourself.
On Kendall Jenner: DMY by DMY Valentina Sunglasses (£140); Daniele Alessandrini Homme vest; Fiona O’Neill Wool Suit Pants (£350); Stine Goya Idunn Bag; Alias Mae Paris Slides. So what exactly makes suiting summer ready? Just look to Kendall Jenner’s ‘fit above as the blueprint. It’s about leaning into that relaxed vibe by pairing loose trousers with a contrasting menswear-inspired waistcoat and chunky slides.
Adjust with back ties to define your waist.
These will be a hard-working addition to your wardrobe.
Perfect summer sandals.
On Bella Hadid: Prada boots. You know a trend is about to pop off when you see the one-and-only Bella Hadid wearing it, but what makes her summer suit noteworthy goes back to the styling. Hadid took traditionally “masculine” pieces and paired them all together for a menswear-inspired look that all the fashion girlies will want to replicate.
A new name to know.
The start of so many great outfits.
Bermuda shorts are still big this summer.
On Rosalía: ACNE Studios blazer, top and boots. If a tie and Bermuda shorts aren’t for you, then don’t fret. There are other ways to embrace suiting this summer. Take Rosalía’s outfit above for example. You can pair a prettier summer style (like a ruffled dress) with an oversized blazer and moto boots for a nontraditional take on suiting.
The oversized style adds a relaxed feel.
The grey contrast works so well.
I’m sold.
On Zendaya: Fear of God suit . Consider yourself a minimalist? Then you’ll want to replicate this look from Zendaya. A head-to-toe grey suit with matching heels and a watch make for a sleek take on summer suiting.
Trust The Frankie Shop for great suiting.
The gold and silver are perfectly balanced.
So classic.
On Hailey Bieber: Balenciaga Oval Sunglasses (£295); Cherish Vintage leather jacket; Jacquemus Le Gilet De Costume Vest (£211); Proenza Schouler Buckle-Detail Chunky Leather Loafers (£695) . The key to wearing the suiting trend is embracing menswear staples. Don’t be afraid to pair a vintage leather blazer with low-rise linen trousers, a waistcoat, statement sunglasses and loafers.
And it won’t break the bank.
The dramatic wide leg looks so good with the fitted waistcoat.
A classic shape with a modern chunky sole.
On Gabrielle Union: Bella Freud suit. You don’t have to embrace rugged pieces if that’s not your style. You can opt for a more polished take on suiting (like Gabrielle Union) by donning a three-piece monochrome suit with layered jewelry and heeled sandals.
The V-neck is so chic.
A staple piece in any jewellery box.
The same fit as Reformation’s best-selling Mason Pants.
On Lauren: Celine sunglasses; Warehouse suit; Flattered sandals. It’s not just the celebrity set that’s taken up suiting this summer—the fashion set has too. Case in point: the outfit above. Shorts suits have always divided people, but as content creator Lauren shows us, a matching shorts suit paired with slide sandals and a T-shirt is more stylish than ever.
For a more defined shape, opt for a cropped blazer.
Dress up or down.
These look really comfortable.
On Megan: Shevoke sunglasses; Beaufille tank; Maryam Nassir Zadeh skirt; Fendi bag; Rich Cast of Characters boots. If you’ve made it this far, hopefully, you’re now realizing that summer suiting is not only about embracing androgynous pieces. It also means not being afraid to make unexpected pairings. And it doesn’t get more out of the box than the outfit above from Megan. Pairing an interesting tank top and pleated skirt with an oversized blazer and cowboy boots is the summer outfit idea I didn’t even know I needed until now.
This will also look great with jeans.
Check out the pretty pleat details.
On Danielle: BY FAR bag; Arket top; COS trousers; Vagabond Shoemakers sandals. Wondering how you can give your favorite pair of relaxed trousers more love during the summertime? Take a cue from Danielle and pair them with a scarf top and platform sandals. Suddenly, your suiting is as hot as a summer day.
For summer and beyond.
So many looks start with a great pair of black trousers.
Y2K vibes.
On Débora: Loewe vest. Let me tell you a little secret: The key to perfecting this look is in the details. Yes, it helps to opt for androgynous pieces and to add some trend-forward items into your outfit, but really, it all comes down to the tailoring and fabric. Investing in relaxed suiting separates in linen fabrics (see Débora’s outfit above as an example) is the sure-fire way to wear your suits stylishly this summer.
A wardrobe staple.
An ultra-soft version.
Wear-with-anything shoes.
On Stephanie: Vehla sunglasses; Capsool top; Ralph Lauren trousers . In addition to opting for lightweight fabrics, you can make suits practical for the warm weather by styling your separates with other summer staples. Simply take note of how Stephanie has folded the waist of her trousers and then paired them with a crop top and chunky flip-flops. It’s the easiest way to look and stay cool in your suiting this summer.
There are so many ways to wear this.
Add polished tailoring to any look.
A favourite amongst our editors.
On Grece: My Essential Wardrobe moto jacket; The Frankie Shop trousers; Louis Vuitton bag; New Balance sneakers. Lastly, let this outfit be your final reminder that the styling possibilities are endless for summer suiting. Whether you choose to take an edgier approach or go in another direction, there are so many ways to embrace suiting in the summer. You just have to be willing to break a few rules and turn a few heads in the process.
A moto jacket can be styled with dresses, tailoring, jeans and more.
