Wimbledon, a important event in the English summer season, is usually defined by some widespread markers: excellent tennis, strawberries and cream, unavoidable downpours and, in the style stakes, floral midi dresses. In years past, one couldn’t move for an abundance of bloom-bedecked frocks, usually styled with wedge espadrilles or white trainers, with the Princess of Wales as the ultimate inspiration. However, a different costume has won the tournament this year, and its flexibility extends beyond SW19.
The implicit style formulation among the best-dressed on Centre Court in 2024 is, surely, a match. Mind you, these are not the dapper, business-ready get-ups as sported by contestants on The Apprentice, but smooth, attractively cut pieces that feeling just right for a sweaty and colder-than-average English summer.
Consider Kaya Scodelario’s Ralph Lauren product cloth three-piece suit, which is outfitted with a black leather case and matching bandana. Or Kim Cattrall, who looked quickly beautiful in her child red jacket and cigarette trousers, teamed with silver sandals. Rebel Wilson went strong in a black-edged, floral display range from Alice + Olivia, while Maria Sharapova – possibly the wife of pregame dressing – opted for military-inspired, yellow tailoring. The message is clear: distinguishes are a quick path to game, set and fit.
Hurr, a style rental company, has seen a rough 83 percent increase in demand for summer suits and co-ords from companies like Ganni, Aligne, and Emilia Wickstead in the last two months. It’s a clear sign that the go-to piece of workwear is no longer just for the company, but how can you design a suit without looking as though you’ve just left the boardroom?
Choose a cut that captivates your determine, whether that’s a double-breasted suit, wide-leg shorts or a cropped shirt. “I would avoid going too ‘ n trend’, to make sure that it’s a long part,” advises the artist Sarah Corbett-Winder, who founded her own sewing company, Kipper, next year. A suit is a commitment, and you want it to keep on coming. Look to brands like Sandro, Sézane and Joseph for classic shapes that won’t date, in colours like navy, camel and cream.
This summer, the waistcoat has seen a resurgence, worn on its own with jeans, over a T-shirt or, for those who really want to go the whole hog, as part of a three-piece suit. “I think a full suit is a timeless wardrobe essential, that can be easily elevated for the evening”, says Una Joyce, the womenswear director at Reiss: here, both jackets and trousers come in petite and regular fits, as well as a kaleidoscope of useful colours. “This season, the has been especially popular”, she says. “It’s made from a white linen viscose, which is perfect for summer events, and also comes with the option of shorts instead of trousers.”
Midi dresses have, for so long, been considered a failsafe option because they belong to the “throw on and go” school of dressing, and don’t require much thoughtful styling. By contrast, suits require a little more forward-planning, but they can form the basis of countless different outfits. A suit will provide a lot more return on your investment in the long run than a one-and-done dress.
To make your range of outfits go further, treat your suit as a base and allow yourself free rein to play with the extras, says Corbett-Winder. “Add some strong accessories – a headband, platforms and a bag, say – in the same colour to make the suit sing. A ballet flat should come in red with a matching lip, which would be ideal. Simple gold jewelry is always fashionable, and you can add a corsage to your lapel to give it a feminine vibe.”
Once you have a classic suit on board, adding a more distinctive style will expand your outfit options even more. Kipper’s polka dot’ is ideal for the summer wedding season, says Corbett-Winder. “You can keep your jacket on in the church and then, voilà, the waistcoat is revealed for the dancefloor”! For a day at the office, you could wear the blazer with white jeans on the weekend or the trousers with a crisp shirt.
If a suit still feels a little too Gordon Gekko for you, “soft suiting” could be the answer: it provides the same tailored look, but doesn’t feel quite so dressed up. The perennially reliable Me + Em excels in this area: its high-waisted trousers, neat skirts and cropped blazers can all be combined for a look that feels pulled together, but not matching. The, for example, look excellent with a white, while the pairs well with a.
Whatever your preferences, classic tailoring will rarely let you down. Choose fun, office-inappropriate accessories that add dimension and personality, keep the rest of your look relaxed – no stiff blow-dries, please – and you’ll be onto a winner. And that floral midi dress? It might come back to life with a stylish new blazer over the shoulders.