Why Waistcoats Are Going To Be Your New Wardrobe Staple
While three-piece suits or snooker players might come to mind when considering waistcoats, the style set has subscribed to the suiting staple as the top du jour this summer. The only thing to remember with the 2024 iteration is that there are no hard and fast rules.
We've seen them everywhere, from the Cannes red carpet to the catwalk, and a fair few famous faces have adopted the look. Take Uma Thurman's chic three-piece camel-toned set or Gigi Hadid's smarter grey sleeveless style. Of course, you can stick to the traditional route of a structured fit or keep them breezy for chic, warm-weather dressing and opt for the looser, linen variety.
Personally, I am obsessed with my black Mango tie-up version. This style ditches the buttons in favour of a double bow closure, making the piece more summer-ready. There's also a matching linen skirt, which I have big plans for. Think ballet flats, woven bags, and when a park date turns to dinner plans, a trusty swipe of red lipstick.
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If you opt for the ‘full monty’, ditch the shirt and embrace the waistcoat as a top. Also, note that a waistcoat and skirt work well; see Zendaya, who played ball in a 1994 Vivienne Westwood button-up style whilst on the Challengers press tour.
In Cannes, off-duty stars and models opt for said breezier iterations and cosign linen and cotton. Caro Daur's baby blue look is the perfect summer holiday inspiration, while model Romee Strijd's all-black suit and waistcoat would work well for warm-weather drinks in the city.
As the double denim new wave continues, there are some great options here, too–though a denim vest is a great investment in its own right. ALGODE has a particularly fantastic option in their 'Heller' style, which features curved seams to contour the body. You can as easily pair this with matching hued bootcut jeans or tiered summer skirting with a slip-on ballet flat.
On the runway, Chanel Cruise 2025 showed multi-coloured bouclé waistcoats and vest styles cut from leather. In addition to its cult-favourite platform sandals, Chloé, too, showed a buttery black leather iteration as part of the Pre-Fall collection, and Anne Hathaway was spotted in New York in a three-piece leather suit. Though, we might pause on the leather until the temperature drops.
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