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The Best Trouser Suits For Both Work And Play
If you thought these two-pieces were exclusively for the office, think again.
No longer exclusively reserved for the office, the trouser suit of today is appropriate for just about every occasion. It’s no surprise then, that tailoring is on the rise with online searches for women's suits are up 87% year on year.
But before its recent renaissance a few years back, women’s trouser suits had shapeshifted through the decades. They came to the forefront of fashion back when Yves Saint Laurent introduced his first tuxedo for women, Le Smoking, in 1966. Taking inspiration from masculine black tie looks of the time, the aim of the game was to accentuate a woman's femininity with a tapered waist and plunging neckline. Fast forward to the 1970s, and forever style icon Bianca Jagger epitomised the party era in three-piece tailoring complete with pleated trousers and roped shoulders, whereas ten years later shoulder pads and fluid cuts were back – just Google the iconic costumes in the 1988 hit Working Girl, if you need a reminder. And by the turn of the Millennium, silhouettes were skinnier than ever; with low-rise waistbands and single-button blazers reigning supreme.
What we love about the 2023 take on this trend is that anything goes. After years of oversized blazers dominating, we're appreciating the new 1970s mood in tailoring: think structured blazers with nipped-in waists and flattering flared trousers. And this same flamboyance can be seen in the sequinned, satin and feather-trimmed offerings that women are swapping their LBDs for at parties and weddings. If you want something a little less loud and a little more timeless for events though, invest in your own Le Smoking-inspired tux (Hailey Bieber styles hers sans white shirt) and you'll be wearing it for years to come.
Trousers suits aren’t just for special occasions though, you can’t go five mins without seeing one of the ELLE UK team wearing theirs with trainers – just stick to louche silhouettes and boxy fits to hit the workwear brief. Or invest in a resort suit in lightweight linen or cotton for summer, and you can simply dress it down with a tank top and flip flops on holiday, too.
From structured tuxedos and classic three-piece sets to sparkly party looks, here are 15 of the best trouser suits for women to buy now.
Aligne
Blazer - £199 SHOP NOW
Waistcoat - £129 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £149 SHOP NOW
Founded back in 2020, British womenswear brand Aligne is loved for its outerwear (yes, it's the label behind that sell-out Gilda trench). But if we came for the coats, we're staying for the tailoring. A modern take on the classic trouser suit, this set is defined by an asymmetric-buttoned waistcoat, wide-leg trousers and timeless wrap front blazer.
Raey
Jacket - £595 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £350 SHOP NOW
Matches in-house brand Raey has quickly become a fashion editor favourite thanks to its collection of luxe basics that rival the likes of Khaite and The Row. Crafted in Italy, this trouser suit is cut from ramie fibres – a hardier, eco-conscious alternative – blended with cotton to create a more polished finish.
Sézane
Blazer - £170 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £125 SHOP NOW
Trawling second-hand stores to secure the perfect trouser suit may sound romantic but, in truth, it usually comes to no avail. Save yourself some serious heartache and opt for Sézane's Parisian-inspired tailoring instead. The washed-blue hue on the brand's Christie jacket and matching Dan trousers gives this set a real vintage feel.
Reiss
Blazer - £268 SHOP NOW
Waistcoat - £148 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £168 SHOP NOW
Reiss' tailoring is royal-approved. In fact, the Princess of Wales has been spotted in the brand's Hollie blazer not once, but twice. But if you're looking to channel Bianca Jagger's iconic wedding suit instead, you'll want to pick up this full three-piece set: pleated pants, single-breasted jacket and matching V-neck waistcoat.
Arket
Blazer - £149 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £79 SHOP NOW
As much as we love a pyjama set, sometimes you need something more polished to hand for special occasions. Enter: Arket's trouser suit – an elevated take on the underwear as outwear trend. Cut from lustrous grey satin, it features wide-leg trousers with a drawstring waist (just like your favourite tracksuit bottoms) and a comfy unstructured blazer.
Cos
Blazer - £180 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £115 SHOP NOW
Cos' pinstripe trouser suit is so beautiful it should never just be confined to the office. Take yours into the evening: style the longline blazer over slip dresses and the wide-leg trousers with a silk camisole.
Mango
Jacket - £300 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £200 SHOP NOW
With its covetable range of sequin gowns and silky separates, Mango's new Capsule collection is 2023's answer to 'cool girl' formalwear. The latest range features an array of trouser suits, but this guipure lace iteration is our personal favourite. Brides-to-be take note: a wedding suit is the perfect modern alternative to bridal looks.
Jacquemus
Alexander McQueen
Blazer - £1,690 SHOP NOW
Pants - £690 SHOP NOW
For a timeless take on the trouser suit trend, look to Alexander McQueen. Taking inspiration from fitted, tailored looks of the Noughties, this two-piece is defined by a single-breasted blazer – nipped in at the waist to showcase your natural curves – and subtly flared trousers.
Ganni
Blazer - £295 SHOP NOW
Jeans - £215 SHOP NOW
Much-loved Scandi brand Ganni has given the trouser suit a casual makeover by switching out traditional fabrics like linen or wool for indigo denim. This set comprises a fitted blazer (complete with exaggerated shoulders) and 1990s-inspired cargo jeans. Channel Copenhagen's fashion set and wear yours with clogs and oversized sunglasses.
Reformation
Blazer - £298 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £178 SHOP NOW
Known for its celebrity-approved dresses, Reformation's tailoring often gets overlooked. However, this lightweight trouser suit is a real wardrobe staple – the milky-white hue makes it super versatile. Take inspiration from Rosie HW and wear yours with tonal sweatshirts this autumn.
SLA The Label
Blazer - £95 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £59 SHOP NOW
For a playful take on the classic trouser suit, check out this glittery two-piece from partywear brand SLA The Label. The blazer – with its shoulder-pads and oversized fit – references styles of the 1980s, while the puddle pant hem trousers bring a modern twist.
River Island
Blazer - £75 SHOP NOW
Trousers - £40 SHOP NOW
If you're shopping for quality tailoring on a budget, River Island should be your first stop. With its covered buttons and bold chilli-red hue, this trouser suit is a real party wear hero. Wear yours with vertiginous platform heels and lashings of gold jewellery for special occasions.
Rosie Davenport is an Ecommerce Writer at Cosmopolitan UK and Red Online, covering fashion, beauty and travel reviews, as well as major sales events such as Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day. Rosie has reviewed everything from Reformation dresses to the latest massage guns and knows the new brands to bookmark as well as the latest trends to follow. Before this role, Rosie was a Fashion Ecommerce Writer on publications including ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar and Good Housekeeping for nearly two years, and gained a MA from Central Saint Martins in Fashion Journalism in 2021, focussing on the rise (and rise) of fashion podcasting. Rosie has also worked at The Times, been a sub editor at The Mail on Sunday’s weekly YOU magazine and produced in-depth retail reports for the trend forecasting agency WGSN. Her career highlight? Previewing Prada’s AW21 menswear show in the depths of lockdown and interviewing Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons from her bedroom. Outside of work, Rosie can be found rummaging through vintage shops or getting lost in one of London’s iconic department stores. You can follow Rosie on Instagram @rosie.davenport
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