You've secured your dream work bag, swapped trainers for everyday heels, and perhaps even embraced the return of the tie. But to really nail the corpcore aesthetic that's currently sweeping the fashion world, you need one item above all: an oversized suit.
Tailoring dominated the AW24 catwalks, seen everywhere from Prada and Saint Laurent to Schiaparelli and Michael Kors – but it's on the streets outside this season's AW25 shows that the workwear staple really came into its own. Likely spurred on by Michelle Pfeiffer's viral SS25 campaign for Saint Laurent, industry insiders swapped their usual denim-heavy front-row uniforms for decidedly more office-appropriate ensembles, albeit with a fashionable twist.
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Forget the anonymous navy, slim-fitting suits that dominate the City: opting for tailoring with a relaxed silhouette, and styling it up with fun accessories, is the key to looking more 'cool girl' than Canary Wharf. Think a boxy, oversized blazer with a white tank, matching wide-leg trousers and a pair of trending pointy-toe kitten heels; or, a loose grey pinstripe suit layered over a crisp white shirt with statement cuffs, with red socks and loafers beneath.
The street style set provided outfit inspiration aplenty – and proof that a suit needn't be strictly business. Simply add fabulous heels, jewellery, sunglasses, a designer bag, or all of the above together, to elevate the ensemble beyond the nine-to-five. Other insider-approved styling tricks include adding an unexpected pop of colour, swapping the bottom half for jeans and trainers, or wearing a plunging suit with nothing underneath for a more sultry, after-dark look.
And now that spring is finally on the horizon, it seems that oversized suits are set to be (quite literally) bigger than ever. Easy, breezy, non-restrictive and incredibly versatile, they are perfect for the warmer weather, and the tricky, unpredictable between-seasons periods, too. As for when the temperatures really start to heat up, trousers can simply be switched out for a tailored skirt, capris, or even a pair of hot-pants for the ultimate high-low look.
But the best part? Oversized suits are a failsafe way to look smart, polished, put-together and bang on trend, with minimal effort. The only hard part is choosing the one(s) to invest in in the first place...
Shop The Best Oversize Suits
Khaite Suit
Dries Van Noten Pinstriped Wool-Blend Suit
The Row Silk And Linen Suit
The Frankie Shop Holland Pleated Suit
Mango Wool-Blend Suit
Zara Oversized Suit
Self-Portrait Crystal-Embellished Pinstriped Suit
COS Suit
H&M Suit
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Clementina Jackson is Acting Site Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, working across news and features, trends, e-commerce and SEO. She was previously Fashion Editor at Cosmopolitan and Women’s Health, and Acting Digital Fashion Editor at ELLE UK, where she was named as a PPA 30 Under 30 award winner for her work on size inclusivity. An experienced fashion, travel and luxury lifestyle journalist, Clementina has also written for Harper’s Bazaar, Vanity Fair, Condé Nast Traveller, Tatler, Red and Italy Segreta.
