How To Wear: Summer Black

How To Wear: Summer Black

Slick, sleek and the perfect way to keep your cool as the temperatures rise, slip into the best summer black pieces and style them with ease with our guide to wearing them at the office, on evenings out and as you head off on vacation.

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There's a reason why black is the perennial favourite of fashion insiders and stylish women everywhere. The shade brings an element of grown-up polish to any piece it touches and, with a level of versatility that's unmatched in the wardrobe stakes, works in every season, setting and occasion - and it’s perfect for the summer months. As always, the best pieces will take you from the office to evenings out and on to your vacation with a subtle switch in styling. First, you’ll want to make sure you have a black blazer or jacket in your arsenal. SIR’s pristine tailoring is an unexpected take on the classic that you can layer over dresses, tailoring and easy separates and will carry you into the cooler months and beyond, too.

Clean, minimal lines are a fast-track to considered cool: slip into KHAITE’s, flawless halterneck dress, say, and style with sandals or heels and chunky gold jewellery for take-you-anywhere elegance or pair Jacquemus’ cropped top with the low-rise ease of St. Agni’s tailored midi for a 90’s-inspired subtle sexiness. At the other end of the sartorial spectrum are the tiered and ruffled pieces that channel the irresistible drama of gothic romance. Asceno’s swishy midi dress is a sophisticated take on this mood that can be deployed on sunny vacation days or elegant evenings out. Aje’s mini, meanwhile, takes a more daringly playful approach and is made to be worn wherever you want to make an impact.

Inky denim, whether that’s a straight-legged pair of jeans or a knee length pair of shorts, will work hard all summer long. Pair with a simple tank or tee for no-brainer off-duty style or look to the keyhole cut-outs of Christopher Esber’s long-sleeved top to give them a more sexy spin. Not a denim fan? A pair of utilitarian, multi-pocketed trousers is a more of-the-moment choice, Matteau’s laid-back cotton trousers have the same wardrobe flexibility but with a lighter touch.

And you’ll of course need some slick black accessories to round out your looks: a leather shoulder bag that will act as the perfect counterpoint to your more ethereal pieces, a pair of trophy sandals that will carry you through innumerable seasons to come and, the ultimate summer essential, a pair of statement shades, from oversized aviators to a glamorous cats eye shape.

Words Emma Sells