Once just a participant in three-piece suits, the waistcoat has, in recent years, managed to shrug off its stuffy past. Now, it’s the piece every stylish cool girl has on rotation. For summer 2025, the best waistcoats have become a bona fide staple, the kind you throw on instead of an airy shirt for a relaxed look that's slightly more elevated. While this means there's no shortage of options to shop, one specific style reigns supreme when it comes to surviving the heat in style: linen waistcoats. In black, grey, beige or white, linen waistcoats make for effortless tailoring that's ridiculously breathable and comfortable, and one style in particular has taken over my summer mood board – a sleek, tailored number from Aligne.
Aligne’s Lupin Linen Tie Waistcoat has quickly become a fashion insider favourite, thanks to its airy linen and cotton-blend construction that blends the breezy ease of summer dressing with the polished structure of classic tailoring. Ditching traditional buttons for a tie-front detail, it’s proof that tailored pieces don’t have to be rigid, which is especially welcome when soaring temperatures call for flowing, unrestrictive clothing.
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Alignealigne.co
This crisp white linen waistcoat is a fail-safe addition to any summer wardrobe thanks to its cool material and even cooler tie detailing.
Of course, it’s no surprise that another tailored staple from Aligne is dominating the summer dressing discourse. The brand's Leo Linen Waistcoat has long been a fan favourite, with its playful split-cut hemline and longline tailoring creating a chic, slightly oversized silhouette. Then there’s the Daphne Blazer, which sits somewhere between outerwear and waistcoat thanks to its button-down detailing, and is adored by the fashion pack, especially in its buttery yellow and sleek black iterations. It wouldn't be an overstatement to say the brand has a knack for offering contemporary style classics that slot seamlessly into everyday wardrobes.
As for how to style the linen waistcoat? It couldn’t be easier. For off-duty occasions, low-rise jeans, matching linen shorts and tailored wide-leg trousers should do the trick; finish with ballet flats or retro trainers such as the Onitsuka Tigers (we certainly have a soft spot for the classic yellow iteration). When it's time to add a touch of sophistication for date nights and evenings out with friends, swap the flats for elevated favourites like kitten mules or nostalgic heeled flip-flops.
Alternatively, shop the black version below.
On sale
Alignealigne.co
If you're a fan of keeping it classic, opt for the black iteration instead, which looks great paired with tailored trousers for dressier occasions.
Image credit: @stylewithkristel and @kimturkington_
Emma Richardson is a fashion commerce writer for Grazia. She was previously a fashion and beauty commerce writer for Heat and Closer, and has contributed digital content for a variety of lifestyle brands. Emma finds much of her inspiration in celebrity style, with Sienna Miller often being a major influence, and loves a pair of ballet pumps and a trusted trench coat.