This Brand Just Made Summer Dressing Feel Interesting Again

Summer dressing arrives suspiciously early these days. When we’re still encased in shearling and mainlining oat-milk flat whites like it’s a personality trait, shop floors quietly start swapping out knits for kaftans. By the time the mercury finally rises, our appetite for linen-blend anything is already waning. Those wide-leg trousers we optimistically bought back in March? Practically worn out from the mere fact of their presence in our wardrobes. And last year’s sandals? One glance makes you question the ROI of a seasonal pedicure.

This is what happens when summer hits a little too soon - and a little too hard. We anticipate it so feverishly that, by the time the sun actually turns up, our wardrobes are already in need of a reset. Thank goodness, then, for Whistles.

Yes, Whistles. The quietly confident label that’s been doing understated elegance since before we had names for things like ‘quiet luxury’. Its latest summer collection doesn’t shout. It doesn’t even whisper. It simply is, and therein lies its power.

There are denim co-ords (a phrase we didn’t think we’d be writing with any conviction this season) that toe the line between ‘festival-ready’ and ‘dinner-with-parents-of-your-new-crush’. Shirred blouses and relaxed dresses don’t lean into that performative ‘holiday wardrobe’ energy, instead they look like they belong wherever you happen to be, whether that’s Lisbon or Lewisham. The accessories - fringed suede jackets, studded leather ballet pumps, a crochet bag that’s somehow not remotely whimsical - feel pleasingly adult.

This is summer dressing with longevity, pieces that transcend trend cycles and withstand the inevitable onslaught of ‘Core’ aesthetics. They work hard without making it look like you’re trying which, let’s be honest, is the endgame.

Shop the edit below and maybe, just maybe, summer might feel fresh again.

Shop: The Best of Whistles’ Summer Collection

Henrik Lischke is the senior fashion features editor at Grazia. Prior to that, he held the role of commerce writer at British Vogue, and was junior fashion editor at The Sunday Times Style. A first-class honours Fashion Journalism graduate from UAL: London College of fashion, Henrik is invariably on the lookout for the newest talent in fashion, that is driving the industry forward, and shining the spotlight on them whenever possible. He’s also got a passion for interiors design and the arts. Follow Henrik on Instagram @henriklischke.