Dress like you work for JP Morgan — why pinstripes are trending this summer

Why do Naomi Campbell, Hailey Bieber and Josh O’Connor all look as if they work in a bank? Pinstripe summer is coming, says Joe Bromley

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Pinstripe summer

Joe Bromley1 May 2024

Everyone in the Square Mile might well prefer working from home, but banker chic looks are still flying — it is time to lean in to pinstripe summer.

Naomi Campbell made the case that navy tailoring (and a bralette) works for hotter climes as she strutted up a red carpet in a Dolce & Gabbana stripe suit in Milan this April. Billie Piper opted for a similar oversized striped jacket with matching hot pants from D&G for the London Scoop premiere in March, Hailey Bieber recently fell for a silk Saint Laurent iteration, while Challengers star Josh O’Connor wore a slouched, stone, Loewe pinstripe suit and green shirt for the tennis flick’s LA premiere.

Hailey Bieber in Saint Laurent

Saint Laurent

To incorporate a splash of JP Morgan into summer mornings, consider separating the suit to dress it down: the art set wear pinstripe blazers with baggy, blue jeans and Asics or On Trainers in the day, while the fashion editors pair big, box pleat pinstripe slacks with sparkly Alaïa ballet flats and tight white vests. Balance in the boardroom: key.

Josh O'Connor attends the premiere of "Challengers" at the Regency Village Theatre in Los Angeles, California

AFP via Getty Images

There are a host of TikTok and Instagram stars who have gained huge numbers of followers for committing entirely to the full banker look. Searches for “striped trousers outfit” have multiplied 3.5x on Pinterest in the last three months, and Jenna Waller, their head of fashion, confirms “it’s hard to miss the influx of striped outfits”. Take Reuben Larkin (with 299k-strong Instagram) who promises to wear his full vintage pinstripes, shirt and tie all summer. “If you feel close to overheating, just undo the top button, loosen your tie a little and be ready to take the blazer off,” he says. “It’s just the most versatile thing you will ever wear, not out of place in jazz bars, a lovely picnic in Hyde Park, or even a late night McDonald’s trip.”

In terms of where to shop, actual Industry types divide between Savile Row and Charles Tyrwhitt (choose your fighter, etc), however I recently had a pleasant experience in Jermyn Street’s Hawes & Curtis and had their lightweight, navy chalk stripe double breasted suit tweaked to fit (£329, hawesandcurtis.co.uk). Mango has also collaborated with Italian heritage brand Boglioli for a spring collection which boasts a smart wool one. For women, Massimo Dutti and COS both offer good tailored slacks and pinstripe waistcoats, which would look smart paired with blue and white striped shirts. Cash in while stocks are up.