Dare to wear the WTS* (white trouser suit)?

If you have the swagger of Bianca Jagger, an ivory two-piece is the best ensemble to be seen in this summer. Just don’t skimp on the quality, says Karen Dacre
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3 June 2013

There are clothes that we love because they suit our body shape and then there are clothes that we love because they are a match for our personalities. At least, they are a match for the personality we’d like to become. The white trouser suit (or WTS) is a fitting example. For some it occupies a canon of fashion entitled “the clothes we dream about wearing but never will” while to others the WTS is a failsafe to which they will remain forever loyal.

It certainly takes a very specific type of woman to pull one off. Mostly because wearing one requires a certain confidence. It’s a confidence Bianca Jagger has in abundance. Having spent a lifetime draped in pristinely cut Yves Saint Laurent, Jagger, for me, is the greatest WTS wearer. And that’s despite forgoing her trusty WTS on her wedding day — contrary to popular belief Jagger didn’t wear a suit to wed Mick in 1971 but a long sheath skirt and white jacket made for her especially by Yves Saint Laurent. Alas, I digress.

The beauty of seeing a white suit on Jagger is that it looks like a second skin. It never looks frightening or out of place but rather serves a signifier of her power as a woman. In a way, it serves as marker for a for modern day feminism. Nowadays, it seems a new breed of strong WTS-adopters are following Jagger’s lead. The suit has certainly surged in popularity over recent months. On the red carpet at Cannes last month, Sharon Stone dazzled in a black lace-trimmed white tuxedo by Roberto Cavalli. She was joined by model Toni Garrn who wore a resplendent WTS by Calvin Klein. Rita Ora and Victoria Pendleton are also fans.

As a result of its renewed popularity, the shops have a small but perfectly formed offering of WTS ready for those with the guts to wear one this summer. Reiss, a leader when it comes to middle-market tailoring, has a beautifully cut option. Joseph is also worth a visit for those planning on investing heavily in the style.

Along with a hefty helping of confidence, which sadly still can’t yet be bottled or sold in Selfridges beauty department, anyone approaching the WTS should do so with a serious pair of heels. A streamlined sandal is a great option as is a snakeskin court shoe, just be sure to keep the rest of your accessories low-key.

Where WTS-approved occasions are concerned, I’d recommend not wearing one to a wedding, unless of course you happen to be attending your own nuptials — in which case go to Calvin Klein for beautifully cut tailoring to last a lifetime. Otherwise, prepare to rely on the WTS for a whole array of other summer occasions.

A word of warning though: be sure to invest in quality. Bianca wouldn’t be seen dead in River Island.

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