The Classic Double Breasted Suit Has Made A Comeback

Heading to a summer wedding and worrying about what to wear? Invest in a double breasted suit either in linen or seersucker fabric, and we bet you'd be able to steal the groom's thunder.

It's raining double breasted suits and blazers - both on the runways and across the retail racks. Easily identified by its overlapping front, with two parallel rows of buttons, typically six, the jacket often features wide peak lapels, giving it a strong and formal look. The structured fit reconciled with the nipped waist, accentuates the long, clean lines resulting in a form-flattering male silhouette. The double-breasted tuxedo is also a popular option in the black-tie category.

You May Also Like: Menswear Trends for 2025 Spotted at Moscow Fashion Week

During Paris Fashion Week (SS 25), Louis Vuitton's show presented slender double-breasted coats and suits with the straight or flared sculpting of trousers. Every garment was informed by the globetrotting agents which sublimated artistic director Pharrell William's mood board - from the superfine woven facets of fabrics to the microscopic details of embroideries and buttons. The classic double breasted suit did appear on many runways but in an open button, easy breezy and relaxed format seen at Junya Watanabe, Hed Mayner and Amiri. Thankfully, there was nothing stiff and straitlaced about them.

Especially worth mentioning are the DB upcycled jackets at Junya Watanabe. Amiri's showcase underscored the ease and freedom imparted by relaxed tailoring. The brand's signature double breasted jacket was half lined and lent a generously proportioned dropped peak lapel. Soft tailoring at its best.

You May Also Like: What's next for menswear, as per leading designers

Initially crafted for the sporting pursuits of British aristocrats in the late 19th century, the silhouette of the double breasted jacket was informed by the naval reefer jacket, which was originally worn by sailors, who had the job of “reefing the sails”. While today it's seen as dressy and formal, back then it was considered rather informal. In the roaring '20s, Prince of Wales started sporting it during his public appearances thus entrenching it on the style radar. Later Hollywood stars warmed up to it with the likes of Humphrey Bogart and Cary Grant turning heads in it. A little known fact is that Humphrey's pyjamas were double breasted too!

Packing power and an unmistakable suave appeal, the style has made its presence felt in so many films from the ’80s and ’90s, such as American Psycho (2000) and The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). In the show Suits (2011), Harvey Specter, played by Gabriel Macht, had a closet full of double-breasted suits. In Scam 1992: The Harshad Mehta Story (2020), the character Harshad Mehta, essayed by Pratik Gandhi, often shows up in a double-breasted suit. Additionally, period shows like Downton Abbey and Peaky Blinders further added to its allure.

You may also like: Short suits are a thing this season!

Sandeep Gonsalves Co-founder at Sarah & Sandeep observes that the double breasted suit consistently returns because it commands presence. "For SS25, designers are reinventing it — less boardroom, more breezy. Our brown check DB look exemplifies this shift: sharply tailored but styled with ease, blending traditional structure with relaxed confidence. It’s timeless, yet seasonally adaptable". Gonsalves suggests styling it with contrast trousers and open collars, like the black DB with bold maroon pants — strong but unstuffy. "Accessorise minimally (think classic leather shoes or a structured briefcase) and keep textures rich. The look should say: effortless elegance, not overthought formality".

Finish off a work look with a nifty leather pouch, a chronograph and a pocket square. If one's opting for an evening double breasted dinner jacket then an elegant timepiece and statement cufflinks do the trick. Since the tailoring is effortless yet impactful, one needn't try too hard and keep overall styling rather laidback. Take cues from Succession: Logan’s navy knit double breasted blazer-cardigan look in “The Munsters” episode.

You may also like: For designer Raghavendra Rathore, the Bandhgala is timeless!

Sahib Bhatia, founder and creative director at Amaare personally loves to pair oversized double-breasted suits with fitted T-shirts. "I like pairing linen double-breasted suits with loafers and boat shoes. For a more formal/evening look, they can be styled with fitted mandarin collared shirts or even a bow tie".

You May Also Like: Looks We Saw And Loved At FDCI x Lakmē Fashion Week 2025

Decades after decades, the double breasted jackets have gone on and off the fashion radar - from appearing on the runway shows to red carpet events. However, this season, the classic makes a comeback!