Once considered a relic of old-world tailoring, the double-breasted suit has staged a striking comeback. To a new generation of men and women alike, it has become a bold, elegant, and highly wearable style capable of looking both polished and cool. Today’s double-breasted suits feature slimmer fits and diverse fabrics, making them more accessible and versatile than their predecessors.
Here at Rundle Tailoring in Newcastle, we’ve seen first-hand how this iconic cut is resonating with not only our wedding couples, but also workwear customers and fashion-conscious clients who see suiting as an extension of personal expression and want their wardrobe to speak with authority.
“Double-breasted jackets have always been about presence and structure,” explains head tailor, Andrew Rundle. “But today, the way they’re tailored and styled makes them far more accessible, so they feel modern while keeping the polish and elegance that people love.”
Why are Double-Breasted Suits Back?
The resurgence of the double-breasted silhouette isn’t just a local trend — it’s a global one. First, luxury fashion houses reimagined the silhouette for modern wearers. Designers such as Prada, Dior, Giorgio Armani, and Ralph Lauren have presented double-breasted jackets in recent collections, showcasing a refined yet contemporary appeal. Whether it’s strong shoulders with a tailored waist, or soft shoulders in a brightly coloured fabric, the new playbook for double-breasted dressing proves you can make it work for any occasion.
On red carpets and at major galas, the style has been worn by a new generation of Hollywood stars: Jacob Elordi and Oscar Isaac wore the style multiple times while promoting their film, Frankenstein. Seth Rogen has been instrumental in making double-breasted cool again thanks not only to his own red carpet look but the retro-cool aesthetic of his character, Matt Remnick, in Apple TV’s Emmy winning-hit The Studio. Pedro Pascal, Andrew Garfield and David Beckham have all been spotted at culture and sporting events in double-breasted jackets, while women are embracing the aesthetic too. Wicked’s Cynthia Erivo has made the double-breasted power suit a staple of her wardrobe, while Zendaya, Elle Fanning, Cate Blanchett, and even Kate Middleton have taken turns displaying the style’s versatility and timeless appeal.
The European Influence and Quiet Luxury
This year, businessmen and women as well as wedding couples have embraced the look. Many of our Made-to-Measure customers have chosen the double-breasted style over single, and we’ve introduced more double-breasted styles into our ready-to-wear offering too, from top fashion brands such as Gibson and Savile Row.
Many of our clients are drawn to the double-breasted style for its nod to European elegance and quiet luxury. It conveys sophistication without being flashy, a statement of refinement rather than ostentation. Bronwyn Rundle, who works closely with our customers to style or design their perfect suit, notes, “Clients come in wanting something that looks sharp and feels special. Whether they’re celebrating big moments — a wedding, a gala, a red carpet — or investing in a power suit for work, the double-breasted suit delivers that elevated aesthetic. It’s tailored, it’s considered, and it just feels important. It makes you stand taller.”
Our Made-to-Measure customers love the way it elevates their work wardrobe, and can often be spotted mixing and matching their suit by styling the individual pieces up and down according to the occasion. We’ve crafted double-breasted suits for people working in finance, law, real estate and the wedding industry.
It’s a style that has been especially popular with our school formal customers too, whether they’ve opted for cool and classic all black, or selected a bold but trending pinstripe fabric. Our expertise in alterations means we can tailor an off-the-rack suit with precision, which is especially important when it comes to that strong, double-breasted look.
How To Style a Double-Breasted Jacket for Men or Women
Double-breasted suiting is no longer confined to menswear. Women’s tailoring trends have embraced the silhouette, often styled with a “borrowed from the boys” feel that still reads as elegant and polished. From red carpets and formal events to work and everyday life, we’ve seen clients of all genders enjoy the confidence and presence a double-breasted jacket provides. The style’s structure, versatility, and tailored elegance make it equally compelling for women seeking a statement jacket or a sharp, European-inspired look.
It’s important to consider the occasion and dress code when styling a double-breasted jacket. Formal events call for a full suit with matching trousers, while a more relaxed occasion might mean you can wear the jacket open and styled with a great pair of denim jeans. The soft curves of a shawl lapel jacket make it feel instantly more formal, but the contemporary look of a peak or wide peak lapel can feel appropriate in the office worn with a button-up shirt or t-shirt. Softer shoulders make a double-breasted jacket look more relaxed, which can in turn give it more versatility in your wardrobe (though some clients prefer a strong shoulder to balance out their body shape). If you choose a relaxed tailoring look, it’s essential the jacket be expertly tailored so that it doesn’t look ill-fitting or off-balance. The fine art of alterations is something our team of tailors and seamstresses excel in, so you can be assured it’ll be done right here at Rundle Tailoring.
Take a look at some of the different ways Andrew and Bronwyn styled their double-breasted suits during a trip to Europe, styling them up and down according to their itinerary:
How To Wear a Double-Breasted Wedding Suit
These days, as much thought, creativity and care go into the design and selection of the wedding suit as it does the dress. Fashion-forward while exuding old-school charm, the double-breasted suit has become a favourite for achieving that “once in a lifetime” level of polish for men and women.
The double-breasted silhouette has been a firm favourite for European destination weddings this year. In fact, we’ve helped countless couples suit up for their overseas wedding, regardless of location, climate and dress code. Ivory double-breasted jackets have been especially popular given they pair beautifully with the nostalgic distinction of European venues, from the sun-soaked Greek islands to the romantic villas of Lake Como. The crisp structure and understated luxury of these jackets complement the sophistication and history of European destinations, creating a look that photographs effortlessly and feels truly celebratory. When crafted in a beautiful wool fabric, they’re lightweight and comfortable to wear, and look flawless even after a long-haul flight (though a light steam to get that crisp, clean look is always recommended).
Why Made-to-Measure Makes a Difference
It’s the fit of our suits that sets Rundle Tailoring apart from the others. We work closely with clients to select fabrics, decide on lapel style and width, number of buttons, shoulder style, and waist tailoring, as well as other details that reflect their personality and the occasion. Every element is tailored to the individual. “A well-fitted double-breasted jacket isn’t just stylish,” says Bronwyn, “It’s empowering. Our clients walk out feeling confident, comfortable, and entirely themselves.” Where double-breasted suits have traditionally been boxy and stiff, Andrew tailors them precisely to create shape in the waist and balance your proportions, whatever your build.
A Style for Today and Tomorrow
Double-breasted suiting has a long and storied history, but its modern revival proves that classic tailoring can be reinterpreted for today. Whether it’s someone stepping up on their wedding day, a professional attending a gala, or anyone who simply wants to embrace timeless elegance with a contemporary edge, the double-breasted suit offers structure, style, and sophistication.
If you’re ready to experience the elegance and elevated style of a double-breasted suit, book an appointment with our award-winning team. Whether Made-to-Measure or ready-to-wear, we’ll help you step into an heirloom-worthy suit that you’ll enjoy for years to come.