The 21 best-dressed men and women of the summer
Take a moment to reflect on the style winners of the summer before your thoughts turn to autumnal dressing, and certain individuals might come to mind.
There are many fashionistas and taste makers in the style stakes we could have included in this list, but after careful deliberation, The Telegraph’s fashion editors have selected their top 21 best dressed men and women of the summer – whose outfits we will remember (and seek to emulate) long after the linens, sandals and kaftans have been packed away.
From septuagenarian Jeff Goldblum’s ‘debonair’ approach and Helen Mirren’s glamorous Cannes wardrobe to Gen-Z pin-up Paul Mescal’s ‘short shorts’ and Zendaya’s chameleon-like ability to pull off any look, these are celebrities who have displayed inimitable style and a certain charisma this summer.
In no particular order...
Sienna Miller
Is there a woman in Britain who doesn’t have a picture of Sienna Miller on her mental style moodboard? Whether it’s horseshoe jeans or ruffled dresses, she has a rare skill for making high fashion look effortless – and she’s not above mixing in high street finds from Reiss and Mango.
This summer, she brought back boho, with the help of new Chloe creative director Chemena Kamali. Talk about a dream team. Then she made it accessible to the rest of us by designing a collection for M&S. Cheers Sienna, now could you sort out our autumn wardrobes too? Tamara Abraham
Paul Mescal
Yes, he’s Gen Z catnip, but we must give an honorary nod to Ireland’s most daring-to-bare son for consistency in championing the cause of the short shorts. Having excited social media over the years thanks to his devotion to thigh-skimming shorts, he donned a particularly striking pair that resembled a blousy pair of boxers at this summer’s Gucci show. A reminder not to skip leg day. Stephen Doig
Jennifer Lopez
Was she trying to tell us all summer? J Lo and Ben Affleck may have finally filed for divorce last week, but Lopez has spent the summer donning a series of looks which exude attitude and sass.
A standout has to have been the Dior cape and fit-and-flare dress she wore to the label’s Couture show, giving the look a devilish twist via platforms and elbow-length gloves. Elsewhere crop-tops, wide-legs jeans and power tailoring have all featured. Now we await J Lo’s post ‘Bennifer’ autumn wardrobe with anticipation. Bethan Holt
Pierce Brosnan
At 71, the Bond actor is having a style renaissance as a septuagenarian with serious panache. His appearance at Wimbledon during the summer was a masterclass in patrician suave; dressed as a guest of Ralph Lauren in an elegant navy blue double-breasted ensemble, it was the sweep of ashy hair and distinguished beard that made it his own. A masterclass in how men of a certain vintage should dress. Stephen Doig
Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes earns her place on this list thanks to her off-duty style. She’s regularly captured out and about in New York looking cool, but in an unstudied kind of way. Joggers with a striped shirt. A T-shirt and a slip skirt. Perfectly cut jeans.
This is a woman who has such great clothes, it doesn’t matter how she puts them together, they just work. No wonder APC invited her to collaborate on a capsule offering: even French women want a bit of Katie’s personal brand of je ne sais quoi. Tamara Abraham
Helen Mirren
Helen Mirren’s best look of the summer? The delightful Claire Mischevani frock she wore to mark the 80th anniversary of D-day. Such a tricky moment to dress for, yet she pulled it off – looking at once respectful and optimistic.
So much so, you could take inspiration for a mother of the bride ensemble or similar. Mirren’s graceful elegance is always charming, whether she’s doing a prim cardigan at Wimbledon or sleek glamour at Cannes. Bethan Holt
Gabby Logan
Gabby Logan is a pro when it comes to looking good on television, but her wardrobe for the Olympics in Paris was particularly strong. Block colours and sleek, feminine silhouettes looked elegant without distracting from the action on the track. More impressive still? Nothing, bar one Victoria Beckham dress, was new – the rest was in her wardrobe already. Tamara Abraham
Golda Rosheuvel
She might wear ostentatious wigs and decadent costumes in her role as Queen Charlotte in Bridgerton, but Golda Rosheuvel is a thoroughly modern style star off-screen, whether she’s on the red carpet or dressing down.
Take two of the looks she’s worn this summer – the first, a magnificent caped Mary Katrantzou gown for the premiere of Bridgerton, season three, part two and the second, a striking denim coat by Erdem at Wimbledon. A true Queen. Bethan Holt
John Legend
Fresh from the DNC and the Olympics, John Legend’s wardrobe is always pin-sharp and just a little bit playful; Breton tops for Paris hijinks and colourful suiting for sultry Los Angeles nights. The summer suit’s a particularly brilliant north star of his wardrobe, which effectively means tailoring in juicy tones or cooling neutrals that look anything but corporate. Stephen Doig
The Starmers
Keir and Victoria Starmer are bringing ‘everycouple’ style to Downing Street. Clearly their big moment was the walk of victory to no.10 – she went viral in her beautifully tailored ‘Labour red’ Me + Em dress and Russell & Bromley slingbacks while he played by the book in a black suit, burgundy tie (a good choice erring on the side of not-too-obvious).
But it’s more quotidian moments where we see the subtly elevated choices they make between them – his tortoiseshell specs and navy bomber jacket, her Gucci sunglasses and pristine white trainers. Bethan Holt
Daisy Edgar-Jones
Daisy Edgar-Jones has had a true summer of style. On the press tour for Twisters, the actor has looked at ease and comfortable at every promotional event, perhaps due to a makeover from stylist Dani Michelle, who is behind the headline making looks of Rosie Huntington-Whitely and Kendall Jenner.
A far cry from her more quirky and feminine fashion from the Normal People days, Edgar Jones has been channelling modern bohemian style with elegance, courtesy of Gucci and Chloe. Beauty has been kept understated, and the result is cool, calm and collected. Sophie Tobin
Joan Collins
Dame Joan is living her best fashion life. She’s been spending the summer at her house in the south of France, darling, playing host to a stream of glamorous guests including Elizabeth and Damien Hurley.
Nobody can outshine Joan though, whose resortwear includes Roberto Cavalli leopard-print kaftans, crystal-studded Gucci sunglasses, big earrings and an array of wide-brimmed hats. Everything is coordinated and accessorised with a bold lipstick and a smile. The lesson? Be more Joan. Tamara Abraham
Zendaya
Style chameleon Zendaya can pull off any look. Fresh off the back of her tennis film Challengers, she was spotted in the stands at Wimbledon in preppy tailoring from Ralph Lauren (knitted ties and collegiate stripes included) and then crossed the channel to glam up for the Prelude to the Olympics event hosted by Louis Vuitton.
Elsewhere she’s been seen at the stage door of boyfriend Tom Holland’s play in the West End in a selection of this summer’s viral trends – mesh ballet flats, statement skirts and toned down tailoring. Sophie Tobin
Jeff Goldblum
The charming Mr Goldblum has long taken a quirky, left-of-centre approach to dressing, and this summer that continued during a particularly debonair jaunt through Europe where he donned raffish evening whites in Firenze and high fashion denim on the front row of Paris Fashion Week. At 71, he’s not taking up the cardigan and slippers anytime soon. Stephen Doig
Demi Moore
Demi Moore is redefining sexagenarian style – her key looks this summer have ranged from a shorts suit and chunky sandals to sculptural red carpet gowns some women half her age would struggle to pull off via prim elegance inspired by her role as 60s socialite Ann Woodward in Feud: Capote vs. the Swans.
Almost every look is accessorised with her tiny chihuahua Pilaf (now starring in her own issue of ‘Dogue’). Moore switches effortlessly between different style moods, extolling the virtues of experimenting over sinking into a rut. Bethan Holt
Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett must be one of the only people on the planet who could wear a top made from 102 old silver spoons and make it look achingly chic rather than fancy dress gone wrong.
Favouring trousers over skirts and dresses, Blanchett has got the silhouette which suits her down pat (tapered or flared leg, high, nipped waist and a power shoulder) but still manages to look different every time, whether it’s that spoon-based outfit, double denim or biker leathers. Bethan Holt
King Felipe of Spain
The Crown Eminence of Spanish style knows his way around an immaculate, pristine suit – one cut just so to fit his towering 6ft 5 frame – but away from the official duties (such as cheering on the Euros winning team) the man also knows how to dress for a sweltering Majorcan summer, grey beard perfectly groomed in doing so.
The royal has been spotted at various sporting events these last few months in pristine white polo shirts and neatly tailored shorts, as well as a cooling line-up of linen shirting. As welcoming as a chilled tinto de verano. Stephen Doig
Michelle Obama
The Democratic National Convention was a reminder, not just of Michelle Obama’s powerful capacity to convey a message, but of her style as well. She wore a navy, sleeveless, belted suit by Monse for her speech – smart and appropriate, but also unquestionably cool.
This won’t be news to her Instagram followers who are full of praise for her statement earrings, denim tailoring and enthusiasm for bold looks. She has a longtime stylist in Meredith Koop, but it’s Obama’s confidence and the joy she finds in fashion that makes each look her own. Tamara Abraham
The Princess of Wales
Her public appearances have understandably been few and far between this year but the Princess of Wales has, even at the most difficult of times, managed to maintain her reputation for always appearing poised and polished.
At Wimbledon, she gave the impression of never having been away, ticking off many of the details for which she’s known (and loved by many) – the striking yet ladylike dress, the modern jewellery, glossy blow dry and the princess-y court shoes. Bethan Holt
Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu
An icon of French chic who doesn’t mind sending herself up un petit peu? We’re here for that. Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu dresses much like her character, Sylvie, in Emily in Paris, from the sharp tailoring to the LBDs. This summer, she’s become a poster woman for the latest collection from Saint Laurent which mostly features sheer blouses, pencil skirts and ‘80s blazers –
see especially her brilliant cameo strutting through the Place Vendome in pinstripes and a see-through top brandishing a brick-like mobile phone as part of Vogue World Paris – super! Bethan Holt
