The effortless way to look instantly more stylish this summer

For effortless summer dressing, look no further than this season’s hottest look: co-ords. No longer confined to twin set cardigans and knitted vests, modern brands are taking on the look, with sets ranging from linen waistcoat and skirt combinations to cropped sleeveless tops and matching trousers, or light jackets and shorts.

“Wearing a two piece makes you feel really special, it’s a similar feeling to when you’re wearing a suit,” says stylist Sarah Corbett Winder, who has recently been wearing Sézane’s knitted shorts and tops. “For women who are time poor but want to look and feel fabulous for an occasion, or even just for everyday, it really is the answer.”

The co-ord has many advantages. As I’ve recently found, wearing a Má + Lin black linen shirt with a little Peter Pan collar and trousers (with an elasticated waist band for extra comfort) on repeat from school runs to meetings, it acts as a simple uniform. Yue Jiang, the founder of Má + Lin, cut her design teeth as a fashion buyer in Paris and London, working for brands including JW Anderson, says ease of dressing drives her designs. “For me, nothing is better than a co-ord for the effortless chic,” she says. “They can easily work for different occasions without you having to think how to mix and match your outfit.”

Cropped blouse, £140 and short, £130, both Ma + Lin

A shortcut to instant style is a common thread. “I’m all about uniform dressing,” agrees Nell Diamond, the founder of Hill House. “As a busy mum and business owner, I rely on easy co-ords throughout the summer to make things simple. I love a coordinating set because there are no surprises – I always know how it will look together, even when I’m mixing colours or prints.” Her co-ords include pretty floral and striped skirts with flatteringly high waistbands and smocked tops.

Azalea nap top, £95 and Delphine nap skirt, £120, both Hill House Home

By virtue of its matching pieces, co-ords are “such a great formula for simple but chic dressing,” says Josefina Alazraki, the founder of Casa Raki, whose silky Cupro (a regenerated cellulose fabric made from cotton waste) slouchy trousers and halter neck co-ords have taken me from chic evening cocktails to sightseeing in European cities. Equally, Harris Wharf London has a long front-vented skirt in powder blue with a matching jacket. Other brands offering a suit-like experience include Life of Ease, which has matching linen shorts and shirts (a selection on sale from £32, lifeofeaselondon.com) and the queen of shirts, With Nothing Underneath, which has matching £120 palazzo trousers in its range.

Pai top, £100 and Alma trousers, £260, both Casa Raki

Blazer, £365 and vented skirt, £170, both Harris Wharf London

Silk shirt, £251 and silk trousers, £234, both Tresse Paris

Alazraki says she wears a co-ord “with trainers or flats during the day for a comfortable but utilitarian look, and then can dress them up with sandals for the evening for a nice breezy summer evening look”. For smarter lunch meetings, for example, I’m also a fan of Parisian brand Soeur’s Aaron sleeveless poplin top and Watson trousers for an easy but smart day time look and for polished nights, Serena Bute’s oversized cuff shirt and flattering wide-leg trouser which come in an eye-popping trio of neons (and black for those of us who can’t resist).

Aaron top, £135 and Watson trousers, £240, both Soeur

Neon shirt, £295 and neon trouser, £350, both Serena Bute London

Another reason to reach for a co-ord is its versatility, says Poppy Sexton-Wainwright, a co-founder of Asceno. “Co-ordinated pieces can be worn as a full look or styled with pieces I already own, such as wearing the shirt with jeans, meaning it’s a very hard-working part of my wardrobe,” she says.

Silk shirt, £350 and silk trousers, £260, both Asceno

Printed shirt, £65 and printed trousers, £75, both Hush

That jigsaw-like versatility really comes into its own when travelling. Hannah Beaumont, the founder of Beaumont Organic, which has a range of co-ords including shorts and longer sleeved shirts along with maxi skirts and peasant-style tops in natural-dyed colours, says: “You can take three co-ords and if you are clever, have nine looks.  This is ideal for someone like me who is often packing for short trips and likes to look a little different each day.”

Wave shirt, £205 and wave shorts, £155, both Yaitte

Madeline top, £170 and Mia skir, £250, both Seren

While dresses are a summer staple, they have fallen out of favour with the most fashion forward: a summer suit, or skirt and tailored top can look more modern. “Whilst dresses will always have a firm place in our hearts, it feels really fresh to instead wear chic and playful co-ords,” Haeni Kim, the founder of Kitri says. The reason they’re so popular – the brand’s green print Cressida Jacket and Agatha trousers are already sold out - she says, is because they “solve the same wardrobe dilemmas as dresses do in a more casual way – one and done, effortless outfitting without having to think too much”.

Pottery print shirt, £145 and Pottery print trousers, £145, both Kitri

Many co-ords are linen (Jiang notes its hard-wearing attributes, along with eco credentials, while Alazraki says it’s ideal as a mother of two young children) or cotton – making them perfect for managing body temperature in the summer. But one perhaps more surprising – and pleasingly 1970s retro – is a knitted combo. Along with the Sézane set that Corbett-Winder sports, independent label Gather & See has a knitted shorts and jumper combo – perfect for a Cornish beach trip.

Cotton sweater, £189 and shorts, £129, both Gather and See

Knitted top, £100 and knitted shorts, £100, both Sezane

You can tell that many of the co-ord sets have been designed by women-owned brands, thanks to the clever details that speak to what we need. Hill House’s tops have wide straps, meaning no visible bra straps; the June top by the sister-run brand Usisi Sister features an adjustable rouleau tie at the back, “which can be let out for hot summers days and then tightened in the evening for a sleeker silhouette,” Millie Allsopp, a co-founder of the label says. She adds that  flashing a hint of skin between the garments is “the perfect balance between elegant and alluring”.

Flashing the flesh can feel intimidating, Lucia Dailey, the founder of slow-fashion brand Seren, recognises. But, she insists it is for all ages: “We have specifically designed the skirt with a high waist and flattering ruched detailing for an elevated and pulled together (literally) look.”