A boiler suit will always be the shortcut to effortless chic

If you want to streamline your fashion choices - whether for sustainability reasons or for your own sanity - it doesn’t get more fuss-free than a boiler suit. We’re big fans of items that let you get dressed in less steps. We’re talking about dresses and jumpsuits that just need shoes and a bag (or just shoes if you’ve got decent pockets) before you head out the door.

Yes, we love jeans and a nice top and, we admit, we get excited about layering in Winter - but sometimes all we crave are one-piece wonders you can slip on and go. A boiler suit ticks off all our utility style dreams and (we hate to go on about it) are ideal in British summertime, too.

Unlike a jumpsuit, which follows the one-piece / two-leg formula yet can have any kind of top half (think: halter neck, spaghetti-strapped, one-shoulder, puff-sleeve) and work for any occasion due to the variety of fabrics, the best boiler suits for women are more straight-forward.

Button or zip up; usually with a collar but sometimes collarless. You might find an occasional asymmetric fastening and a few extra zips. Boiler suits are mainly casual, weekend-wear - although you can style them up with heels, obvs. Boiler suits are the sort of clothes that won’t mess you around. You always know where you’re at with a boiler suit.

How can you style a boiler suit for the weekend?

We love wearing a boiler suit over a racer-style vest top or under a bomber jacket. They look brilliant with trainers, make packing for travel a breeze (less outfit options mean more room for holiday shopping!) and look slick as an airport outfit.

Which are the best boiler suits to buy for summer 2023?

The Utility Worker Cropped Linen Jumpsuit from Rivet at Net-a-porter.com is a city-smart take on summer's coolest fabric while Zimmerman's short-sleeve option means you can wear it bare-armed now and over a long-sleeve tee when it's cooler. Zara have a timeless and versatile utility style and Sezane's Phedre boiler suit comes in workwear-appropriate khaki.

If you have an investment-sized budget, we’re swooning over Rick Owen's forever-buy black zipped boiler suit but back in the real world, head to ASOS for the biggest choice of high street street-priced hits. Whether you choose oversized khaki, corduroy, baby pink, or black you will have aced the most effortlessly cool item in your wardrobe.

Scroll down to see GLAMOUR'S edit of the 21 best boiler suits for women.

Read more from Glamour UK Fashion Director at large Alex Fullerton here or follow her on Instagram @alexandrafullerton.