Smart casual will be your go-to style for those days when you want to look suave, or others when you just can’t work out the dress code. It’s a style that allows you to express both sides of you – a more relaxed side with a hint of something polished.
It’s also versatile – it allows you to make it a part of your everyday wardrobe or to create a dressy outfit for a formal occasion.
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What is Smart Casual?
But what does it actually mean? It means something dressier than a pair of your favorite sweatpants, but not quite at the level of a suit.
Throughout the history of fashion, smart casual has been considered as a high-end casual wear. It merges laid-back style with formal elements, while looking sharp and universally flattering.
However, the smart casual spectrum encompasses many styles, as it can lean to both the casual and formal sides. It is preferred by business and office people who opt for comfort while maintaining the professional look.
Smart casual can involve some tailoring if you desire, but not a head-to-toe bespoke suit for example. This means that you can wear your navy blue t-shirt by Fresh Clean Threads with more formal pants, or a blazer with a darker pair of jeans.
The key is keeping the location and situation in mind when concocting any smart casual outfit, to ensure it’s consistent with any purposes you may have. The dress code works in all situations, except for special occasions like wedding receptions and birthday parties.
So, allow some room for versatility and stay open-minded about your style choices. Here are some tips for mastering the smart casual dress codes:
Smart Casual Essentials
To ace smart casual looks, there are some essentials you will need to get your hands on if they’re not already in your wardrobe. Here are some pieces we recommend getting you started:
1. A Dark Pair of Jeans
Though jeans bring a casual touch to your outfit, darker jeans tend to be dressier. And as we all know, a great-fitting pair of jeans will allow you to dress up or down your outfits. We recommend investing in a pair of dark, straight-leg jeans that will go well with a crisp white tee or a shirt according to the occasion.
2. A Pair of Chinos
Chinos are the perfect in-between, they are not as casual as jeans but not as dressy as formal pants. They’re extremely versatile, suiting various styles from casual, to smart casual to semi-formal outfits, and come in an array of timeless shades.
3. Plain Shirts
Classic plain shirts are a must-have for a smart casual wardrobe. Shop long-sleeved shirts in a more fitted style for a polished touch to your outfits. You can choose to tuck your shirt into your chinos or leave it hanging over your jeans according to your vibe.
4. Blazers
We can’t get enough of blazers. If you choose the right, flattering fit, these can compliment your body shape and your style. For the ultimate smart casual look, we recommend wearing a blazer over a basic tee and jeans combo creating an effortless style.
5. Shoes
There are so many different types of shoes you can wear for a smart casual look:
- Sneakers: Sneakers will add a laid back vibe to your outfits and look particularly good with chinos. You can look at sneaker release dates to find your favorite sneaker brands.
- Brogues: Brogues make your casual looks a little more office-appropriate, you’ll look sophisticated in seconds.
- Loafers: Loafers are another underestimated shoe that needs to be worn! Wear loafers with a dressy pair of pants and a basic white tee for an alternative-inspired look.
Final Thought
Everything looks a million times better when it is made to fit your body. Sure, we can’t all pay for bespoke clothing but finding the right fit without going to those lengths can be done. Ensure you have bought your jeans in the right length, for example, or get them tailored so they fall just right. Nothing looks worse than very oversized or undersized clothing…
Now you’ve understood the task – it’s your turn. Get creating some amazing smart casual outfits that are bound to turn heads. People will soon be asking how you create such iconic outfits.
