Ideally, the smart casual dress code should be reserved for your most important business meetings and social occasions. By dressing appropriately you send out signals that say “I’ve made an effort to get it right but I’m not trying too hard.” Getting it wrong though can seriously damage your image and credibility.
Before we begin with tips on how to master this tricky dress code we need to define what we mean by ‘smart-casual”. This is a term so overused and misused it’s lost all meaning.
Originally achieved by combining two very different types of clothing: formal and informal. Either casual clothes such as jeans and trainers or more formal pieces such as a shirt, trousers and tie. The result was unprofessional at best, sloppy and scruffy at worst.
Today, smart-casual encompasses much more than just mixing formal and informal clothes together. There are several styles of smart casual dress code that can be easily achieved if you know what to wear or how to combine certain items.
We’ve divided this guide into three sections: The first discusses the style basics (i.e., key looks, fabrics, textures), including some classic combinations for creating versatile outfits; the second is devoted to business dress codes; and the third focuses on date night dressing (a particular challenge in many relationships) dinner suits brisbane
To master this look you need to match practicality with elegance…Focus on natural fabrics like cotton, wool cashmere…..Elegant details like fine wale cord, nubuck and suede.
A well-cut quality jumper is a smart casual essential…Cable knit jumpers are a fail-safe choice to dress up or down….If you’re after something more distinctive try a thick roll neck with contrast tipping.
In the past it was considered improper to wear gym or training shoes with a suit…..Now many men wear them as part of their smart-casual look without any sense that they’ve made a faux pas. Sneakers have moved from athletic gear to wardrobe staple…..Just remember this rule: The cleaner and sleeker your sneakers, the smarter they appear.
Shoes – choose slip on driven mocs in dark brown leather for maximum versatility…Timberland boots can look very smart if they’re in black and worn with a formal outfit.
You don’t always have to wear socks, particularly if you’re wearing canvas or leather sneakers…..But if you do, pick low cut cotton socks that match the colour of your trousers.
It’s usually easy to tell when someone has made an effort to dress smart-casual….The inside details say it all: collars are well pressed and unrumpled, shoes well polished…Fold over cuffs on shirts remain crisp…..A watch is clean and clearly visible.
Most men think it looks scruffy to leave the bottom button undone but this needn’t be the case; just remember this rule: Only undo the top button and no more.
An ideal combination for a cool summer evening is a fine-gauge jumper and chinos, which can easily be dressed up with leather shoes…..Don’t neglect your accessories: a slim silk tie will add extra elegance.
The golden rule of formal dressing is never to mix formal elements such as tailoring and dress shirts with casual ones such as trainers or denim…..When it comes to smart casual however the rules are more relaxed….Invest in well-cut jeans that fit properly and team them with a blazer or cardigan…….Jeans look great when they’re slightly faded and full of character especially if teamed with jumpers and leather brogues.
For those not keen on wearing jeans, chino trousers offer similar comfort and practicality…..Men’s Chinos come in a variety of colours, from stone to tan to olive, that work well for formal occasions.
The trick with casual jackets is making sure that you don’t overpower the rest of your outfit with them…..A light cotton blazer looks great when combined with selvedge denim and a grandad collar shirt…Avoid wearing it at full price unless you’re confident about pulling it off: less expensive versions can be found on many high street stores.
Don’t neglect the humble T-shirt – smart-casual dressing sometimes demands one worn underneath a stylish jacket or sweater….Just make sure that if you choose a dark shade like black or navy you wear it under something slightly more formal rather than pairing it with a blazer.
Many men never go near their tie drawer as they can’t work out how to wear them…..The trick is to remember that ties aren’t just for formal occasions; if you’re dressing smart-casual then pick one with a small pattern or subtle colour and wear it loosely….You’ll look trendy without looking like you’ve tried too hard. A simple rule: If in doubt wear a plain silk tie rather than going tieless.
How many times have we seen the guy who looks as though he’s wearing his older brother’s hand me downs?…It may not be intentional but unless someone makes an effort to dress smart casual it doesn’t look good…..Your clothes need fit properly, no baggy jeans, shirts that cover your wrists and above all you need to pay attention to detail.
If you’re visiting a luxury brand store then dress the part; expensive labels should be treated with respect…..Jeans are acceptable but they should fit well and be dark or very faded; v necks and T-shirts should only be worn if they match the rest of your outfit: show some smart-casual class by dressing like a million dollars.
The truth is we could go on forever talking about how to get smart casual right but we won’t; we’ll let these pieces do it for us instead because when it comes to looking good no one does it better than menswear experts Moss Bros.
KEY POINTS
1) The phrase, “The inside details say it all: collars are well pressed and unrumpled, shoes well polished…Fold over cuffs on shirts remain crisp….A watch is clean and clearly visible.” shows the author’s emphasis of looking at the detail. Details such as well ironed clothes, shined shoes and a clear watch make an outfit look put together.
2) The article tells us that jeans look good under a blazer or cardigan when dressing smart casual. It also says that to master this dress code you need to invest in well-cut jeans that fit properly and team them with a blazer or cardigan. Jeans can be dressed up with leather brogues to give your outfit a sophisticated look.
3) The article continues with explaining that chinos come in a variety of colours, from stone to tan to olive, and work well for formal occasions. They can be dressed up with a blazer or cardigan as well as paired with jumpers and trainers.
4) A light cotton blazer looks great when combined with selvedge denim and grandad collar shirt. It is important not to overpower your outfit with the casual aspects: only wear it at full price if you’re confident about pulling it off otherwise seek out less expensive versions on high street stores.
5) T-shirts are acceptable accessories when dressing smart casual but they should fit well and be dark or very faded; v necks should only be worn if they match the rest of your outfit. They should be paired with well ironed trousers or jeans to give your outfit a stylish look.
6) Dark or patterned ties are acceptable accessories when dressing smart casual; if you’re unsure about the dress code avoid wearing one at full price and instead, if possible, try it out in store. Look for small patterns or subtle colours to match with your clothes as this will make you look trendy without making you look like you’ve tried too hard.
7) When getting dressed up at luxury brands stores you should look elegant and smartly dressed: expensive labels should be treated with respect so jeans would not be appropriate unless they are dark, fitted properly and have minimal holes therefore looking more classy than casual. T-shirts, however, would be fine to wear when dressing smart casual.
8) The article states that a dark pair of jeans and T-shirt is a great way to dress up for a night out but it should be a stylish outfit consisting of tailored or slim fit jeans and a plain T-shirt with the v neck being deep enough so they are not seen through. If you have an Apple watch then team this with your look to complete your ensemble.
9) In conclusion, when trying to master the smart casual dress code remember that details say it all: collars need to be pressed and unrumpled, shoes glossy and watches clean. When wearing chinos choose from colours such as stone, tan or olive rather than black; look at the cut and the fit and decide whether or not you can invest. Finally, don’t try to put too many casual aspects into your outfit: only wear a blazer if you’re confident about pulling it off otherwise go for less expensive versions on high street stores.
And that’s all there is to it! With this guide we hope you’ll be well on your way to looking like a million dollars (literally because we told you where to shop). Now go out there and make us proud.
