The smart-casual outfit for men is one of those styles that lets you truly express yourself. While it does require a certain degree of sophistication above casual wear, smart casual is nowhere near as formal as the business professional style.
But you shouldn’t limit a smart casual outfit for special occasions. Smart casual can easily become your day to day attire if you want. It’s meant to be elegant and mature but also comfortable and fluid to adapt to different locations.
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What Smart Casual Means Today
Smart casual means nothing, so it can mean anything. According to Mr. Porter’s Style Advice page, the smart casual gamut comprises “pretty much anything smarter than a tracksuit, but less formal than a suit”. Thankfully, and rather more informatively, Mr. P adds, “An ideal answer is a blazer, white shirt, neat jeans, and brown loafers.”
There is no one answer, though. In a well-meaning attempt to clarify that ironically complicates matters further, Debrett’s Guide for the Modern Gentleman draws a distinction between “formal smart casual” and “informal smart casual”. Formal smart casual is “a jacket or blazer, flannels, needlecord trousers, or chinos (not jeans), a shirt with a collar (not a T-shirt), and smart shoes (not necessarily lace-ups, but not trainers or sandals).
Smart Casual Style Tips
1. Chinos
Chinos are excellent to mix things up from time to time. The same upper outfit worn with chinos instead of your jeans will instantly change your overall appearance.
Invest in the right cut in classic colors such as khaki, navy, and beige which are easy to match. Comfortable and stylish, chinos also can help you achieve a smart casual look. Chinos are perfect for occasions with ambiguous dress codes, especially the smart casual and business casual styles.
2. Smart Casual Shirts
Mens Slim fit Casual Shirts, A few well-fitted long-sleeve shirts are absolutely essential to your wardrobe. For a more relaxed look, you can roll up the cuffs.
3. Smart Casual Blazer
A blazer is arguably what will set your smart casual look apart from any other casual wear. Start with a classic navy unstructured blazer that will be easy to match with any other items in your wardrobe.
A blazer a timeless piece that should remain with you for years so it’s worth investing in quality materials and design.
4. Smart Casual Shoes
The Smart Casual Shoes that you wear when dressing up smart casual will have a big impact to finish up your look. A pair of high-end sneakers can dress you down while a pair of classic Oxford leather shoes will dress you up.
5. Watch and accents
Accessories are perfect to add a touch of personality to your outfit and enhance your overall look. You can stay consistent with accessories that support your look or go in the opposite direction to create your own unique style. any of the watch categories can be worn with jeans, a chambray shirt, and a dress boots combination.
The reality is that outside of haughty horological circles, wearing a dress watch with a more casual outfit is totally fine. … If you’re still worried about looking like a wally, perhaps invest in a more casual strap that you can alternate with the dressier one.
Here are a few suggestions of accessories that you can keep for years to elevate your smart casual look.