The men’s guide to smart casual dressing
How to navigate menswear’s most confusing dress code
The smart casual dress code can be tricky to decipher; smart and casual, must be mutually exclusive, surely? Like matter and anti-matter, how can they possibly co-exist? The trick to perfecting the look is all about maintaining balance, so that the two elements work in synergy rather than competing against each other. The Yin to each other’s Yang.
First, let’s take a look at the history. The term ‘smart casual’ dates back to 1924, after an Iowa newspaper used it to review a woman’s dress and its ‘various interpretations’. From this suitably woolly origin the term has, over the years, somehow managed to avoid any further clarification, signifying basically anything that looks presentable but not formal, laid-back but not scruffy. Today it has managed to secure a place in the lexicon as the ubiquitous, but still no less vague, dress code for the majority of modern invitations. Still confused? You’re not alone. Read on for how to make this widely misunderstood dress code work for you.
Tip 1: Think versatile
The ‘rules’ around traditional dress codes are becoming obsolete, with the likes of morning dress and black tie being replaced by smart casual for everything from weddings to work to dinner parties. Because of this, versatility is key: build out a wardrobe of multi-tasking separates like blazers, slim-fit trousers, classic knitwear and leather shoes that you can mix and match with more casual pieces to cater for all the invitations coming your way.
Tip 2: If in doubt, start smart
Tip 3: Consider context
What you wear will be defined by the context of the occasion in question: you wouldn’t show up to a wedding in trainers in the same way that you wouldn’t wear a suit to watch a game of football. Tailor your outfit according to the setting, paring back a suit with a rollneck for an informal work lunch, or swapping your blazer for a bomber for a first date.
Tip 4: Build a smart-casual capsule
The key pieces you need for everyone’s favourite dress code? It’s all about making some clever shopping choices. Read on for six pieces to have in your arsenal, plus how to style them for the perfect smart casual look…
1. The wear-anywhere jacket
2. The unstructured blazer
3. The multi-tasking trouser
In the leg department you are looking for trousers that can be styled with your current rotation of basics. To stay on-trend, pick dark jeans or utility-inspired chinos and pair with a classic grey sweatshirt, hi-top trainers and a tailored overcoat.
4. The white trainer
5. The everyday shirt
The Oxford shirt is the very definition of smart casual, acting as a hybrid between a polo or rugby shirt and a dress shirt. Wear it tucked in with chinos, monk shoes and a Harrington jacket for a sleek silhouette, or leave it untucked with jeans and trainers.