#Snappy casual attire code#

It’s also crucial that you take care of your suede shoes. However, when it comes to shoes, it is really important to invest as much as you can in a quality pair.” “I’m a firm believer that you can create a strong, timeless wardrobe without spending a fortune on clothes. “A classic all-rounder, perfect for dressing down a suit or for elevating a pair of jeans or chinos.”Īs with most footwear, a pair of suede Derbies is an investment piece, and something it’s worth splashing out on in the long run, according to Ottaway. “It’s a must-have smart casual item,” says Ottaway. More relaxed than leather Oxfords, yet more refined than a sneaker, the suede Derby is a smart casual shoe that sits perfectly between those two extremes. That doesn’t mean a tuxedo with trainers, but it does encompass laid-back details in 'smart' pieces, and dressier 'casual' pieces, then fusing them to create a look that blurs the lines between the two. And ultimately, it’s about balance a little bit of formal tempered with a touch of off-duty, to create outfits that average out somewhere in the middle. It means making an effort, but not turning up in a three-piece suit. Just invest in a few staple pieces that build on that idea, but also offer maximum versatility.Īt its core, smart casual is all about looking put together, but not like you want people to comment on how put-together you look.

#Snappy casual attire code#

Think of the smart casual dress code as a contemporary extension of your classic smart wardrobe. The key is about incorporating finer-quality clothes that are still casual, but also well fitted and rendered in premium fabrics.” “Alongside high-end sneakers, the drawstring trouser is another example of how contemporary elements are creeping into the smart casual aesthetic. “With the suit-and-sneaker combo becoming more and more visible on the red carpet, the goalposts for what can be classed as ‘smart’ have shifted significantly,” says Chris Brown, freelance stylist and the creative force behind many of David Beckham’s most noteworthy looks. What’s changed over the last couple of decades is which pieces count as smart casual. In a sense, that's what it's always been. A sort of does-it-all uniform that you can bend and shape to fit in with your own personal style. 'Otherwise, it’s always a good idea when you’re going into unknown territory, but want to feel relaxed and confident.” In other words, think of it as your default setting. “When’s the best time to wear smart casual? For a lot of men the answer is likely to be: most of the time,” he says.

But according to Matches Fashion's head of menswear, Simon Chilvers, you just need to remember a couple of simple things. The other pitfall is exactly when to wear smart casual, especially since its meaning shifts depending on whether you’re at a christening or a works do. “When’s the best time to wear smart casual? For a lot of men the answer is likely to be: most of the time”

Not what you need when stepping into that tricky second date, or even trickier second job interview. The smart casual dress code leaves a lot of room for interpretation and, by extension, a lot of room for anxiety and mistakes. Much of the uncertainty stems from just how broad a concept it is. Equally, if you go only-just-smart and only-just-casual, there's no tension. Super smart with super casual is doable, but get a single detail wrong and you'll lose the equilibrium that makes the outfit work.

Smart casual outfits are about balance, but just like a seesaw, getting the distance between each pole right is critical. Removing your tie does not a smart casual look make. The trouble is, as brilliant as it is when handled correctly, smart casual remains one of the most misunderstood terms in the menswear lexicon. It must contain elements of both in perfect balance, so that instead of fighting each other, they combine to create an outfit that adds up to more than the sum of its parts. Now is the time to ditch the loungewear and master the tricky smart-casual dress codes that'll be stamped above most events in the calendar.īecause it is hard, this smart casual business. You do you, captain.īut now we’re back to meeting people in real life, people who can see and formulate a scathing opinion on those fluffy slippers that became a key part of your wardrobe. During those yawning stretches of lockdown, smart casual took on a totally new meaning: a nice shirt/knit on top, to keep up appearances during awkward Zoom calls, and shorts/joggers below, because how were they to know, really? Or maybe you were one of those guys who stretched ‘smart casual’ to its absolute limits by secretly conducting all of your important business meetings in a pair of boxers? We’re not here to judge.