In this third and final part of our series on “Smart Casual”, we want to talk about informal smart casual and take a closer look at the freedoms it allows. How informal may an outfit be in day-to-day business life, and how much boldness is permitted?

Of course, the choice of wardrobe still depends on your profession and must always suit the situation. But because we are still talking about smart casual, it does not mean that jeans and a T-shirt are suddenly acceptable and can be worn to work.

So what exactly is informal smart casual?

In the second part of our smart casual series, the focus was on the suit, as it can also be used very effectively in the casual sphere. Now we want to loosen “smart casual” up a little.

Let us suppose that the office allows you to dress a little more casually. That does not, of course, mean that we are now talking about T-shirts, shorts and walking jackets.

Much depends, naturally, on the industry in which you work, and in most cases no one will be able to dictate exactly what you must wear. Nevertheless, we do want to develop our style — and, accordingly, to show it.

Let us look at the practical side. If the classic suit, shirt and tie are not required in daily life — or if you are permitted to leave off the tie — then we have entered the casual sphere.

But perhaps you are not the sort of man who wears his suit without a tie? Then in this third instalment of our smart casual series we shall explain just how versatile your suit can be, and how you can begin to mix and become creative. That said, be warned: when mixing, take care, for it does not mean that you may combine everything and anything.

 

So how does one combine correctly?

The foundation of fine style for a man, whether elegant or smart casual, is of course the shirt. The shirt is a man’s calling card, and the beauty of the casual sphere is that here you can reach for shirts with subtle patterns, as well as colours that would not work in the classic realm. The cut of your shirt may also vary in “smart casual” and be designed a little more sportily (see picture below). But please, gentlemen — no T-shirts with your suit, for that is reserved for sport or the pool.

Now to the trousers: here almost everything is allowed that pleases you — from blue jeans to cotton chinos. Chinos have the advantage of being available in many colours while still looking good. If you do decide on jeans, please stick to blue or black; anything else looks cheap.

“Cheap”? No, that is not an exaggeration, for we are still talking about “smart casual” and not about comfortable leisurewear.

 

The most important thing in “smart casual”!

Lastly, and most importantly for smart casual, comes the jacket. Here there are countless variations in cut and colour — you will see that it is a real pleasure to choose the jacket that suits your style and your look.

The options begin with the sporty “navy blue blazer”, which is extremely versatile, and extend to cotton jackets with a washed look in various colours. Not to be underestimated are jackets with checks, and the different qualities of wool — from cashmere to Harris Tweed.

 

Where lies the art of mixing?

The great art of the casual wardrobe lies in the combination of colours (contrasts are very important) that you choose. Good advice is worth its weight in gold. In practice, you must ensure that all the parts of your look combine with contrast — that is, no dark jackets with dark shirts and dark trousers. The same, of course, applies to light shades. A little sensitivity is required here — and of course time — so that you can discover what suits you and how best to combine the colours.

We give you here a few basic rules:

• Navy is not to be combined with black, and the same goes for black and brown.
• With light tones, take care: beige and white are very tricky, as are various shades of beige together.

And we shall talk about the important subject of shoes in a further blog post.

 

Articles for further reading:

 

Part 1 of the “Smart Casual” series — What is Smart Casual?

Part 2 of the “Smart Casual” series — Smart Casual in Practice.