Smart casual (or “a little loose”) is one of the controversial styles. They say and write quite a lot about it, but it is difficult to formulate an exact definition. Smart casual clothing is preferred by men who want to look respectable, but at the same time informal. Next, we will try to analyze the features of the dress code and its main elements.

Different sources contain different interpretations of this stylistic trend. In each state or company, the meaning of the dress code is individual. After all, what is acceptable in one place may look inappropriate and even indecent in another.

Smart casual does not provide strict frameworks, it can successfully combine classic and trendy clothing elements.

The emergence of Smart casual

It is believed that Smart casual originated in the USA at the beginning of the 20th century. This was the era of the development of large corporations that did not make special demands on the appearance of employees. The style gained its popularity only in the middle of the century, when white-collar workers appreciated the convenience and sophistication of the outfit. The first images looked rather timid and unconvincing. For example, men began to wear a simpler cotton version instead of a formal jacket.

Key elements of a smart casual dress code for men

The main condition when creating a smart casual look is to find harmony between classic and informal things. With the advent of this style, men became more free in their choice of clothing. Even with a small number of items in your wardrobe, you can combine several interesting looks.

Men's shirts

The basic item in the Smart casual style is dark shirt of blue color. It goes with all wardrobe items and will never lose its relevance. The main thing is to choose the right shade. Ideally, you should have as many shirts as possible various colors and cut.

Important! A checkered or striped shirt will help to emphasize the individuality of the look.

T-shirt

It will look perfect in an office style plain low-cut T-shirt. It is important that it matches the color of the rest of the clothing. A jacket or blazer is worn on top, which can be easily removed if desired.

Blazer and jacket

Many men confuse a blazer and a jacket, because in appearance they are very similar. However, they are worn in different cases. So, for warm weather, a cotton or linen blazer in muted brown, beige or green is suitable.

A men's blazer can be worn instead of a vest under a jacket. In cool weather, you should opt for a tweed jacket.

Cardigan

In a conservative version the cardigan should be made of thin fabric or knitted. The collar can be either v-shaped or shawl-shaped. Sports models are fastened with a zipper, and classic ones with buttons.

Tie and other accessories

Will bring a fresh note to the image impressive tie. However, in the case under consideration, it is not a required attribute. If the event requires its presence, then opt for a thin knitted tie.

It is better to refuse standard office models. You can pick a tie matching the color of the pocket square. Among the accessories, it is worth paying attention to sunglasses and a tie clip.

Trousers

In the selection of trousers image makers advise abandoning classic models with smoothed arrows and straight shapes. The best choice is khaki and chinos style items.

Important! The color of the trousers should match the shade of the top of the suit, belt and shoes. Light colors are chosen by young people, while dark colors are chosen by more mature and respectable men.

And here You need to choose jeans in Smart casual carefully, so as not to break the border and not go casual.

Attention! The highlight of the image can be tuckedfrom belowtrousers combined with loafers for bare feet. The sleeves of a shirt and jacket can also be rolled up.

Belt

The belt is chosen depending on the type and color of the trousers. Since the style is quite free and relaxed, it is permissible to use different things of opposite colors in one look.

Men's footwear

Better in choosing shoes show your imagination and experiment. However, the model should be as close as possible to the classics. There are no restrictions on color, but blackyetbetter to replace it with bright brown.

Socks

Of course, some boot options are more practical to wear on bare feet. However in most cases socks will be needed. They have to match the color with some detail of the image, for example, with a tie.

Fashionable men's looks Smart casual (smart casual)

Let's consider variations of images in the Smart casual style:

• Classic look. The selection of clothes begins with a shirt. It should be one color or with a simple print. You can skip the tie and wear a blazer on top. Neutral chinos pair well with chocolate-colored shoes and a belt.
• Free. In this option, jeans, a white shirt and a dark jacket are appropriate. A vest with a tie or a cardigan would also be suitable.

• Multi-layered image. To create it you will need a one-color shirt, jumper, jeans, cardigan. How more clothes, all the better.
• In cold weather. Insulated wool trousers and a turtleneck are a must. You can wear a blazer on top.
• Sports look. The main attribute here will be fashion sneakers. In this variation there is a fine line between Smart casual and casual styles, and its transition can be very difficult to notice.

Successful combinations of clothes and colors

As with any style, there are the most successful clothing combinations. So, according to most famous designers, a blue blazer is a universal item in a smart casual wardrobe that suits any look.

A good combination would be combination of dark top and light bottom. For example, a dark blue sweater with beige trousers. A white shirt is also an integral element.

The main colors of the dress code will be black, white, grey, beige, brown, shades of blue and burgundy.

Advice! If you still decide to give up the tie, then it is better to leave the top button of the shirt undone.

Smart casual can be called a connecting component between business formal attire and comfortable, practical clothing. In terms of convenience, it is second only to sporty style. The uniqueness of the dress code is hidden in its minimalism. After all, you can have basic things and, with the right approach, combine them for a specific situation.

Last update: 11/05/2018

You've probably heard the phrase like casual style. And I bet this is a style you use often. But what is smart casual? What are their differences? In fact, this difference is quite subjective and many experts in the fashion world make their statements regarding the definition of smart casual very carefully.

To put it vaguely, this style can be defined as a little more formal than casual style, but not formal enough for a formal style. But more specifically, smart casual can be described as a combination of the following things: blazer, white shirt, formal jeans, brown loafers.

With your own eye, you must constantly look for the balance you need between unbridled casual and formal rigor, combining things from these two areas. The nuance is that you will look a little more presentable and smarter in situations where it would seem this is not necessary. But this will add extra points to you in the eyes of others. After all, until you speak, only your body and clothes speak about you.

The article consists of two parts: in the first part you will find out where smart casual would be the most appropriate and winning option, in the second - what things determine this style most of all.

1. 5 ideal situations
2. 6 flagship items

Conference outside the office

If you work a lot outside the office, it is important for you to maintain a presentable appearance while increasing your comfort level. A light blazer and cotton trousers instead of jeans will help you with this. Loafers for this look will look very relaxed, and oxfords will look very formal.

Therefore, brown derbies are an ideal option. Don't forget to take a closer look at our article about what they are and how to use them. In this look, you can easily work on a laptop in any cafe or hold a business meeting in a restaurant.

Art exhibition

You may be an art connoisseur, or maybe you need to surprise your girlfriend or business partner with your knowledge of masterpieces of painting and sculpture. Regardless of the goal, the image is the same. Classic jeans, white sneakers and a suede jacket will, in addition to extreme comfort, also give you the aura of a creative personality who understands the nuances of each work of art.

Maybe the whole point is that many men used jackets of a similar cut during the Renaissance in Italy. And now you can surprise anyone with your image, literacy and knowledge in currently unpopular areas.

Lunch after work

If you need to wear a formal suit, you don't have to always wear a tie and shirt. Especially if you and your colleagues spend a lot of time together and sometimes you need to relax over a cup of coffee or a friendly conversation.

In this case, a white T-shirt and a black low-cut sweater will give you a relaxed look. And the suit itself will nevertheless retain the presentability of the image and the necessary tone in the robot.

Meeting in a closed club

In Russian-speaking countries, closed clubs of various kinds of gentlemen are not as popular as in the West. But every year this movement is gaining popularity among us. It is very important that in such clubs you can relax, see how other men think, and make useful connections. It is unlikely that you will be asked to wear a tie to such events. But a lot will depend on your appearance.

By choosing an image like in the photo, you will definitely win a couple of points in the eyes of your colleagues. Perfectly fitting trousers, gray loafers and a thin wool turtleneck sweater will do the trick. Minimalistic textures and colors will hide all body imperfections, visually add several years of extra experience to you and make you stand out serious man, partner and person. A very strong image.

Dinner with relatives

It is not necessary to love your relatives, but meeting them is often necessary. In this case, well-chosen clothes can give compliments from family and friends, as well as the desired comfort anywhere: at home, outdoors, in a restaurant.

It is especially important to carefully approach the competent selection of smart casual if you are planning a meeting with the girl’s parents. Here, good quality suede Chelsea boots and medium size knitted sweater They will add goodwill and decency to you in the eyes of your parents. Of course, it is unlikely that any of them will know about your exploits, especially bad ones, but we all live in illusions in relation to other people. So why not create for them the illusion they want to see?

Linen suit

Double-breasted linen suit. Nowadays you rarely see one like this. It's a little baggy and maybe even conservative, but the benefits of linen and the possibility of customization are too tempting to pass up. This is guaranteed to be the flagship of the smart casual dress code.

Dark colors

The usual casual style is too often full of bright colors. Dark colors almost always look more conservative and formal. They better emphasize your taste - a stingy color scheme leads to the fact that people pay more attention to the correct size, quality of fabric, textures and play of shades. The man in the photo perfectly conveys this idea. It is noticeable that he is very comfortable in these clothes.

Double breasted blazer

A double-breasted blazer, as a separate wardrobe element, is a universal item for still cool days in spring and autumn. For smart casual it is very familiar, as it adds a lot of officialdom and charm to any other combination of things. Jeans, chinos, shorts, T-shirts and polos - the double-breasted blazer uncompromisingly changes any standard look.

Chambray shirt

Knitted tie

The tie is losing its position very much all over the world. The era of the classics is coming to an end. People want to dress not only beautifully, but also as comfortably as possible. Any inconvenience in style must be eliminated. When wearing a knitted tie anywhere today, there is a very high risk of being misunderstood, and sometimes even funny.

But the fact that a well-chosen tie changes a man’s sense of self is hard to deny. You can be quite confident in absolutely any style. But a tie is a conscious limitation of one’s own freedom. And the inner understanding that you are capable of any self-restraint gives you a huge head start in tone, energy and fearlessness.

The smart casual style is becoming more popular every year, as the formality of many companies is disappearing, and a corporate culture of fun, creativity and creativity is being introduced. Employees come in the most different images, without thinking what they are called and whether these things are combined at all. But if you approach this issue consciously, then at first impression you will look head and shoulders above your colleagues.

Free access to a collection of social technologies based on the works of Sun Tzu, Nicollo Machiavelli, Henry Ford, Robert Owen and Frederick Taylor. Study what aesthetic and ethical distancing is, learn to distinguish and use for your benefit the little things and details in the behavior of other people, find out what trends in changing society the digital revolution brings.

The phrase smart casual, which literally means “elegant everyday life,” is used quite often. Women and men in such clothes look restrained, but not too strict.

Smart casual clothing for women

We can safely say that many people suit things in the smart casual style. Conventionally, smart casual style for women can be divided into two types - casual and business casual. The first includes things in brighter colors and loose styles, while the second consists of clothes in pastel colors and a restrained cut.

In everyday life, smart casual allows you to wear jeans of any color and style (torn, tapered), as well as dresses and skirts more short length than office models. Stylists recommend that girls give preference to a sheath dress just above the knee length, and complement it with all sorts of accessories in brighter colors, for example, a scarf and a bag.

But an excellent option for embodying the business casual style for women (photo) would be a jacket with three-quarter sleeves, worn over a light blouse in combination with a straight skirt or cropped trousers.

Dress code smart casual: what is it?

Today, many companies allow employees to dress smart casual, thereby creating a new dress code.

Smart casual is a little looser than business casual, but it still has its basic requirements.

Its main features:

• The smart casual style for men allows you to ditch the tie and even unbutton a few buttons on your shirt, which allows the stronger sex to feel more free and comfortable.
• According to the smart casual dress code, women can wear jeans, but they need to be combined with chiffon blouses and cashmere sweaters, which can be complemented with an elegant scarf tied around the neck.
• It is permissible to roll up the sleeves of shirts to the elbows and use discreet accessories in the form of jewelry.
• For shoes, you can choose moccasins that fit into the color scheme of the entire look.

As you can see, these simple rules transform smart casual into a comfortable and non-boring clothing style. Now everyone can dress to fit the office confines and still look attractive.

Modern city women leading an active lifestyle sometimes find it difficult to find a bright, expressive style of clothing. However, recently this situation is rapidly changing; smart casual for women is becoming fashionable; This direction is distinguished by both originality and simplicity. There is a wide variety of models for any age and figure, the main thing is to maintain the image in a single key. In addition, it is necessary to maintain a balance between business and informal style.

Smart casual style is a fashion trend based on improvisation with familiar things. The characteristic features of this trend are officially recognized:

1. Apparent simplicity.
2. A combination of seriousness and playfulness (coquetry).
3. Active use of classic trousers and skirts of a strictly straight cut (pencil type).
4. Increased functionality, ergonomics.

The golden rule of style is to wear only what a person feels most comfortable in. The trend emerged in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when, due to the development of modern information technology, the number of people spending the entire working day in the office increased sharply. At first, adherents of the trend relied on rigor and formality, but in the late 1980s and early 1990s, playful notes and bright accessories were added to the wardrobe. The number of young people who love this type of clothing has increased. Giorgio Armani is considered the founder of the movement, because it was he who first relied on convenience combined with apparent rigor.

The motto of this stylistic direction can be described in a nutshell as convenience and elegance at the same time. If you remove one of these components, you won't get a fashionable look.

Smart casual wardrobe essentials

The choice of smart casual wardrobe items for women depends on the season. The golden rule of an ensemble for the cold season is layering. Such outfits are warm, and you can easily remove excess clothing if necessary. Basic recommendations for choosing combinations for the whole year are shown in the table.

When choosing styles, you should forget about clothes that are too spacious or, conversely, tight. Everything should be proportionate to the figure, since the motto of the style is maximum naturalness. The preferred length of skirts is midi.

Shoes should have medium, stable heels. Bright decor is not welcome, with the exception of one or two accessories to match the suit. Principles for combining things: neutral color combinations, the same cut of top and bottom (for example, loose or straight). Cloth different styles are not used in the ensemble.
Winter
Summer Spring
Autumn

Color spectrum

The main colors in smart casual style are neutrals. One or two bright accents are allowed. The most popular are:

• white;
• all shades of gray;
• brown, chocolate;
• olive;
• black;
• sandy, beige tone.

Current prints - with small inscriptions and logos. They must be done well readable font and do not irritate the eyes. No more than one inscription on clothing or a bag is allowed. Popular smart patterns: small stripes, checks, herringbone patterns, zigzag lines.

Clothing in bright, acidic colors is prohibited. The smart casual trend is initially aimed at young people, but is intended for the office, so the suit should not act as a distraction while working. To correctly combine the colors of clothes with each other, you need to stick to a single cold, warm or neutral palette in your suit. A white blouse or turtleneck will liven up any outfit, regardless of its basic tone.

Design and texture

To sew clothes in a smart casual style, materials with a dense texture are mainly used. This is wool (in winter), denim (in the off-season), any natural fabrics. Design Features:

1. Moderation, a reasonable approach to the length and width of the product.
2. There is a minimum of decor, with the exception of one or two bright moments that enliven the entire female ensemble. This trend is caused by the requirement for restraint.
3. Refusal from folds and draperies, from transparent flowing fabrics (women do not wear them to the office even in the summer).
4. The predominance of a texture that is smooth to the touch.

The most popular finishing elements: a variety of collars for blouses and jackets (turn-down, stand-up), small pockets (mainly on denim). Interesting types of decor: artistic stitching, large buttons, zippers, narrow belts. The main thing is to comply with the dress code.

It is strictly forbidden to use decorative elements that are associated with other styles (sports, romantic). However, it is difficult to maintain a fashionable casual look in a single key from start to finish. To do this, a woman must have impeccable taste.

Selection of shoes and accessories

Shoes are chosen to match the look depending on the season and clothing. To select the right combination you need:

1. Consider the length of the skirt or trousers.
2. Avoid unstable heels (platforms, stilettos).
3. Give preference to neutral colors.
4. Do not use decorative elements that stand out from the strictly office style (for example, perforations of shoes over the entire surface or curved toes).

Shoes should be practical, from genuine leather, textile or suede. Spikes and decor in the form of flowers are not recommended, but lacing and various inserts can be used. Suitable bag models: rectangular with a zipper, one large compartment and a short strap. It is allowed to wear small backpacks made of black or brown leather. Other recommended colors: classic white, dark blue, gray.

Shoe models that are prohibited in autumn and spring are sneakers, sneakers; in winter - fur high boots with ethnic patterns and appliques. In summer it is not recommended to combine with business suit open sandals, sandals. It is important that the clothing style is uniform.

Fashionable outfit ideas for different seasons

Interesting ideas stylish looks depend on the time of year and the age of the woman. Young people under 20 rarely choose smart casual, preferring sports, romantic style. The main target audience of the trend are fashionable women over 25 years old, focused on the most active, mobile lifestyle.

Summer	For girls over 20 years old: blue tight jeans, white blouse with turn-down collar and three-quarter sleeves. For women over 30: a strict pencil skirt with a turtleneck in a neutral color, a jacket. Ladies over 45: pantsuit sand or beige with vest
Spring-autumn	For young girls: denim shirt and trousers with roomy knitted cardigan loose fit, but not oversized. Look for women over 30: a closed midi-length sheath dress combined with a windbreaker made of thick fabric. For ladies over 45 years old: black, slightly flared trousers, blouse. Summer is the time when even to the office you need to dress, clearly showing your individuality
Winter	Clothes for girls over 20: slightly fitted coat and long tight skirt without decoration. Look for women over 30: gray wool jumper with long sleeves, any jeans, a hat similar to a men's headdress. For women over 45 years old: classic black trousers, a blouse with a stand-up collar and a warm thick jacket

You should focus not only on age, but also on your body type. A smart casual suit for women should not flaunt obvious physique defects. To disguise them you can successfully use various styles outerwear(jackets, windbreakers, cardigans). This will help diversify your wardrobe.

The material from which individual wardrobe elements are sewn must correspond to the time of year. Winter is characterized by dense fabrics, while summer is characterized by airy and light fabrics, but not transparent or flowing.

Smart casual is one of the most in-demand styles at the moment. The main advantages of this direction: a variety of fashionable and original images, textures, as well as a wide range color range. Experts say that the main trends of this movement and the clothing that belongs to them will be relevant for a long time.

Finding the true meaning of the expression " smart casual» ( verbatim from English "smart-casual") is not an easy task. The Oxford Dictionary gives the following definition: " neat, casual, relatively informal style, consistent with a specific dress code". But these days the trend is that " smart casual” itself becomes a kind of dress code.

Going online with the request “ smart-casual style“, you come face to face with a huge number of somewhat contradictory guidelines - some advise you to wear shorts ( not very dressy, and not particularly casual), others press on ties of inappropriate colors; Some of them even give the impression that they were carved in stone shortly after the appearance of the Ten Commandments. But today " smart casual” is more than a response to nineteenth-century prudishness.

« Smart casual“- this is a term that was destined for: bad luck for you, buddy!” - says Josh Sims, author of Men of Style. “Fortunately, the recent boom in “ non-designer"brands that offer something very, very everyday do not leave much room for thought about what kind of animal this is - " smart-casual style". In fact, the huge selection of modern casual clothing is quite dressy - and at the same time can be worn easily and casually, without discomfort.”

History of style

The exact origins of the expression “smart casual” are no easier to trace than to get to the bottom of its meaning. Dictionary websites say the term became established in the 1980s, but has been fairly common throughout the last century.

In fact, the first recorded use of the expression " smart casual"dates back to 1924 - it was used in an Iowa newspaper" Davenport Democrat" regarding a sleeveless dress ( far from the type of clothing that we are going to recommend).

Whatever the absolute truth, it's fair to assume that smart casual is in some ways related to business casual, and the two terms are often used interchangeably, although they are fundamentally different: one is strictly workwear, the other is not. But in the good old days, you could dress up like a dandy not only to spend a certain amount of time in the office - elegance and unusualness were welcomed everywhere, even in street fashion. As traditional dress standards crumbled, smart casual became a hastily erected bulwark against sartorial excess and eccentric chaos.

« Smart casual forms the link between formal attire and comfortable clothing with a dose of self-expression, and it is this link that men are increasingly looking for“, says Josh Sims. This style also causes some panic among “ authoritative looking guys» - all kinds of restaurant managers, event organizers. They can’t find a middle ground - and it turns out something like “ well, yes, I’ll dress with comfort and taste, but I’m not supposed to have too much comfort, and I have problems with taste“, so this all results in inescapable confusion. As a result, the man puts on a blazer, and under it a “business” shirt with an open neck. Don't be like this guy, please."

What is “smart casual” today?

"Smart casual" doesn't mean anything - therefore it can mean anything. According to the column " Styling tips" site mrporter.com, "smart casual" is " something smarter tracksuit, but less formal than a suit". Fortunately, there is a clarification: “ The ideal option is a blazer, white shirt, neat jeans and light leather shoes moccasin type«.

It just didn’t get any easier, right? Each of the proposed elements in our time has a huge range of styles. In a well-intentioned attempt to delve deeper and clarify the situation even more thoroughly ( and with some irony), « A Guide for the Modern Gentleman" Tom Bryant draws a line between " formal smart casual" And " informal smart casual«.

So, " formal"branch is " jacket or blazer, flannel shirt, corduroy trousers or chinos (not jeans!), collared shirt (never a T-shirt!) and comfortable shoes(not necessarily lace-up, but not sandals or sneakers)«.

« Informal"the option remains without such a detailed analysis, however, certain " comfortable dark jeans without any extra fringe", it is also said that " Polo shirts are better than sleeveless shirts“, and in the end we are advised to “move away from everything that you would wear at home.”

But, although this last piece of advice may seem vague, it is perhaps as good a start as any. One of the reasons why " smart casual" does not have a definitive definition - that it can imply wearing radically different things in different contexts. In a word, this is not only a style of clothing - it is a state of mind.

- Change your attitude!

Photo: Burton, Windson, Next, Reiss

« Smart clothing is about the clothing itself, not the style.", writes Sir Hardy Amies in his " ABC of style«. « Shoes must be laced, trousers ironed, tie knot must be tightened. That's what's paramount«.

The key words here, as you can see, are not “ shoes«, « trousers" And " tie", A " laced«, « ironed«, « tightened up". A white T-shirt, indigo jeans and brand new sneakers can look nicer than a wrinkled shirt, worn-out pants and shoes with cracked leather.

Of course, a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers will not always be appropriate. But smart casual is more about a mood or an attitude than a set of ready-made formulas or a combination of things. Just because the event you want to dress up for is informal, you shouldn’t dress yourself up in any way.

— Think over the “bench”!

Photo: Reiss, Massimo Dutti, Next

We have already been convinced many times that the style “ smart casual" lacks a strict definition. Therefore, it will be much more useful and practical to start with a casual outfit, and then change a couple of its elements to a more presentable alternative.

For example, take a bomber jacket, a T-shirt, jeans and sneakers. Gives off style " anyhow", is not it? Now - feel free to send a bomber jacket and sneakers to " bench" and choose something more interesting. Change your look and achieve the desired result - but don’t overdo it!

- Throw in some shade!

Photo: River Island, Brunello Cucinelli, Saturdays NYC, Daks

You don’t even have to change the selection of clothes described above in order to adapt it to your smart everyday life. The darker the color, the more formal it is, so making an outfit more presentable can be as easy as dimming a lamp.

So you take an olive green bomber jacket, a white T-shirt, light jeans and white sneakers... and replace the olive green with military green, and the light denim with a richer dark blue. Do you feel more impressive? Still would! Enhance the effect by swapping out your white T-shirt and sneakers for gray or charcoal. The components of the outfit are still the same, but the overall effect is completely different. The reverse is also sometimes true: a light tone is a smart style dimmer switch.

— “Smooth” is not always “like clockwork”!

Photo: Suitsupply, Avva, Bonobos, River Island

Others ( in fact, one of the main) a factor in a smart casual outfit is texture. Remember the samples of the most official men's clothing- Worsted wool suits, tuxedos. They almost always give a smooth, shiny appearance.

However, replace worsted wool with flannel or tweed, and you'll notice the difference on a metaphysical level. Clothes made from such materials often look a little larger, which definitely steps into style territory." casual"as style" smart» prefers smoother, more streamlined shapes.

Such " textured“The rule can be applied not only to suits, but also to many other things - shirts, knitwear, trousers and even shoes.

- Blazers!

Photo: Mango Man, Zara, Windsor, Recman

As mentioned earlier, throwing a blazer over a T-shirt and finishing off the look with jeans and sneakers is the most easy way To " smart casual". But blazer is different from blazer: gold buttons are always a little bad taste, it smacks of the type of people who ride on “ Jaguars“, but at the same time they drink penny tonics. The texture from the previous point is also important here: choose one that harmonizes well with jeans - and you are on the right track. Modern thin lapels, patch pockets that look more like stripes - very “ casual"Don't you think so?

By the way, removing the style from blazers smart» hangers will make them too ( at least by feeling) more " everyday"and comfortable to wear.

- Button up!

Photo: Zara, Burton, Carl Gross, Marks & Spencer

The T-shirt may fit the style " smart casual" - if it is simple, high-quality, fits well and has not been washed to death. But if you take a polo shirt instead of a simple T-shirt, it will be even better.

The buttons and collar innocently nod towards the style " smart“, but the overall look of the polo is sporty and comfortable ( in general, as the name suggests, these things were really conceived for purely sporting purposes). No stiff collars or cuffs, a fabric that is pleasant to the body without excessive shine or gloss - what more do you need? And it doesn’t matter that our grandfathers wore them.

Either way, think about how you want to balance your outfit. Polo is more smart". Something without a collar is, of course, “ casual«.

- Try it on, Jersey!

Photo: Suitsupply, Dondup, Next, Bally

Wardrobe items such as a jersey sweatshirt or sweatshirt were not covered in our guide. But swapping merino wool, cashmere or even cotton for these chunky, casual and sporty pieces can add a bit of sophistication to your look.

Throw a simple jumper or cardigan over a T-shirt ( and maybe change into sneakers) and you will look irresistible.

It's obvious that large knit won't have the same effect, although a cardigan with a shawl collar instead of a jacket may look more presentable if it doesn't have buttons or heavy moose embroidery. A knitted blazer falls somewhere between these two poles.

A few words about turtlenecks: too tight looks unpresentable, too sleek - as casual as Hemingway’s drunkenness.

- If the trousers don’t jump into your hands...

Photo: Mango Man, Reiss, Gieves & Hawkes, Next

« Trouser"part of the wardrobe is a common thorn for style lovers" smart casual". For the most part, jeans are perfectly acceptable, even for business wear, as long as they are dark and not distressed. But there is always a risk. In case of risk, there is a safe solution - chinos.

Back to our " standard set- bomber jacket, T-shirt, jeans and sneakers; replace jeans with trousers. This is not just a move into a “smart” style, it is a good opportunity to look fashionable.

A textured, not-too-shiny fabric like flannel or linen can add variety to your trouser look, but flirting with linen is definitely not for beginners. Not everyone is comfortable with linen and, to be honest, it doesn’t suit everyone - which is why most men prefer the more versatile jeans or chinos.

- Play by the rules!

Photo: Thomas Pink, Faconnable, Next, Massimo Dutti

As with jeans, nowadays the style " casual“Several rules have been developed, according to which you won’t have to count on sneakers.

If you doubt something, feel free to give up. The right shoes, of course, can sometimes pull you out of a catastrophically tasteless image - but only if your eyes fall on her first. And this, you understand, is the exception rather than the rule.

What makes a shoe style? smart» more « casual"? Firstly, the color. Black is the strictest, brown is more casual, light brown is the most casual. Secondly, the silhouette: a rounded toe is less formal than a pointed one, and the same applies to a flat sole. Thirdly, the texture is matte suede where “ more casual» shiny skin.

For these reasons " Chelsea«, « Derby", loafers and brogues - the best choice, how " oxfords". But in each of the categories there will always be something that looks too formal and something that looks too simple, so, as they say, tread carefully.

— Sneakers are also classics!

Photo: Suitsupply, Mango Man, Next, Zara

Many smart casual guides turn their noses up at sneakers, deeming them completely unacceptable. But this approach is somewhat old-fashioned. As practice shows, sometimes even purely official officials rely on them.

In cases where sneakers are appropriate, the most the best option- classic: Converse, Jack Purcells, Adidas, Stan Smiths or Common Projects in white. And now - we repeat what we have already covered: the darker the color, the smarter the style. Dark shoes do not attract disapproving glances ( and, in principle, does not attract too much attention) and definitely less messy.

In terms of texture, shiny smooth skin " stricter» suede and matte fabrics; the truth, again, is somewhere in the middle. Knitted sneakers can also look like “ smart"if executed in dark color, but in some circumstances they look too modern - and too far from the right choice.

And remember: if leather sandals are sometimes permissible, then flip-flops are one big thing.” No«.