You've surely heard these two words many times, but you may not know exactly what they mean. Today at BESOCKS we explain what smart casual is and give you the keys to dressing the part.
What is smart casual style?
As we said, these two words are everywhere. But what exactly is smart casual, and how can we bring it into our outfits?
Smart casual is a flexible option that blends formal and relaxed, striking a balance between sophistication and comfort. Sitting between business dress codes and casual wear, it offers plenty of ways to combine pieces and works both at the office and at social gatherings.
The key is to mix smart pieces, like blazers and classic shoes, with more laid-back items such as chinos or jeans. Another key element of smart casual is accessories, like original socks.
When did business casual begin?
Business casual emerged in the United States in the 1950s, but became truly popular in the 80s and 90s, when Silicon Valley tech companies started relaxing traditional dress codes.
One of the big drivers of this movement was Levi's in 1992. The famous jeans brand launched its “Casual Fridays” campaign, promoting a more relaxed style for Fridays at the office.
Over time this approach spread to other industries, establishing business casual as a common dress code in less strict workplaces and breaking with prevailing corporate norms.
Which tops to wear for smart casual?
Now that you know what it is and where this popular trend comes from, it's time to put it into practice. Let's look at the essential pieces to get started.
Some essentials for nailing smart casual are unstructured blazers, shirts, knit sweaters, cardigans and polo shirts.
For outerwear, go for cropped jackets like the Harrington or a smart bomber. If you're tall, you can also add a trench coat or a longer parka for a touch of formality.
Which trousers to wear for smart casual?
Now that the tops are clear, let's talk about the bottoms that will take your outfit to the next level while keeping you more comfortable than ever.
Remember, the key to this style is balancing formality and comfort, so chinos, suit trousers or straight-leg jeans will be your best allies.
If you go for more casual trousers like jeans, make sure they're straight-cut and in basic colours, such as indigo blue. Save distressed or brightly coloured jeans for your weekend outfits.
Socks: the key accessory of smart casual
If you've made it this far, you probably know more about this trend than 99% of people. But the finishing touch to any outfit lies in the small details, like accessories.
Formal suit outfits leave more room for pocket squares and ties, but smart casual, being a little more relaxed, narrows the range of accessories down mainly to socks.
When wearing socks with a suit, you just need to follow 3 rules on how to wear socks with a suit. With smart casual there's more freedom when it comes to prints and colours.
Smart casual allows patterned socks, like the designs in our fun socks collection. If you're not feeling confident yet, choose simpler socks from our original socks collection.
3 essential steps to get smart casual right
To wrap up this guide, here are 3 tips that, together with everything above, make it almost impossible to get your outfits wrong – and help you find the style you feel best in.
Step 1: Find the perfect balance
Don't forget: the key to smart casual is combining comfortable pieces without giving up on elegance. Getting that balance right results in an effortless style.
Step 2: Choose pieces with the right fit
The right combinations and pieces are useless if the fit is wrong. Your clothes should be tailored enough to define your silhouette without losing an ounce of comfort.
Step 3: Play with details and accessories
The last step is what separates being well dressed from being very well dressed: accessories like socks. They'll add a discreet, original touch to your outfit, especially if you choose men's socks from our collection.
Now you know what smart casual is all about and you're ready to stand out at the office. Leave a tip that works for you in the comments and we'll add it to the article.
If you enjoyed this article, you might also like How to care for your socks so they last longer.