Do you fear the term ‘smart casual’? Never quite sure how smart or how casual it should be? Here are some tips to help you navigate this fashion conundrum.
The key is to give equal weight to both parts of the phrase – smart and casual. You should feel comfortable but retain an air of style that says you’ve considered the putting together of your outfit.
It’s easy to get smart-casual wrong so tip number one is to consider who made the request. This is important because what is deemed smart for one might not be for another. What is the context of the request? Smart casual for a work environment will mean something different than smart casual for a night out, for example. For a range of Ralph Lauren Menswear, go to EJ Menswear
Tip number two is to air on the side of caution and go too smart rather than too casual. The reasoning behind this is that it’s far easier to tone down a too smart outfit than it is to smarten up an overly casual one. Removing a suit jacket and undoing the top bottom of a shirt is instantly more casual, for example.
Colour is another important aspect to consider. Choosing darker shades such as navy, dark brown or black in any type of garment will instantly provide a smarter and leaner look, even if it’s a t-shirt.
Consider the cut and avoid anything too baggy. You should also avoid anything too bright, flashy or overly patterned or displaying large logos, for example.
