‘Smart casual’ garments are a hard sell because they rarely come with bells and whistles. They are the clothes we often take for granted precisely because they are so versatile. They don’t grab the attention like a contemporary piece of fashion or a logo-rich, cachet-dripping luxury product. But maybe that’s their secret power. Because when the latest trend finds itself in the graveyard of hype, the classic smart-casual aesthetic continues to do its thing.
These pieces are the glue that binds our wardrobe together, so if you ever catch yourself thinking, “I’ve got nothing to wear”, chances are you need to stock up on the following…
Unstructured Blazer
The fully canvassed suit jacket still has a place in sartorial menswear, but for versatility and ease of wear, the unstructured blazer is king. This is especially true in the spring and summer months when tailoring becomes altogether more casual.
Bereft of any internal structure, this tailored jacket boasts a beautifully soft and natural drape and can be worn as a relaxed suit or separates. Look out for slubby linen styles for extra European swagger.
Oxford Shirt
The nexus of the modern preppy wardrobe, the Oxford Cloth Button Down (or OCBD as it is more commonly known) is a brilliantly diverse piece of kit. It is equal parts sporty and nerdy, which gives it free rein in your wardrobe.
Wear it with tailored shorts and deck shoes for a summery vibe, or have the soft-rolled collar peep out from a crew-neck jumper for a more collegiate look.
Drawstring Pants
Tailored trousers can be unforgiving around the waist, but drawstring pants don’t judge. Casual and comfortable, but most definitely part of the smart-casual canon these days, the drawstring trouser comes in many different guises, from wide-leg linen styles to cotton and wool variations.
The sporty silhouette means you can wear them with sneakers for a modern finish.
Loafers
The ultimate smart-casual shoe, loafers are all things to all men. They can come in very casual iterations, like the deck and driving shoes, or they can be some of the most exquisite leather craftsmanship you’ll ever put on your feet.
Yet at the heart of the loafer is a nonchalant attitude that works especially well with tailored chinos and shorts.
Knitted Polo
One step up from the classic pique cotton polo shirt is the knitted polo, commonly constructed from merino wool but also cashmere and cotton/silk blends.
Luxurious and elegant, they have slid into the most discerning tailored wardrobes of late, complementing fine suits and separates with a sophisticated sporty edge.
Lo-fi Sneakers
It wasn’t all that long ago that the mere mention of sneakers and suits would have had you laughed out of town, but today’s brand of lo-fi kicks have traversed the smart/casual divide to become bona fide options with tailored trousers.
Of course, they’re still perfectly at home with more relaxed streetwear looks, but a smart pair of leather sneakers can transform a pair of chinos or tapered selvedge denim jeans.
Chinos
Everyone’s favourite smart-casual trouser, cotton chinos are the lifeblood of the smart-casual wardrobe, but you need to know what to look for to get them right.
Overly tapered styles can look disastrous, so ensure the fit is slim without being tight if you want a more ‘tailored’ approach. Straight-leg and wide-leg chinos, on the other hand, are great options for a boxier modern aesthetic and will often come in a heavier twill fabric for more of a workwear feel.
Chino Shorts
As per above, chino shorts are a solid summer option for getting your pins out and creating a smart-casual look with a preppy aesthetic.
Although more casual than tailored short styles, chino shorts can still hold their own with a relaxed blazer or an OCBD. The cargo style with side bellow pockets is the most casual variant and is a great look with a polo shirt and high-tops.
Linen Shirt
Granted, the linen shirt is a summertime piece only, but the smart-casual wardrobe would be bereft without it. Besides being ecological (it’s made from the fibres of the flax plant), linen is lightweight, breathable and boasts a wonderful slubby texture.
The natural crumple in the cloth gives it a relaxed look that works really well with unstructured tailoring and preppy summer looks. We love it with tailored shorts and loafers for an elevated European vibe.
Overshirt
A workwear staple, the overshirt has had an elevated makeover in recent years, mostly in the shape of luxury fabrics. It evolved from the outdoorsy lumberjack shirt to become a versatile, lightweight summer layer crafted from linen, cotton or wool.
It’s perfect worn with denim and a simple tee, but it can also add a workwear element to a pair of tailored trousers and loafers. Cropped versions, aka ‘shackets’, are also a fantastic option if you prefer a more clipped silhouette.
Chore Jacket
Similar to the overshirt, only with more of an accentuated jacket silhouette, the chore jacket has long been a staple of workwear wardrobes. It’s an easy-to-wear spring and summer layer, typically cut from a rugged cotton cloth and featuring two packet pockets.
More elevated versions exist, most of which veer towards safari jacket territory but are equally versatile.
Selvedge Denim Jeans
A must. Selvedge denim is the best of the best – especially when it comes from Japanese mills – but you can find high-quality options from countries like Turkey that won’t break the bank.
With a heavy feel that requires some breaking in, selvedge denim jeans will be a loyal companion for years if you care for them properly. Slim tapered styles are a great alternative to chinos when looking to smarten up, whereas straight-leg styles are the bedrock of workwear-inspired wardrobes.
Crew-neck Sweater
Chances are you’ve got one or two of these in your arsenal, but crew-neck jumpers are often overlooked because of their ubiquity.
In the fall and winter months, fine-gauge merino or cashmere styles can be worn with literally everything, from blazer jackets to jeans. In contrast, cotton and linen styles come to the fore during the summer, complete with a slightly baggier, relaxed aesthetic that enhances breathability.
They can look preppy teamed with chinos and an OCBD, or you can style them in a more contemporary minimalist look with wide-leg trousers and sneakers.
Cropped Jacket
From Harringtons and truckers to bombers and suede blousons, the cropped jacket comes in many different guises, but they all share one attribute: a masculine silhouette.
The short shape is also great for elongating the body, so if you’re short on height, these jackets will add an inch or two.
Luxury fabrics have recently elevated this outerwear category, but a solid denim trucker jacket is still hard to beat for wearability.
Derby Shoes
More relaxed than Oxfords but smarter than loafers, the Derby is a cracking all-round shoe which you can wear with a variety of different menswear looks.
Chunky black styles have been in favour recently, giving the Derby an urban edge. They’re also great to wear with relaxed, unfussy tailoring, giving your suits or separates a workwear accent.
