As workplaces are becoming more casual, lots of men are left to question what is smart casual and what is too casual.
For example, maybe you used to wear ties and dress pants and now that feels like overkill at your new job. Or you work at a tech company and want to step it up a bit without feeling overdressed and out of touch. My favorite is when I get a client who moves from New York to San Francisco and they start to panic because everyone is dressed so casually in the office and all they’re at a loss of where to even start.
Just because an office dress code is casual, doesn’t mean it’s time to throw on joggers and a graphic tee and head to work.
“Dress for the job you want” still applies in a casual work environment, but there’s a trick to understanding how to do it the right way. Just because you’re not putting on a sports coat, dress shirt, and slacks anymore doesn’t mean you can’t look smart with a hint of casual.
In this post I’ll show you how you can dress casually, yet respectably at work. Whether your office is dressing more casually, you work in tech, or you landed a new job in a totally different industry that is more casual, I’ll help you look and feel confident, no matter what the dress code.
First things first, let me do a little translating from dressy to smart casual:
- Dress pants = chinos or dark jeans
- Dress shirt = button down, polo, henley, sweater
- Sports Coat/Blazer = unstructured blazer, cardigan, indoor jacket, leather jacket
- Dress shoes = sleek sneaker, casual derby, boots
- Suit = chino + button down + unstructured blazer + boot/derby/oxford
Now, let me break this down one by one.
Dress pants = chinos or dark jeans
I love chinos, they are a very versatile pant and can help you look put together without feeling over dressed. Chinos are between dress pants and jeans, and make an excellent choice for smart casual pants. I have a whole ultimate guide on chinos if you need to seek inspiration on how to wear them or just generally want to learn more about them.
Dress shirt = button down, polo, henley, sweater
Your dress shirt and blazer combo might be too much for a casual environment, instead, finding tops that are smart casual, but still look better than a t-shirt is key. Enter: button downs (untucked or tucked totally work), polo shirts, henley (step up from a t-shirt) and nice sweaters all make the cut.
Sports Coat/Blazer = Unstructured blazer, cardigan, indoor jacket, leather jacket
A blazer can feel way too much at a casual work environment, but don’t be afraid of the unstructured blazer. An unstructured blazer has no shoulder pads, making it the perfect professional-casual layer for work. You can wear it with chinos or jeans to dress it up or down. Alternatively, adding in a third piece like a cardigan or indoor jacket (bomber, chore coat etc.) all work as well. A third piece/layer is a stylish choice, especially if you run cold and need a layer.
Dress shoes = Dressy sneaker, casual derby, boots
You’ll probably want to trade in the shiny leather dress shoes for something slightly more casual like a casual boot (i.e. chukka, work boot etc), casual derby or oxfords or even sleek dressy sneakers. All of these shoe choices can help add a level of dressing up or down to your outfits. For example, a nice white sneaker with a chinos and a sweater looks casual, yet put together. On the other hand, an unstructured blazer, button down, jeans and boots make you meeting with an important client ready.
Suit = Chino + button down + unstructured blazer + boot/derby/oxford
Lastly, you’re trading in your classic suit by creating a faux suit from chinos or dark jeans, a tucked in button down or dress shirt and an unstructured blazer or sports coat. Suits have way too much formality in an office environment, but we still want the structure a suit offers like strong shoulders, clean lines, and an overall professional look.
Now, here are some examples of head to toe looks.
Alright guys, I hope this post gave you clarity on how to dress professionally smart casual. There’s a reason they say dress for the job you want, not the one you have. However, throwing on a suit or something overly formal can be overkill in a casual office environment. You still want the feel and authority of something formal like a suit, but you want to be relatable and approachable.
Let me know if you have any questions!
