It’s the dress code that nobody wants to see on an invitation. It throws up more questions than answers and boggles the mind of even the most sartorially astute. It’s smart casual, of course, and unfortunately, it’s not likely to disappear any time soon.
The smart casual dress code doesn’t have to induce fear and anxiety though. It can be a good thing. At it’s best, smart casual is sharp and sophisticated but also relaxed and comfortable; it’s able to take you from the office to a date without second-guessing your style, imbuing confidence in the wearer and admiration in everyone else.
But – there’s always a but – if it’s not well executed, it can look boring and, at its very worst, like you’ve just thrown your suit jacket on over a pair of jeans. Smart casual attire is very easy to get wrong, so if you’re stuck or looking for a bit of high-low inspiration, here’s everything you need to know about nailing this ever-tricky dress code.
What Is Smart Casual?
Smart casual is, above all else, confusing. We’ll come out and say that right away. It combines two words that are essentially opposites and expects you to make sense of the gulf between them. Should you dress on the ‘smarter’ side or place more emphasis on ‘casual’? Who knows, but when smart joggers and casual tailoring fall into the same bracket, one thing you can be certain of is a huge number of interpretations.