My absolute favourite dress code for when I am putting together my outfits has to be smart casual. It’s the most versatile dress code which means you look smart, without being too formal or stuffy.
It’s the one where you can’t be underdressed or overdressed, and if you get it right you look good at all times.
Here’s what a smart casual dress code looks like for men.
Key Takeaways
- The smart casual dress code sits between casual and formal
- Tops: Plain T Shirts, button down shirts, polo shirts, plain jumpers and sweaters
- Bottoms: Dark solid colour jeans, chinos, tailored trousers
- Footwear: Smart shoes such as Oxford, Derby, loafers or brogues, clean minimalist trainers
- Outerwear: Blazers, smart bomber jackets, pea coats, overcoats
- Avoid: Sportswear, graphic t-shirts, distressed denim, sports trainers, full suits, ties
What Does Smart Casual Actually Mean For Men?
Here I am wearing a light blue shirt, navy blazer and beige chinos
To sum up smart casual in one sentence: Look smart without being formal. No tie required, no stuffy suit, but still smart.
If you’re ever going to an event, a formal dinner, you’re dressing for a date or you want to get dressed up without looking too formal, that’s where smart casual lives in the dress code scale.
It’s a brilliant way of dressing, because there’s pretty much endless numbers of outfits you can put together. Smart casual is not just about one or two pieces, but describes your outfit as a whole.
What does this mean?
It means you can wear a T-shirt in the smart casual dress code, but it depends on the style of the t-shirt, and what you wear with it.
An example can be wearing a plain t-shirt with a blazer, a pair of dark denim jeans and brogues. This is a smart causal outfit.
Wearing a t-shirt on it’s own keeps it casual, and of course the most graphical the tee is, the more casual it looks.
When To Wear Smart Casual
The greatest thing about smart casual outfits is the sheer number of occasions you can wear them. Smart casual is good for:
- At work and the office – You’ll look the part without wearing a suit, and feel comfortable and not stuffy.
- Going on a night out – Out with the lads or out with your girl, you’ll look good from pubs to bars and clubs.
- Smart casual date nights – Look smart on your date without being too formal.
- A good restaurant outfit – Out for dinner or out for drinks, smart casual is the perfect outfit choice.
- Christening – Events like a christening are the perfect choice when it comes to wearing a smart casual outfit.
Key Pieces In A Smart Casual Outfit
When it comes to putting together a smart casual outfit, you can’t go wrong with a plain button down Oxford shirt. A smart shirt is a good starting point to any smart casual outfit.
You can then layer this with a blazer or sports coat, and on your bottom half, wear a pair of chinos. For footwear, go for a pair of brogues.
Shirts
I am wearing a navy shirt, white jeans and brown Loake Oxford shoes as part of a smart casual outfit.
I love to wear shirts as part of a smart casual outfit. They’re an easy go-to when you want to dress up any outfit, and a good starting point.
An Oxford button down shirt is a good piece to start with.
T Shirts
I am wearing a plain white T Shirt and black jeans as part of a smart casual outfit
When it comes to T-shirts for a smart casual dress code, it’s important to pick the correct one. Tees are a casual piece of clothing, so it comes down to picking the right one, then pairing it up with smarter clothing.
When it comes to picking a t-shirt, go for a plain one. This could be plain white, plain black or another staple colour such as navy or grey.
Polo Shirts
I am wearing my navy blue Lacoste polo shirt with dark chinos
Polo shirts can be seen as a more dressy T-shirt. I love polo shirts, and there’s great brands like Lacoste and Ralph Lauren who make good polos.
They sit in between a t-shirt and a dress shirt. Not too casual, not too formal.
Jeans
I am wearing a black button up shirt with black jeans from Nudie and a pair of brogue shoes
When it comes to jeans, they’re probably the most worn item for guys out there.
I’ve got a wardrobe full of them, and you probably do too. The right pair of jeans can be used in a smart casual outfit.
For a smart casual outfit you should pick solid denim, dark in colour. Indigo blue and black work well. You should avoid light colours, and especially distressed denim.
Chinos
Wearing beige chinos with a light blue shirt and navy blazer jacket
Chinos are a good option, and I love to wear a pair of chinos for a smart casual outfit. They can be seen as a casual pair of trousers.
The best thing about them is the number of colours available in comparison to jeans. I like to pick out beige and neutral colours which go well with lots of clothes.
Tailored Trousers
Wearing tailored trousers as part of a suit with a white shirt and black derby shoes
Tailored trousers are the most formal of the bottoms that you can wear. They will be the smart piece of the outfit, and you can combine them with a shirt or polo to bring the outfit into the smart casual dress code.
Footwear
Wearing black derby shoes from Kurt Geiger along with black selvedge denim jeans from Nudie Jeans
There’s tons of footwear out there, and I love to wear minimalist trainers when I’m wearing a smart casual outfit. I go with an all white pair, Adidas Stan Smiths work well.
Other options include loafers, Oxfords or my favourite when I want to go for shoes over trainers, brogues.
Jumpers And Sweaters
Wearing a navy V-neck sweater along with navy chinos and a layered white button down shirt.
When it’s winter season and I need to dress more warm, throwing over a jumper is the way.
Layering is great, and wearing a jumper over a shirt is always going to look smart without being too formal.
Outerwear
Wearing my Massimo Dutti Overcoat with a plain grey sweatshirt and dark chinos
In the summer months, wearing blazers and sports coats is a good way of looking smart without being too stuffy.
When it gets colder, wearing a pea coat or overcoat is my go to when I want to dress up without being formal.
What To Avoid When Dressing In Smart Casual Clothing
When you’re putting together a smart casual outfit, you don’t want to be over-dressed.
That means you should avoid a full suit, a neck tie, bow tie and other super formal clothing. Patent leather shoes should be avoided, as should super formal shirts.
You’ll also want to avoid really casual clothing. Graphic t-shirts, band tees, and oversized fits are too relaxed for smart casual.
As already mentioned avoid light colour distressed denim, sports clothing and footwear, and really relaxed style clothing.
Smart Casual vs Casual Clothing For Men
The difference between smart casual and casual is the style of the clothing itself, rather than the garment.
As I already mentioned above, a plain t-shirt can be worn in a smart casual setting, however a graphic tee, band t-shirt or football shirt is usually more casual.
A light colour distressed pair of jeans is casual, while a solid colour dark denim such as a pair of indigo jeans or black jeans can be worn in a smart casual outfit.
Smart Casual vs Formal Clothing For Men
The difference between smart casual and formal is that formal dressing has more stringent rules, whereas smart casual does not.
For example formal can include black tie, which means you have to wear a black tuxedo and bow-tie, no exceptions. Smart casual you can still dress smart with a suit, but ditch the tie.
Formal clothing for men usually means suit and tie, polished smart shoes, smart shirt. A smart casual outfit can take components of a formal outfit, and sprinkle in some more casual items, creating a sleek outfit.
Final Thoughts On Smart Casual
I love the smart casual dress code, it’s the most versatile dress code that you can wear in almost any situation. It’s easy to learn and not too difficult to master.
When the occasion dictates you have to dress up but there’s no formal dress code, smart casual is the way to go.
Smart Casual Dress Code FAQ
Are T Shirts Smart Casual?
T Shirts are considered smart casual, if you wear plain t-shirts and combine them with other clothing considered to be smart casual.
This includes dark denim, chinos and tailored trousers. You can layer a t-shirt with a blazer to make it a smart casual outfit.
Are Jeans Smart Casual?
Solid dark colour jeans can be worn in a smart casual outfit. Avoid light colour and distressed denim jeans, which are more relaxed and casual, and not smart casual.
Can I Wear Shorts In Smart Casual?
In the summer months and when it’s hot, you can wear certain shorts as part of a smart casual outfit. This includes chino shorts and tailored shorts which both look smart.
Are Chinos Better Than Jeans For Smart Casual?
Chinos are as good for smart casual as a smart pair of jeans. The added benefit of chinos is that they can be seen as leaning towards a smarter outfit, and there is a large number of colours available.
Is A Polo Shirt Better Than A T-Shirt For Smart Casual?
A polo shirt is better at pulling off the smart casual dress code if you don’t intend to layer a t-shirt.
Since t-shirts are considered more casual, they should be layered to dress them up, and only plain tees can be considered smart casual. Polo shirts have a button placket, so look that tiny bit smarter.
Can I Wear Smart Casual To A Wedding?
When it comes to dressing for a wedding, you should take a look at the dress code on the invitation, or ask the bride or groom.
Usually weddings are a smart affair, where you would wear a suit and tie. However as time goes on, more and more people adopt a more smart casual dress code.
The universal answer for most guys will be wear a suit for a wedding. If you’ve been told smart casual, then you can go for a more relaxed choice.
Can I Wear Smart Casual To Work?
If you work in an office, smart casual for men is a very common style of dress.
Business casual and business professional are sometimes used as dress codes, but this is very similar to a smart casual outfit.
About Michael
Michael Adams is the founder and editor of Michael 84, blogger from Newcastle, UK. Sharing men's fashion tips, style advice and lifestyle information for all guys.
