Men’s Smart Casual Separates Outfit Ideas
With the return to the office and business trips in full swing, even the most corporate of companies are now endorsing a slightly less formal dress code. The ‘smart or business casual’ aspect of workplace dressing it seems is here to stay. This is something you can use to your advantage, as combining non-matching jackets and trousers – will breathe new life into your work and weekend wardrobe, not to mention existing suits that may not have seen the light of day since 2019.
Yet while the principle of a throwing together two different garments sounds simple, it does take some thought to nail the best style, colour, and fabric combinations - not to mention adding footwear. Whilst you may be able to easily repurpose suit trousers, adding a smart shiny suit jacket to jeans or trousers doesn’t work at all – your suit jacket must be of the textured fabric or patterned variety to create an elevated styled look.
To start you off on your smart casual journey, below are some looks that utilise separate pieces- you may already have some of them in your wardrobe.
If you need any extra styling help, don’t hesitate to email me.
The blue blazer and trousers/smart jeans is one of the easiest smart casual looks to master. Just make sure the jacket has some texture to it and doesn’t obviously look part of a suit. Try swapping a shirt for smart knitwear and shoes for a leather trainer to push the look further.
The unstructured blazer, comfortable and stylish. Wear with twill jeans or chino style trousers. Shirt untucked suits this look more than tucked in.
A jacket doesn’t always have to be a blazer. The worksheet, overshirt, chore jacket, shacket whatever you want to call it works just as well providing its a slimmer fit in a wool fabric. This jacket works best with a crew or funnel neck knit or simple tee.
Layering up for the British climate is key. The jersey blazer fits neatly and stretches with the cardigan and add a stretch cotton shirt for more comfort. The key to layering is to make sure each piece fits well over the other - no bunching or Michelin man silhouettes.
If you are unsure what works for you, get in touch to see how my menswear personal styling services can assist you.
Thank you for reading!
Lisa
