Smart Casual

Where did the smart casual come from?

This led to the fact that the line between formal, business clothes and street, everyday style was erased. Employees of offices, shops and other companies have the opportunity to make bows more relaxed, integrate atypical clothes for a formal style into them and, thereby, convey their individuality.

Smart-casual is now a field for experiments, where a wrong step can break the line and turn the look not into smart, but into too businesslike or, conversely, too relaxed. Making images in this style is not easy – there is no clear definition of what is suitable for it and what is not. So that on shopping you can easily navigate between things and make your own stylish smart casual bow, we described the basic things of the style and told in detail what is the difference between smart casual and the rest.

Characteristics

• Universality. The main thing that distinguishes smart from all other casual directions is its relevance in almost any setting. At almost every event, you will not be a "black sheep", because you did not dress according to the dress code;

• A combination of business and casual clothing. Since smart-casual implies versatility, it is important to maintain a balance between business, casual, and sometimes even sportswear. But having a clear understanding and sense of style, you can integrate almost any thing into a "smart" wardrobe with rare exceptions;

• Elegance without loss of comfort. Smart cavage involves the preservation of a share of formality, elegance, but does not force to sacrifice comfort for this;

• Restraint in colors and prints. In order for the bow to be really universal, it is better to choose the same universal colors. The ideal option is basic shades, as well as muted green, blue, burgundy. Brightness can be used, but for accents - in accessories or a handbag.

@oodji.official

How smart casual differs from just casual

Let's start with the classic casual style – a comfortable and practical style that differs in a combination of basic things and rejects the abundance of details. In comparison with smart casual – the classic casual style is definitely simpler. And it's not about the specifics of making a wardrobe or choosing things, but about the feelings of the image as a whole.

Unlike classic casual, smart casual:

• Simple, comfortable, but elegant - the right accessories, details on clothes, harmonious combinations of things help in this;
• More structured and formal. If casual can be described as relaxed and relaxed, then smart casual is relaxed, but with a share of formality and attention, thoughtful and reflecting what you want to demonstrate to them.

As for other subspecies of the casual style , there are three of them:

1. Business casual;
2. Sports-casual;
3. Smart casual.

There are also street casual, casual chic and all-out-casual, but we will not consider them - they contrast strongly against the background of the first three types, which means that it is quite problematic to confuse them.

• Business casual, like smart casual, is built on a combination of business clothes and more casual, relaxed. The task of the business casual is to create a comfortable and comfortable bow that does not go beyond the dress code;

@charuel_official

• Casual sport is casual clothing with a hint of sport, but without losing elegance.

Business casual is a great option for going to the office, if you do not have a strict dress code, as, say, bank employees. Sporty casual style is what you need to go to the park, cinema or museum, but you will not go to the office in such an outfit.

Smart-casual is an outfit that is equally appropriate for the office, and for going to the bar, and for a walk in the park. It is more elegant than classic casual, but less formal and conservative than business.

@ivanna_bekhtereva

Of course, in each case he will "play" differently - somewhere he will seem more daring, somewhere to emphasize efficiency and add seriousness, but an inappropriate bow in the style of smart-casual will never be.

Basic stuff

Smart casual does not have clear rules and instructions. There is no clear list of what you can wear and what you can't. Of course, we are reasoning in a reasonable environment - a crop top or a dress in sequins, of course, is on the list of stop-things, but everyday, business and even sports things give a huge scope for creativity.

The task of the smart wardrobe is to create universal images that are appropriate for different situations. If you're not sure if you've got a smart everyday outfit, answer yourself four questions:

• Is it possible to go to the office in it. We do not take companies with a strict dress code, but an ordinary, average office, where each employee knows the right to dress to his taste within reason;
• Whether the resulting bow is appropriate for going to the movies with friends or walking in the park, whether it will look like you have confused the office and the cinema;
• Can you go in this outfit to a bar or a restaurant;
• Is the outfit suitable for a more social event - the opening of the exhibition, visiting the presentation of a book or a fashion show.

If you answered "yes" to all the questions, congratulations – you were able to create a look in the style of smart-casual. Pay attention when we talk about whether the outfit is suitable for a particular situation, as the norm we take generally accepted rules of appearance, slightly averaged.

The task is to understand how appropriate and harmonious your outfit will be combined with the situation in which you found yourself and with the people who came there. A successful look is when entering any room, regardless of the event and the people inside it, everyone present will think about how good you look.

To move away from the theory a little and train your eyesight, here is a list of basic things from which you can make stylish outfits in the style of smart casual.

• Top. Plain, semi-fitted or loose, but not oversize. Both a simple and an interesting model with details, but without fanaticism, is allowed;

@patricialuisa

• Shirt. Purchase a basic shirt of a calm color, and in addition - a shirt with lantern sleeves;

@oodji.official

• Blazer - a calm shade without prints or in a now fashionable cage;

@megangadd

• T-shirt - without prints and drawings. The ideal option is white;

• Trousers – chinos, simple straight jeans, silk flying pants;

• Skirt. Monochromatic, it is permissible to choose a model of saturated color and from an unusual material - for example, leather or eco-leather. The universal style is a pencil, but you can pick up something more interesting. The length is just above the knee. Avoid mini and maxi skirts, as they distort the formality that is somehow present in the smart casual;

• Shirt dress. A versatile wardrobe item that is appropriate for almost any event. The color scheme, as in the whole wardrobe, is restrained. The length of the dresses, like the skirts, is just above or below the knee. Mini and maxi are contraindicated. If the figure allows, consider a knitted dress. It is permissible to choose the length of the midi. For the summer season, lighter, flying models are also suitable, but preferably basic colors and without a defiant pattern;

Shoes & Accessories

To complete the look, choose the right shoes. Oxfords, moccasins and ballet flats are great. Heels - with caution, as this makes the image inapplicable, say, for a walk or a trip to the movies. The ideal option is shoes with small or medium heels. Sneakers are a risky option, as they add notes of sporty style to the outfit and ruin elegance.

If you still decide on sneakers, choose the classic elegant models. The bag can become an accent, so models of bright color are allowed, if all other things in the image are in the basic range. The form is almost any, but close to business. It can be both with hard walls and with soft ones. With accessories, it is important not to overdo it - 1-2 details will be enough for the image. For example, a necklace and a bracelet, or a stylish watch. Earrings, rings - minimalistic, as simple as possible.

Smart casual for men

Men mastered smart casual before women, appreciating the possibility of changing uncomfortable suits for more pleasant things to wear. A classic image in the style of smart-casual for a man is:

Or:

Ties in smart casual are rarely used, as they immediately give the image a business orientation.

Write your opinion