Smart casual is an ambiguous term that can mean many different things to many different men. If you’re new to the men’s smart casual dress code, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed with what to wear, as it all depends on just how smart or how casual you should go and what the circumstances of the occasion are. When dressing for this cryptic dress code, it’s important to consider where you are going and who you are going with, to try and accurately inform what balance of smart and casual you should opt for with your outfit.
The general rule of thumb for men putting together a smart casual outfit is to keep half of the outfit relaxed and the other half formal. For example, pairing a tailored blazer and formal shoes with skinny jeans and a t-shirt perfectly blends both halves of the dress code. However, this pairing may not always be appropriate for the occasion you’re dressing for, which is why we are here to guide you through the many nuances of the smart casual dress code. Keep reading for inspiration on outfits you can create that fit the smart casual brief for a variety of occasions, using our range of designer smart casual menswear.
Men’s Smart Casual Outfits for Work
Depending on your workplace, the smart casual dress code is usually the safest option when it comes to dressing for work. For most office jobs, being able to pull off a simple outfit that looks smart is the key to staying comfortable and aligned with the expectations of your workplace dress code. Some of the safest options for work are pairing polo shirts with chino trousers or tailored trousers with a jumper or simple t-shirt.
Deciding on the perfect trousers to wear to a smart casual workplace can be difficult, however, we would recommend steering away from casual blue denim jeans and instead opt for a relaxed pair of chinos. Chinos provide the same level of comfort as a jean but are cleverly disguised as a formal trousers option. This pair of Replay Zeumar Hyperflex Chinos for men boasts a stretchy, all-black, slim-fit style that will keep you feeling comfortable all day long at work.
Replay Zeumar Hyperflex Slim Chinos £131.95, Barbour Bassington Polo Longsleeved Shirt £79.95, Lacoste Carnaby Pro BL23 1 SMA Leather Trainers £71.95 and Lacoste Vienna Watch £119.95
The key to curating the perfect smart casual outfit for work is to keep the colours simple. We would recommend pairing these chinos with a smart grey polo shirt to create the ideal base for a smart casual work outfit. This Barbour Bassington Polo Longsleeved Shirt is a fashionable and versatile item to add to your smart casual clothing collection. Made from 100% cotton, this shirt provides both cosiness and resilience, with its traditional men’s polo style and long sleeves making it suitable for all semi-formal events. The grey marl hue makes it effortless to match with any other designer menswear, working to keep you looking polished and self-assured in the workplace.
When it comes to choosing the right footwear for work, a smart leather trainer is a failsafe option. A hybrid between a formal dress shoe and a casual trainer, a pair of leather trainers is the perfect smart casual footwear option for all occasions. The Lacoste Carnaby Pro BL23 1 SMA Leather Trainers feature sport Ortholite performance insoles that offer long-lasting cushioning, wick away moisture and provide airflow, keeping your feet comfortable all day long at work. The sleek black leather outer with a small embroidered logo keeps the shoe formal for the workplace.
One of the easiest ways to elevate a casual outfit is to accessorise with formal pieces, such as a designer watch. Bring your smart casual work outfit together with minimal effort involved by opting for a watch such as the Lacoste Vienna Watch, featuring a brushed grey stainless steel strap and deep blue quartz face, this designer watch is the perfect way to complete your smart casual work look with ease.
Men’s Smart Casual Wedding Outfits
It’s becoming more and more common these days to see ‘smart casual’ as the chosen dress code for weddings. As we see a great shift away from a traditional wedding setting, the expectations for what to wear are becoming a lot more relaxed. The best way to nail the smart casual wedding attire is to stick with a tailored suit jacket and shirt but pair it with jeans and boots instead of matching suit trousers and dress shoes to lean more into the casual side of styling.
The type of tailored suit jacket you choose will then determine the colour palette you’re working with for the rest of the outfit. If you opt for a patterned suit jacket, keep the shirt colour neutral and pair it with a classic pair of black jeans. This Marc Darcy Jenson Check Blazer is the perfect example, featuring a traditional navy blue colour with subtle brown checks, this suit jacket for men is simple yet smart and boasts a sport, slim fit to keep the formal look comfortable.
Marc Darcy Jenson Check Blazer £174.99, Tommy Jeans Simon Skinny Jeans £73.95, HUGO Evito Slim Shirt £64.90 and Barbour Readhead Leather Chukka Boots £105.95
Dressed up or down, a classic white shirt is a must-have in every man’s wardrobe and can often be the focal point of making a casual outfit smart. This HUGO Evito Slim Shirt is made from 100% cotton and is cut with a curved hem and slim fit for a more casual look. Pair with black jeans like this pair of Tommy Jeans Simon Skinny Jeans for a contrasting outfit that is simple yet stylish, both with, or without, a complementing blazer.
The shoes you choose for this low-key wedding look will vary depending on the vibe of the wedding, location and how far you choose to lean on the smart side. A reliable footwear option for this occasion would be a pair of men’s boots; chelsea boots, combat boots or chukka boots would all work for this look. When styled correctly, boots can bring a level of formality to an outfit, and, when paired with a blazer, shirt and jeans, can tie in the smart side of smart casual. This pair of men’s Barbour Readhead Leather Chukka Boots come in a versatile brown leather colour, offer support and comfort for all day wear and complement the brown hues running through the pattern of the blazer perfectly.
Men’s Smart Casual Outfits for a Night Out
Whether it’s a work night out or an evening of casual drinks with friends, finding the right clothing pieces to throw together for a smart casual night out look can be tricky. It’s important to remember comfort is key to a successful night out outfit, and no matter the style you opt for, we’d recommend prioritising your comfort and confidence. One of the simplest ways to do this is to pick a flattering pair of tailored trousers and keep the rest of the look casual.
If you opt for a patterned pair of suit trousers like this pair of Marc Darcy Ted Tweed Check Trousers, then you should aim to keep the rest of the outfit simple, sticking to natural hues that complement the colours in the trousers. This style of trouser is easily recognisable as being ‘smart’, meaning you can now have fun with the rest of the outfit and pick comfortable pieces that make the look more relaxed. You could pair these trousers with any kind of t-shirt, polo shirt or a relaxed revere style shirt like this Farah Rincon Short Sleeved Overshirt.
HUGO Lokis Leather Jacket £318.95, Farah Rincon Short Sleeved Overshirt £27.95, Marc Darcy Ted Tweed Check Trousers £72.50 and New Balance 480 Leather Trainers £67.95
This white shirt boasts a loose, boxy fit with contrasting black buttons and on it’s own perfectly embodies the smart casual style, by taking a classically formal shirt and adapting it to be more casual in the material and cut. For a more layered, casual night out look, you could add a t-shirt underneath this white shirt and wear it as an overshirt.
When it comes to deciding on the best smart casual footwear for a night out, a pair of all black or all white trainers is a foolproof option. This pair of New Balance 480 Leather Trainers are one of the most popular on-trend trainers of the moment. Featuring an Ortholite insole for comfort and breathability, these trainers boast an all-leather outer that gives a sleek look for a great alternative to a formal shoe.
Finish off this night out look with a casual jacket. Whether you opt for black denim, a bomber jacket or a vintage-style leather jacket, the outerwear you choose can make or break the tone of your outfit. This HUGO Lokis Leather Jacket is made from 100% leather and offers a boxy fit with minimal fastenings to keep the jacket sleek and versatile. Pairing this style of jacket with patterned suit trousers and black leather shoes is the perfect way to transform a formal item of clothing into a chic, casual look.
Men’s Smart Casual Date Night Outfits
Whether you’re looking to make a good impression for a first date or getting ready for your weekly date night with your partner, a smart casual date night outfit can never go amiss. When picking out the perfect date night outfit, you should choose clothing that will make you feel comfortable, confident and true to yourself. This is where your interpretation of what smart casual means to you comes in – consider the place you are going to, the weather and take into account your personal style.
Arguably, there is nothing more classically casual for men than a pair of denim jeans in a vintage blue wash. A wardrobe staple for men since the 50s, a pair of blue jeans are the most versatile trouser option in any man’s wardrobe and make for the perfect base layer to any smart casual outfit. This pair of Lois Jeans Terrace Jeans offer a modern slim fit style in a traditional blue denim wash, giving you a solid casualwear base to build upon.
Carhartt WIP Detroit Jacket £163.95, Lois Jeans Terrace Jeans £44.95, Levi’s New Duncan Belt £24.95 and Blundstone Leather Chelsea Boots £169.95
Another useful addition to your men’s smart casual wardrobe is a shacket – this shirt and jacket hybrid is the epitome of smart casual style and has become a firm favourite in the fashion industry in recent years. This Carhartt WIP Detroit Jacket perfectly embodies this shacket style and brings an effortlessly cool look to your outfit. Pair this jacket with a tucked-in plain white tee to your jeans to help you make a relaxed style look more intentional and put-together. When paired with a classic white t-shirt and blue denim, this stark black jacket brings the whole look together to create a simple yet effective smart casual look that is sure to impress on any date.
Finish off this simple date night look with a black designer belt such as this Levi’s New Duncan Belt and black chelsea boots like this pair of Blundstone Leather Chelsea Boots to tie in the colour of the jacket. Contrasting the white t-shirt and blue jeans with a black belt and black boots helps to bring together the whole smart casual look, making it one cohesive outfit that exudes confidence and coolness.
Perfect the smart casual look with the help of Standout
With inspiration on how to curate the perfect smart casual outfit for men for a variety of occasions, it’s time to get shopping to find your new must-have clothing pieces. Browse through our full collection of men’s designer clothing, designer footwear and our men’s designer accessories to start building your ideal smart casual wardrobe.