What The Hell Is "Smart Casual" Anyway?

Hopefully I got the last winter post up under the wire, blame UBC. 

(shirt - Club Monaco | blazer - Bar III | pants - H&M | sunglasses - Ray Ban)

I get tons of messages asking me what look I prefer most--casual, business casual, formal, or what? And what's appropriate to wear on a daily basis while looking your best? In my opinion, smart casual is the way to go. The best way to think about smart casual is to imagine "business casual"--then lose the business.

Smart casual is a trendy, stylish business casual.

Unfortunately (for some of you), this means leaving the sweatpants at home. Forever. Sometimes it means wearing a tie just because you want to. Smart casual can be worn to dinner, on a date, out to drinks with the boys, or even Friday at the office. It's a sure way to become a stylish, better you.

How do you get started, you ask? Let's take a look at how I did it here. Wine/oxblood/maroon (however you want to describe this color) became very popular this winter--wine pants are a great way to get away from jeans for a while in the winter without looking like a fool in bright pastel chinos. Wine pants have been promoted as pretty trendy--and hipsters prefer to dress down a pair of super-slim wine colored pants. If you're feeling up for that, go for it. I wouldn't call myself a hipster but I've worn them like that myself before. Personally, I found these trousers to be a key component of a winter 'smart casual' look.

On top, wearing a casual oxford button up with a charcoal blazer conveys a certain amount of class--but your 'business' is checked at the door with your trendy wine colored trousers. Because wine is a dark shade of red and purple, keep the tone theme by wearing darker shades on top (don't go for your light gray suit jacket).

 If you were paying attention previously, I said "sometimes" wear a tie. When you do, make sure it's not the silk formal tie your grandparents bought you for graduation. A knit tie makes for a fashionable look that will not only lend you a trendy, but also sophisticated style.

Takeaways:

• Confused on how you should dress? Make your go-to smart casual. 
• Think wine in the winter--and in a few weeks, break out the pastel chinos. 
• A knit tie makes for a stylish look that will not only make you appear trendy, but also sophisticated.
• Other smart casual favorite pieces: denim jacket, trench coat, corduroy pants, paisley ties, selvedge denim.

Stay classy,

Wear It Write