They call it Smart-Casual, learn how to wear it 

Casual is a style that we all know but to wear it with style you must avoid the "I put the first thing I find or the one with the prettiest color" and start choosing clothes that combine according to a well thought out approach.

And that's when we hear about Business Casual, semiformal, sport casual and another term that is often misunderstood in how to use it, Smart Casual.

This is a style that although it’s casual it adds a higher percentage of formality than other styles classified among the casual that results in a classy look.

Business casual is often confused with Smart casual but there is an easy way to differentiate them, while the former is focused primarily on business meetings but without wearing a suit and tie, the second one is a mix between that professional look almost formal that integrates casual and formal clothes into a "smart" combination.

Have in mind that this style is also perfectly functional for the office and many jobs prefer their employees to use it, although its often common for the garment to vary between one company or another, in which case the recommendation is to make a small analysis of what co-workers wear and adapt it to your style.

True, it may be a confusing style to combine but this style often stands above Business Casual when you want to go something more elegant. But if there is a way to understand it, that is with the garments that best combine to form a smart outfit.

The key to Smart Casual

In this style, sport sacks and blazers stand out, they are practical and make any casual outfit look complete, has it ever happened to you that you love your outfit but you look in the mirror and say: there’s something missing?

Well, choose a good example, slim or tailored fit and you will see how it improves your outfit significantly while adding some volume to the top, use lightweight fabrics for summer and thicker fabrics like wool for winter.

Neutral colors are easy to match but pattern designs are also acceptable and if you want to light up your outfit wear them in a somewhat more striking color and keep your other garments in more traditional tones.

The derby shoes are excellent for the smart as they go very well with the previous top garments as well as the loafers and the brogue design. Thick soles are recommended.

Pants for the smart are the Chinese and the persimmons, and although jeans aren’t the first option you can use them if they have a solid color, like dark indigo and without details that are too casual. You should also combine them with a blazer and a shirt that looks rather for formal occasions like a light blue  oxford.

And since we're talking about shirts, those with soft tones and the traditional ones go well, but you can go further and use other patterns like thin vertical stripes or small squares. You can use them with one or two buttons above without buttoning.

Mention deserves the button-down shirts that are another of the clothing emblems of this style, since its two buttons in the neck add a casual touch to the shirt of more formal appearance.

Neckties are an additional and optional addition that you can use when your outfit gets closer to the formal side but not quite at all.

You can also consider sweaters, they’re practical and give you a good look, and the "V" neck is great to let some of the design of your shirt look. The unicolor are the basics, but feel free to choose some with geometric designs or even gradients.

Vest and button type are also eligible and they give you an intellectual appearance.

If you are not sure about the combination but you think you have made the right things and you feel comfortable, then it is very likely that you have managed to find this look. And remember, it’s better to dress in something more elegant than expected than wearing a flat and more informal attire.

×