Casual Wear Tips and Fashion Tricks Every Man Should Know
In theory, casual wear should be one of the easiest areas of menswear to master. But in reality, it can be a minefield.
Weekend dressing is the only area of men’s fashion that doesn’t have clearly defined guidelines. This sounds good, but it can create a sartorial mess for men who wear suits most of the week. There may not be hard and fast rules, but there are definitely some things that work and some things that don’t.
When it comes to tailoring, it’s often the smallest details that can make the biggest impact. A perfectly contrasting pocket square. The perfect shirt and tie combination. A silver watch face that gleams with navy that matches the jacket. These are the details that really make an outfit stand out. The same thought process can be applied to casual clothing.
When designing a weekend outfit, details shouldn’t be an afterthought. Pay attention to the small details. If you’re rolling up your jeans, always make sure your socks are stylish and coordinate with the rest of the outfit. Speaking of which, the selvedge of denim is a subtle sign of quality. Maybe invest in a well-made casual belt and try tucking your t-shirt in. Or, better yet, don’t wear a belt at all.
No matter how much it costs, no matter what luxurious fabric it’s woven from, and no matter how good it looks on a store mannequin, the bottom line is that if it doesn’t fit, it will never look good.
Fit is the number one thing you should look for when buying casual clothing. T-shirts should be fitted but not skinny; jeans should be slim and hit just above the shoes; and shirts should hang off your shoulders like they were tailored.
If you can’t find ready-made clothing that fits, seek out a local tailor and make friends with them. It will be the most beneficial fashion move you’ll ever make.
Never try to buy big clothes on the cheap. In this world, you often get what you pay for, and menswear is the best example of this.
It may be tempting to accessorize your casual outfit with cheap basics sold by fast-fashion retailers, but they won’t last long and almost never fit.
When it comes to must-haves, remember that less is more in the world of menswear, and casual wear is no exception. Go for understated, timeless classics to get your weekend style quotient up a notch.
So fill your wardrobe with pieces that last and never go out of style: a pair of slim-fitting selvedge jeans; a few well-made oxford button-downs; some solid white and navy tees; a pair of quality white leather sneakers; some suede desert boots; a lightweight jacket.
