A Guide to Nailing the Smart-Casual Dress Code

If you’re new to fashion, one of the most confusing dress codes you can encounter is the “smart-casual” dress code. Even for people that are used to going to events with strict dress codes, there’s a lot of debate on what smart casual is.

That’s why we’ve made this comprehensive guide to nailing the smart-casual dress code.

In this article, we’ll go through the different iterations of smart casual, the difference between smart casual and casual dress codes, and how you can build the best outfit that adheres to the dress code while still looking as stylish as ever.

Whether you’re heading to lunch or meeting with a smart-casual dress code, this is the right place for you.

What Does Smart-Casual Mean?

There are tons of different definitions of smart casual. Depending on the source you have, smart casual may include pieces like shorts, which don’t usually qualify as “smart” outfits, or fancy ties, which aren’t something you think about when building a “casual” outfit.

The reason for this is that smart casual is constantly changing depending on the times. What may have been smart casual a couple of decades ago might not be smart casual now. And whatever you wear to a smart casual event today may not be so smart casual in a couple of years.

In essence, smart casual is somewhat an in-between of formal and casual outfits. That said, the type of outfit you should wear to an event or gathering largely depends on the context. So, here are the most common iterations of the “smart casual” outfit that you should embrace:

Smart Casual

Many people refer to smart casual as a laid-back style. This means that just about anything can qualify as smart casual. When in doubt, it’s best to think of the dress code as more formal than a tracksuit but a bit more casual than a full suit.

One of the go-to smart casual outfits for men is a nice pair of jeans, a plain white tee, a blazer, and brown loafers. Of course, you can adjust this depending on your tastes, but this is a good starting point.

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Formal Smart-Casual

This is the more formal version of the smart casual outfit. One of the go-to sets for this dress code would be needlecord trousers, a collared shirt like a button-down or a linen polo shirt, and smart shoes like loafers or lace-ups (anything but sneakers and trainers).

Informal Smart-Casual

This is arguably the most confusing iteration of the smart casual dress code. However, this basically means changing into something nicer than what you wear at home. This could mean a plain shirt or a polo shirt, nice jeans, a pair of loafers, or a good pair of sneakers.

Given that, the exact meaning of informal smart casual varies depending on the context and event, so always check what type of event you’re attending before deciding on an outfit.

Smart Casual vs. Casual Dress Codes: What’s the Difference?

A casual outfit would be jeans, a t-shirt, and a pair of sneakers or trainers. A formal outfit would be a full suit. Smart casual is the middle ground between these two dress codes, and as GQ put it, a solid example of smart casual would be wearing your suit with a T-shirt instead of a dress shirt.

So, the difference between smart casual and casual is very minimal, but it can do wonders to a look. Smart casual is one step up above casual dress codes, but it isn’t exactly formal, which is arguably the best way to put it.