Wardrobe must-haves

WHEN shopping for new clothes, you should always decide first what you want and then look for the best items to complete your look. We don’t recommend that you start by picking a brand and then aimlessly browse through their collections.

Denim jeans

The backbone of the informal outfit since the 1950s, great fitting jeans can easily be dressed up or toned down.

If you want to project a more polished appearance, opt for a quality pair of jeans in straight-leg styles and a dark wash.

Chinos

Chinos are excellent to mix things up from time to time. The same upper outfit worn with chinos, instead of your jeans, will instantly change your overall appearance.

Invest in the right cut in classic colours such as khaki, navy and beige, which are easy to match. Comfortable and stylish, chinos also can help you achieve a smart casual look. Chinos are perfect for occasions with ambiguous dress codes, especially the smart casual and business casual styles.

Shirts

A few well-fitted long-sleeve shirts are absolutely essential to your wardrobe. For a more relaxed look, you can roll up the cuffs. Start building up your shirt wardrobe with easy to match colours. A white classic shirt is a foundation. Make sure that the collar looks good when left open to the third button but also when fully buttoned up.

Blazers

A blazer is arguably what will set your smart casual look apart from any other casual wear. Start with a classic navy unstructured blazer that will be easy to match with any other items in your wardrobe.

A blazer is a timeless piece that should remain with you for years, so it’s worth investing in quality materials and designs.

Shoes

The shoes you wear when dressing up smart casual will have a big impact to finish up your look. A pair of high-end sneakers can dress you down while a pair of classic Oxford leather shoes will dress you up.

Accessories and accents

Accessories are perfect to add a touch of personality to your outfit and enhance your overall look. You can stay consistent with accessories that support your look or go in the opposite direction to create your own unique style.

Here are a few suggestions of accessories that you can keep for years to elevate your smart casual look.

A few timeless items are worth investing more in. Some items in your wardrobe won’t last for more than a season. You shouldn’t spend too much on those. But others will stay with you for years.

That’s the case with a designer blazer, your high-end sneakers, or a luxury watch, for example. Decide which pieces you want to keep and invest in quality over quantity.

Cover your bases. When starting to build up your wardrobe, begin first with neutral colours such as black, white, navy, tan, grey and brown for your outfit. Those are all easy to mix and match and will never go out of fashion.

Elevate and personalise your look with one or two items. Once you have the foundations of your style in place, you can add your own personality to your outfit by playing with luxurious fabrics such as silk or cashmere and bolder colours. These should be reserved for your accessories such as your belt, watch strap, socks, etc.

Always look for the right fit. There is nothing more saddening than seeing a man pulling out the right style with the wrong fit. It will completely ruin your efforts if your clothes are overly tight and uncomfortable or too baggy and sloppy. If you invest time defining your style, make sure the execution is right.