Smart casual summer style for men
In men’s fashion, somewhere between a style that’s laid back and a style that’s formal lies the wonderful world of smart casual.
But what does smart casual even mean? What does it actually consist of? When would you wear it?
If you’re wondering, you’re not alone.
So let’s break it down and take a swan dive into a few fundamentals that epitomize a smart casual summer wardrobe for men.
Here’s how we’ll do it:
Define what smart casual style is
Figure out how you can know if your outfit really is a smart casual one
Understand which fabrics to wear (and which not to wear)
Talk through smart casual wardrobe staples: what to buy (and what to avoid)
Suggest some smart casual outfit ideas for work, weekend and everything in between
smart casual summer style for men: What Actually is smart casual style?
On the scale of formality, smart casual is the sweet spot. The happy medium.
It’s not velcro sandals but it’s not a full tuxedo, either.
Smart casual clothing is tailored and fits well but also looks laid back and approachable, too. The outfit is cohesive and appears well-thought out.
And in the ever-growing “underdressed” company of American men, a smart casual style is a guaranteed way to ensure you stand apart from the crowd… without sticking out like a sore thumb.
At the end of the day, smart casual is a notch above what everyone else is wearing, but it’s an aesthetic that always keeps in mind the idea of balance, effortlessness and some degree of polish. In other words, everything looks intentionally put together.
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY OUFIT IS actually a smart casual outfit?
When you think “smart casual” it can be helpful to substitute the word “elevated” for smart to give you an even clearer picture of what this style vibe looks like.
To put it as plainly as possible: in the summertime, a smart casual style for men means yes to polos, no to faded, worn out graphic t-shirts. Other words to keep in mind when putting together an outfit include polished, sharp, clean, crisp, smart, and elevated.
Ask yourself questions like: Do these distressed jeans look polished? Does this faded, lightweight jacket look sharp?
Then take a look in the mirror. Does the outfit make you look polished, sharp, clean, crisp, smart, elevated?
If you’re having trouble being honest with yourself, ask a second question: If you saw someone wearing this same outfit, would you think they looked polished, sharp, clean, crisp, sharp and elevated?
Sometimes you have to take yourself out of the equation to have an objective opinion.
If you’re looking for someone other than your mom to give you one or just want/need some personalized guidance for curating a smart casual summer wardrobe, check out our virtual styling program as well as our in-person program to see how we can help.
WHAT FABRICS SHOULD I CONCENTRATE ON for smart casual style?
One of the cornerstones of a smart casual style is that it leans heavily on natural, breathable fibers like linen, cotton, chambray, tropical wool, hemp and modal.
The goal here is to avoid synthetics like polyester, acrylic and nylon.
Why?
Comfort has a lot to do with it. Natural fibers are super breathable and they also naturally regulate body temperature, which means you won’t turn into a sweaty mess five minutes after wearing them in the heat.
Synthetics, on the other hand, are notorious for trapping heat against the body. This is because synthetic threads are derived from oil, which through the process of polymerization turns oil into a plastic fiber that can be woven into clothing.
So yes; wearing a polyester shirt is basically the same as wearing a plastic bag over your body.
Plus, natural fibers just wear better with age, getting softer without losing their structure (when properly cared for), presenting a more refined and elevated look.
KEY COMPONENTS OF A smart casual outfit:
Here’s a breakdown of the key components of a smart casual summer outfit:
Fit: Should be tailored but breathable
Fabrics: think lightweight, natural fibers like linen, cotton, chambray, tropical wool, hemp and modal
Colors: Neutrals are always going to be your best bet for maximizing versatility in your closet to ensure that everything matches. But you can also add pops of seasonal color, too: lighter, brighter shades of your favorite hue.
Patterns and Textures: Always lean on the subtle side here. Classics like stripes and plaid will do the trick. Avoid anything loud or peacocky. You can also lean into textures to give your clothing a little bit of “something.”
SMART CASUAL SUMMER STAPLES EVERY GUY NEEDS
A smart casual summer wardrobe is going to look a lot like a capsule wardrobe: pieces that easily mix and match to create versatile outfits for work, weekends and everything in between.
Another way to think about it: you could reach into your closet at midnight and, without turning on the lights, could pull out two pieces of clothing that are guaranteed to go together.
So, here’s a breakdown of the specific items you can focus on to get your smart casual summer wardrobe off and running:
Tops
Polo shirts
Short or long sleeve button downs (remember, you can always cuff and roll the sleeves of a long sleeve button down shirt and keep the top two or three buttons undone for a summery vibe)
Structured t-shirts
Lightweight long sleeve knits or sweaters/pullovers
Bottoms:
Chino or linen shorts (if you need help determining the best inseam length, check out our blog post on What’s the Best Shorts Length for Guys?)
Lightweight chino pants
Linen trousers
Drawstring cotton or linen pants
Denim
Second Layers:
Lightweight jacket
Casual blazer
Lightweight cardigan
Footwear:
Minimal sneakers
Espadrilles
Leather sandals
Loafers
WHAT TO AVOID:
Almost as important as what to buy for your smart casual summer wardrobe is what to avoid.
You want to skip the logos, loud prints and/or colors, comically oversized clothing, busted up flip flops, hiking sandals, chunky “dad” sneakers, and anything that’s ripped, torn, or distressed.
Remember, smart casual is built on a foundation of words like: refined, crisp, clean, tailored, and intentional.
If you want a good visual, style icons that epitomize this aesthetic would be Ryan Reynolds, Daniel Craig, David Beckham, Cary Grant, and Don Draper to name a few.
SMART CASUAL OUTFIT IDEAS
Using the list above, let’s throw together some outfit ideas that epitomize a smart casual summer wardrobe. Use these illustrations for inspiration when it comes to putting together an outfit that looks and feels like you.
Weekend Brunch: Button down shirt, chino shorts, espadrilles.
Date Night: Elevated t-shirt, linen pants, minimal sneakers
The 9 to 5: Long sleeve button down, chinos, loafers, lightweight linen and wool blazer, cotton pocket square
Vacation: Polo shirt, linen shorts, leather sandals
So there you have it.
To sum it all up, smart casual clothing is tailored and fits well but also looks laid back and approachable, too. The outfit is cohesive and looks well-thought out.
It’s not velcro sandals but it’s not a full tuxedo, either.
On the scale of formality, smart casual is the sweet spot. The happy medium. The goal is for your clothing to look a notch above what everyone else is wearing.
WANT TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER and get help with your style?
Remember, sometimes this stuff comes naturally for guys and other times it does not.
If you’re still struggling with how to take the concept of a smart casual wardrobe and turn it into a reality, you can tap into our men’s styling service and let us personally guide you through the process, step by step, one on one.
We’ll show you what looks best on you and set you up with a wardrobe you love, handling everything from start to finish. If you hate shopping and want to look incredible as efficiently as possible, this is it.
We developed this package just for men and have been helping guys transform for the last ten years. If you’re curious as to what it looks like, check out the online personal styling package here.
Cheers!
Kate
