New Year, New You: Examples of Men’s Basic Dressy Casual

 

 

Dear Men, 

Here are a few simple looks you can quickly put on when you want to look pulled together and polished in an instant. Most items above are things you may already have in your existing wardrobe or should consider adding to it. 

Think of “dressy casual” as casual Friday at the office, provided that your office allows you wear denim.

Just a few notes on jeans e-h: Guys on the shorter side may want to avoid the finish on the jeans in g (above) because it can take away inches from your height. This also applies for men on the huskier side as it can make you seem wider. Also, while certain finishes are “in” now, they may be ”out” next season so be sure to edit your closet at least twice a year or invest in classic pieces instead of ultra trendy ones. 

So what pairs well together, anyway? 

Any casual day-time gathering or “just hanging out”: Pair shirt a with e-i, and shoes 1-4. The dressier the event, the darker your pants should be; wear shoes 1 or 3. For a more casual event, try shirt b with pants e-h and shoes 2-4. 

Going out to a casual party, dinner or drinks: Pair shirt a & b with pants e, f, h, and i, and shoes 3. You may wear shoes 4 only if you are wearing pants i. You may also pair any of the shirts with a dark blazer. 

Dressier dinner, drinks, a date, or a club: Wear C with D (do not wear a patterned tee ala shirt b under a vest, unless it is a long-sleeved dark dress shirt with an all-over small print) with pants e, f, or i, and shoes 1 or 3. Shoes 4 may be worn with jeans. You may substitute the vest/waistcoat with a dark blazer or sport coat and wear a patterned shirt ala shirt b.

P.S. The difference between a blazer and sport coat is a pattern; blazers are solid, sport coats have a subtle pattern (if in doubt, go for a small tone-on-tone pattern, or subtle pin stripe pattern in dark grey, navy, or black).

If your pants seem droopy, grab a belt. Us ladies would rather see the curve of your derriere and not your underwear. Not sure what belt to wear? A slim, black leather belt with a silver-tone or brushed metal buckle is always a best bet. It goes with everything and looks smart. You can often find inexpensive versions at Target, Gap, and Sears. Heed the words of General Larry Platt, “Stop looking like a fool with your pants on the ground.” When in doubt, always grab a belt.

When wearing your button down shirt open, please do not wear a plain white tee underneath. It will look like you’re wearing your white undershirt, which will make you appear sloppy. Wear a different color or something with a slight pattern. To appear more stylish and/or polished, avoid wearing tee’s with slogans and cartoon or comic characters.

Very few guys can get away with wearing a vest with Chuck’s, so heed caution when trying to mix the two. I’ve seen men do this with great, stylish sucess, and also with great fail. If you try this look, go for jeans with a dark wash.

If you wish to accessorize, add in a watch, funky belt buckle, a simple cuff, or a ring; not all of these together. A best practice is to keep visible accessories to, at maximum, three. If it’s cold and you are wearing a tee, add in a scarf in a dark, solid tone (grey, navy, and black are sure bets, though you can get away with brown and deep reds). Do not, for the love of the fashion gods, wear a scarf with the vest or sport coat/blazer.

Update: More reviews Coming Soon

Life has been crazy and I am exhausted. I would like to give you a sneek peak of products I’ve been trying out. Some of the products I have been using long enough to give them a fair review, while with others I’ll need a little more time to use.

• Dior Creme Abricot Fortifying Cream For Nails
• Lancome HYPNOSE DRAMA Instant Full Body Volume Mascara
• Carmindy for Sally Hansen Luminizing Primer
• Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer
• Makeup Forever HD Invisible Cover Concealer
• Fresh Sugar Rose Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15
• Ole Henriksen Aloe Vera Deep Cleanser
• Bliss Fat Girl Slim
• Philosophy Eye Hope Advanced Anti-Aging Eye Cream
• Bath and Body Works SLEEP Lavender Vanilla Scrub
• Korres Pomegranate Mask
• Clinique All About Eyes Rich Eye Cream
• Lush Bath Bombs (3), Bubble Bars (2), and Figs & Leaves Soap

Stay tuned! I also have a rant about “travel” products that will be coming up soon.