The Mens Casual Wardrobe

As I said in my previous article, there are many flavours of this kind of research around. I try to keep mine pretty classic, however there are many instructing blokes to go out and buy suits merely to "deconstruct" them, as well as having a blazer and a pair of shiny black shoes. These are not bad suggestions, however I am going to keep this really simple. These are the things that you need to have a well rounded wardrobe of casual attire.

First, lets investigate what I mean by casual.

Casual attire is what you wear when you want to impress, but don't want to feel like you are putting a suit on and going to work. It is the kind of attire you'd wear on a night out with friends, to events, birthday parties or free-dress days at the office.

To start we need to get one thing straight. Jeans are probably going to be the centre of your casual wardrobe. I have three pairs. I love them. I have a faded black slack fit, grained blue denim bootleg and dark blue straight cut. For this purpose I am going to recomend a pair of dark blue jeans. The lighter your jeans the more casual they are - hence I wear my faded ones with thongs (flip-flops) and a tee-shirt when I am walking down to the pub on a Sunday afternoon.

Some jeans that I can recommend are:

Levi 504 in Dark Blue - RRP Approx Au$120 - Shop around.



These are a great jean, made by a jeans company - and the best and oldest one at that. Levi's have been making jeans for squillions of years and know what they are doing. Another cool thing is to go to the Levi's page at Levis.com and use the fitting tool on there to find the jeans that are right for you. I like these ones because they aren't rediculously tight, yet the denim has a more formal look to it. The perfect cross between relaxed and tre` casual.

Rock Republic Classic - RRP US$250 - See at Uncrate



These are a more slack-fit jean and are great for carrying your wallet, phone and keys with you without having to struggle to remove them when required. I find with some jeans that you can get your wallet (for example) into the pocket, but removing it is impossible without some form of surgery. Jeans are a personal thing and if you are uncomfortable then they are not for you.

Now you have your jeans and need to dress them up.

One wardrobe essential that I think every man should own is a crisp white shirt. Not a business shirt - this is a different thing and you will look strange if you try it. A casual shirt will often not have a breast pocket and may or may not have french cuffs for cuff links. Alternative to the business shirt, casual button up shirts may have a more relaxed look and will not be as crisp at the collar. This is up to you. I like a crisp collar, as this looks neater and leans toward a higher quality shirt.

When you get the shirt, consider having it tailored. A form fitting shirt makes you look slimmer, fitter and generally better. Tailoring for this type of thing usually means darting the back of the shirt, which is invisible to the naked eye (unless you have patterns, which I dont recommend). It makes the shirt look like it was made for you, rather than just something you picked up at the closest store.

You now have your shirt and jeans. Something on your feet is a good idea at this stage. I like loafers for casual wear - they look smart, however are a bit more laid-back than business shoes. If you have a pair of black or brown loafers in your closet, make sure you have a matching belt! Nothing worse than a black belt and brown shoes. You'll look like you are colour blind. Something like these...


Don't worry about spending a little more on shoes. You can get cheap pairs at Target or K-Mart, however a trusted brand will last you longer.

Jacket

If you are heading out for the evening chances are you may get a little chilly later on. You will need a jacket to keep you warm. The only rules here are single breasted and it has to fit. If you have an old suit where the pants are worn, check the jacket and get the truth from the people around you. This is what a deconstructed suit is - you can wear parts of it without the other. The colours, styles and fit depend on you, however it may be best to take it to a tailor and just ask about the sleeve length and the fit at teh shoulders. The general rule with shoulder fit is that you stand sideways against a wall and your upper arm (triceps) should touch the wall and the should of your jacket should NOT.

Here is a guide as to the style that generally looks great with jeans and a nice white shirt.

Alfani 3 Button Blazer by Slendicity- $Au$320 at Macy's



As you can see here; single breasted, fitted and in a warm tone. You can wear black if you want to stay safe, but generally I would go dark brown or dark grey.

My opinion on t-shirts is that they should be worn if the event allows. You can replace the white shirt in this article with a cool band "T" or on-descript logo on the front. Everyone sells these things now so you can pick them up as cheap as $5 or up to $50. Anything over that in my opinion, you are getting ripped off. After all, it's a t-shirt and you will inevitably trash it before this time next year.

Some tips...

Sunglasses - get them from a sunglasses brand if you can afford it. Brands like Ray-Ban and Bolle, Oakley and Maui Jim specialise in their craft. These companies know sunglasses and they WILL last you longer and give your eyes better protection from the sun. I tend to steer clear of designer brands when it comes to this stuff, as fashion brands know clothing, but they don't nessisarily know the sun and UV protection from it. One of the most beautiful pairs of sunnies that I have owned was from a prominant designer label, and as much as they looked great, they inhibited my enjoyment of a tropical holiday to the point where I went to a surf shop and replaced these $400 beauties for a pair of Arnet's.

My Sunnies - I will never stray again! Ray Ban Aviators - $230ish, shop around!

Now you have a base template for your casual wardrobe. If you have any questions, or want to make a comment, please feel free. I would like any tips or tricks that you have learned along the way.



Have a great week!