Everyone man likes the way he looks in a suit. The sense of formality, the classic swarve atmosphere you carry, the cool style you immediately seem to have, it’s a look that you can personalise with your own preferences of taste and aesthetic. However, unless you actually work in a corporate law firm, it’s very unlikely that you’ll want to get up every day to put on a suit. But that doesn’t mean you can’t lose the benefits of the stylish suits, whilst still wearing something casual enough to get away with wearing to a friend's party, a hangout at the pub, or a first date at a nice cocktail bar. Semi-casual is a style of clothing that has a great range of creative options for you to explore and enjoy.
First of all, let's talk about mixing suits with casual wear. It’s likely you already have a suit that you can wear on fleeting occasions you need to look formal far, and that you wish you could get more use out of. Well, I’m here to encourage you to combine them with regular t shirts and sweaters from your everyday wardrobe. A black suit can still look sophisticated and stylish even when paired with a simple block colored t shirt. I mean, choose a lighter shade if you want to make the suit stand out a bit more (and avoid t-shirts with logos or pictures of some sort as you’ll look like a walking gallery frame), but otherwise it’s very hard to go wrong, with the result being a slick, modernised version of the classic James Dean look. With lighter suits, such as greys or blues, try and pick a t-shirt or sweater that contrasts more with the colour of the suit, such as a burgundy or a green. If the suit has a pattern, such as a windowpane or a light pinstripe, you can easily just wear that with a black sweater underneath. This creates a really nice effect and will really hit home that smart/casual blend for a nice evening outlook.
Okay, let's talk waistcoats. As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, a waistcoat can easily be worn with something as simple as a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, to just create a stepped-up version of everyday spring wear which looks both classy and cool to boot. A mid-range grey waistcoat is perfect for this. It’s sophisticated, it’s neutral and goes with a lot of other colours, it’s easy maintenance and not that expensive, and you can wear it with practically everything in your wardrobe. Simply choose a light t-shirt or shirt (blues, whites, reds) and a pair of navy or grey jeans to create a very contemporary look. Checkered shirts are also very good for this, providing a contrast from the plain jeans and waistcoat in its more eye-catching patterns. The waistcoat also provides a little extra pocket space which you can experiment with by adding extra accessories, such as chains or pocket watches. And if you want to add a little bit more texture to your look, here is my most valuable piece of advice. Invest in some good ties.
Guys, don’t hate the necktie. Don’t fear the neck tie. The neck tie loves you. The necktie is your friend. An easy way of adding extra colour, patterns, and diversity to your wardrobe it a good solid patterned tie going down the chest. I’m not saying you need to get boring slams of grey and navy that wouldn’t look out of place in an episode of The West Wing. But colours such a burnt orange, purple, red, and silver, with paisley, medallion, polka dot, or checked patterns can give you more options to pair around with. Wearing a tie with a blue shirt and jeans, with a waistcoat on top, looks amazing, it shows you’re willing to put in the effort, and it doesn’t throw casual gear out of the window. It merely offers a stepped-up look from those around you. And as the days become warmer and warmer, I urge you to play around with adding some ties to your everyday shirt and jeans everyday ensemble.
Semi-Formal outfits should be something that every man should be able to take care and effort into creating, that’ll definitely pay off in the long term. Elevate your look beyond simple jeans and t-shirt, through in a bit more class and sophistication, and you will be very happy with the results, I guarantee it.
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