Elevated casual outfits for men…..how to improve your everyday style
For the past couple of months, I’ve been really busy with men’s personal shopping trips, and a lot of my clients have a similar brief……how to look better in their everyday casual clothes.
Most of them don't want to dress smarter as such. In fact, many work in tech, where a formal look would feel completely out of place. Instead, they want to look more stylish, more put together and more confident in what they wear every day.
They're ready to move on from the usual jeans and T-shirt, or hoodie combo but aren't quite sure how. For the majority a tailored blazer isn't the answer either (unless it's an unstructured, very casual version) as that’s still too smart. They want to feel comfortable and relaxed, but with outfits that look more considered.
I call this “elevated casual”.
It's the sweet spot between casual and smart……outfits that feel easy to wear, but have have been upgraded so you look like you've made an effort without trying too hard.
I thought it might be helpful to share some of the outfits / items that I’ve been buying with clients recently, and explain why they work. Hopefully it’ll give you some inspiration and show you how a few thoughtful changes can really switch up your everyday casual wardrobe.
This outfit was actually for a retired client, which is another reason you might want to embrace elevated casual style. You don't need to dress for work anymore, but it's nice to have outfits that feel a step up from your "at home" or "dog walking" clothes—something you can happily wear to a friend's for dinner, a trip into town or a drink at the pub.
I ended up buying versions of this jacquard T-shirt for several clients (it also comes in navy). The textured weave and more structured shape make it feel a touch smarter than a standard T-shirt without losing that relaxed, casual feel.
Another way to level up your basic t-shirt is to opt for a cotton knit version. Think of it as a short-sleeved jumper with a neat ribbed hem. It's a subtle change, but surprising how much more refined an outfit looks because of it.
I’m always banging on about having a nice casual jacket in your wardrobe (as oppose to a purely functional one) and this Valstar one really hits the spot. It finishes an outfit beautifully, and my clients’ wife was super impressed!
Some guys can’t see the point of having a summer jacket but if you live in the UK and we’re not in the middle of a heatwave, you quite often need one for cooler evenings. I’m sure once you have one in your wardrobe, you’ll wonder how you ever managed without it!
Finally, swapping jeans for trousers is one of the quickest ways to make an outfit feel more elevated. These linen trousers sit somewhere between casual and smart, so they're incredibly versatile. You could wear them exactly as shown here with trainers and a T-shirt, or dress them up with a shirt and loafers for when you do need a smarter outfit.
Khaki “Valstarino” jacket - Valstar at Trunk Clothiers - £336 (down from £480)
Dark brown linen trousers - De Fursac - £308 (down from £385)
Cream jacquard striped t-shirt - Frame - £150
Ecru canvas sneakers - Doek at Trunk Clothiers - £175
Horsehair bracelet - Waterfront at Trunk Clothiers - £20
One client came to me saying he had just two outfits that he actually liked and wore on repeat. I was so glad he booked in because I couldn't bear the thought of him living with only two outfits!
By the end of our shopping trip, he had 48 complete outfits saved in the styling app I use with all my clients. The outfit above is one of them, and he sent me a picture of him wearing it ‘in the wild” which I loved receiving - especially as it looked so cool. It was partly down to the colour - even the guys in the shop commented on how good he looked in this chestnut brown :)
A shirt will almost always give an outfit a step up compared to a T-shirt, but a short-sleeved shirt keeps things relaxed and casual. This one has a modern, boxy fit without being oversized, while the looser-cut trousers add to the relaxed feel and are perfect for warmer weather.
For me, though, it's the colours and accessories that really make this outfit feel intentional. It simply wouldn't have had the same impact with his usual black trainers and plain socks.
Instead, the marled socks, the brown detailing on the trainers and the sunglasses (I added these for the blog) all pick up the warm tones of the shirt. Those small details bring the whole outfit together and show that you’ve considered every element - or that you've let me do the thinking for you!
It's often the finishing touches that take an outfit from "fine" to one that feels stylish and put together.
So, what small changes could you make to your everyday outfits to achieve the same effect?
Chestnut brown lyocell short sleeved shirt - Wax London - £70 (down from £100)
Off white and brown trainers - Adidas Japan at Arket - £95
Navy loose cut cotton chinos - Arket - £75
Multi coloured “Miller” socks - Oliver Spencer - £23
“Asmara Carnet de Voyage” sunglasses - Slowear - £405
I’m always on the hunt for trousers that are not jeans or chinos, so I’d already tried these cargo trousers with a couple of clients. For various reasons they hadn’t quite worked, until I tried them with this client and bingo - they fit him perfectly!
It was actually the guy in the shop that suggested putting this blazer with them, and it ended up being one of my favourite outfits of the day. This isn't your typical blazer, either. It's made from Slowear's signature Ice Cotton, which feels more like a really nice quality T-shirt fabric, making it almost closer to a cardigan than a blazer. It’s an easy way to elevate an outfit without looking too smart. It also looks much more relaxed in real life than it does on the website.
Arket is one of the few places that does a plain off white t-shirt which works brilliantly with these leather trainers. If bright white isn't your thing but you still like that clean, understated aesthetic, it's a great alternative.
For the blog, I added the yellow bag to inject a bit of personality and bring the whole outfit to life—and I think it does exactly that. It's a reminder that sometimes all it takes is one unexpected accessory to make an outfit feel that little bit more interesting.
Tapered fit cargo trousers - Slowear - £325
Navy slim fit ice cotton jacket - Slowear - £515
Off white relaxed fit t-shirt - Arket - £25
Hammered calfskin trainers - Slowear - £405
Yellow “tool bag” - Hanpu for Trunk Clothiers - £175
These dark green trousers have been a real winner with clients. They're not so green that they feel bold or difficult to wear, and they're a great alternative to the usual navy or beige. They're also a little smarter than khaki, making them ideal to give you that elevated casual look.
Moving clients away from the default jeans and chinos rotation is often one of the biggest challenges……finding options that fit the bill feel few and far between but Slowear has done a brilliant job this summer of offering interesting alternatives that are just as versatile.
A lightweight linen overshirt is another easy way to elevate a casual outfit. I think overshirts—and chore jackets in particular—have become the modern alternative to a blazer for a lot of men. They add structure and interest without feeling too formal.
Suede trainers are another favourite of mine for summer. They instantly add a bit more texture and sophistication, and choosing an interesting but wearable colour like this keeps the outfit feeling fresh. I finished the look with orange socks to add a little personality and summer colour, though you could go more neutral if that’s more your style.
Dark green crepe cotton trousers - Slowear - £365
Sand linen overshirt - Sunspel - £395
Classic white t-shirt - Sunspel - £95
Green suede trainers - Slowear - £405
Orange melange socks - Folk - £15
You may already have seen me talking about these trousers in this post on denim tailoring, but they’re the trousers that just keep on giving!
I love that they’re not quite jeans and not quite tailored trousers but sit somewhere in between, which makes them perfect for an elevated casual wardrobe. They instantly make an outfit feel a little more considered without looking too smart, and they've been a real hit with clients. There are a few different fabric options available, and I've spotted similar styles in other brands too, so they're definitely worth keeping an eye out for.
Striped t-shirts can sometimes look a bit “children’s tv presenter” (ie: childish) but these ones from La Paz avoid that completely. The relaxed fit and slightly textured fabric make them feel much more modern and effortless.
Another piece that's proved really popular with clients is this cardigan... or knitted shirt... or jacket—whatever you want to call it! It's one of those brilliantly versatile layers that works in place of a casual jacket. This colour looked fantastic on my client, but there are several other shades if sky blue isn't your thing.
And just in case you’re wondering, it might seem like a slightly odd recommendation during a heatwave, but quite a few clients have told me they like having a lightweight knit to hand to combat the fierce air conditioning in the office!
These Uniform Standard trainers have also been a great discovery. They've worked particularly well for clients with narrower feet, and they come in larger sizes too, so they're well worth a look if either of those has been a challenge for you.
Tapered fit pleat front jeans - Incotex Blue Division at Slowear - £335
Merino knit polo shirt in “zaffer blue” - Sirplus - £195
Blue and white stripe t-shirt - La Paz at Jago - £41 (down from £55)
D-ring canvas belt - Hardy & Parsons at Trunk Clothiers - £115
White leather sneakers - Uniform Standard - £240
Would you like some help to elevate your casual outfits? Perhaps you fit into one of the following categories:
If you can wear what you want at work, but want to make more of an effort and elevate yourself from the jeans and hoody wearing crowd, without looking out of place, then get in touch and I can help.
You have your work “uniform” sorted but would like to have some great ‘going out’ outfits for casual social events, together we can find some that are perfect for all your social occasions
Or perhaps you’re just about to start dating again and would like to re-evaluate your wardrobe and make it ‘date ready’ so you feel casual but confident.
Just click the button below and let’s have a chat about what you need…..I’d love to help you!
“Sarah was incredible from start to end.
I’d entirely given up on ever finding clothes that properly fit me, yet over the course of a day she did it again and again - it was a magic trick that never got old.
All done with a smile and bags of energy, this will be the shopping trip of your dreams.
The curation of outfits from all of the purchases at the end was an unexpectedly useful touch also, giving me the confidence to try out all my new buys in combinations I wouldn’t have thought of on my own.
All in all, I can’t recommend enough. Thank you Sarah!”
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