GONE are the days when menswear was overshadowed by its female counterpart. The male side of the fashion industry in recent years has proven that it is ready to even the odds with womenswear. Especially with today’s man being more open-minded and adventurous with style, there is absolutely no excuse for him to dress like a dolt.
Yet, despite the advances, there are not a few men who remain clueless with what to wear for a holy trinity of dressing. A tripartite sartorial classification eludes them. What is the casual look? the smart-casual look? and the smart look? Knowing the difference and how to achieve these ends can be a matter of life and death—or the blacklisting of a name from future events because the dolt did not dress the part, humbug.
THE CASUAL LOOK
The first thing to recognize is that the casual look belongs to a small pocket of styling that has an organic continuity with the smart-casual and casual looks. These looks are all “gradients” within the classification of high street fashion. But the trick is knowing what separates the casual from the smart-casual and the smart. Think of them as an elevation to the more formal, beginning with casual and so on. The three looks can be achieved with a basic ensemble of button-down, long-sleeved shirt and denim pants. But the difference in styling is what matters.
To get a casual vibe try showing a little bit of skin. This means folding or rolling up those sleeves to “roughen out your guns” near or above the forearm, easily taking away hints of the formal. You may open buttons from the top of your shirt to show the slightest chest. Unbuttoning two is still okay, but three might send the wrong message. Remember to tuck your shirt in your pants to convey that you’re relaxed without being sloppy. Or untuck them only if the silhouette is right. Adding a sports cap is also a way to define that your look is casual. Remember to take away hints of the formal, like dress watch, Oxford shoes, top hat and bow tie.
THE SMART-CASUAL LOOK
Just a notch above the casual look in terms of formality, the smart-casual look veers away from being too relaxed. As the sacred middle ground between casual and smart, the smart-casual look is usually the safest to turn to if one is unsure of the nonformal dress code. The smart-casual look may also be appropriate for a Friday work environment.
With the aforementioned basic ensemble, one simply rolls the long sleeves to any point on the forearm. Any point above will look too casual.
Another favorite trick is layering. Layer your button-down shirts with pieces that skim the body with no structure at all, like pullovers and cardigans. If you wish to have a slightly more tailored look, there are items that have minimal structure—or what some would call “deconstructed” jackets and sports coats.
THE SMART LOOK
Commonly known as the “business look,” the smart look is the most formal of the three. One can achieve the look while using the button-down and denim combo as the foundation.
By simply unfurling the long sleeves of a shirt and closing its sleeve buttons, one begins to look smart. Adding a structured blazer seals the deal. Just remember one classic rule: That color should lighten as you go inward through the layers. This means that your outermost layer, the blazer, should always be darker than your inner layer, the shirt. While keeping this in mind, we may add more garments under the blazer and above the shirt, such as a vest or pullover if the weather allows. The better the styling, the smarter you look.
FINAL WORD
When you know and master the basics, experimentation becomes easier and eliminates most fashion faux pas. Of course, one cannot start building without first making a solid foundation. That said, when in doubt, go back to basics. They’re tried-and-tested after all.
For basic button-down, long-sleeved shirts and denim pants, including other items like blazers, waistcoats and pullovers, Forever21man provides stylish options. One may visit the newly refurbished Forever21 flagship store at SM Megamall Building A for style selections, or locate the nearest stores at SM Mall of Asia, SM Makati, SM City Cebu, The Block at SM North Edsa, SM Lanang Premier, SM Aura Premier, SM City Fairview, SM City Clark, and the soon-to-open store at SM Southmall.
Styling Benjamin Rogando
Photography Yhuong Botor
Hair & Makeup Rachel Cadiz
Model Meven Leduc
Benjamin Rogando / the.beast@zoho.com