Video: How to dress in a casual chic style? (in 2024)

How to dress well without overdoing it?

This is the challenge that casual chic has chosen to take up. And rather brilliantly, because it is now a must-have in the contemporary men's wardrobe.

This style guide was originally written in 2016. Here we offer a complete update of this content, written in 2024.

A little reminder never hurts.

Casual chic means mixing elegant clothes with more casual ones in the same outfit.

For example :

• A blazer jacket (elegant) with a t-shirt and chinos (casual).
• A shirt (elegant) with jeans (casual)

Maybe you already dress like this sometimes, without necessarily realizing it. In which case: bravo.

The goal of this guide is therefore to help you mix these two style registers well . Because not all casual clothes go with all dressy clothes. That would be too easy.

A modern vision of casual chic by A Tempo Rubato.

It's an easy style to get started with.

It represents a good gateway into men's style for newcomers who don't really know where to start.

It is easy because it is based on fairly common garments such as sweaters, shirts, jeans. You probably already have some of these pieces in your wardrobe. And for what you are missing, the offer on the market is very wide.

A white shirt , cognac pants , leather shoes: a simple, casual chic look that works well.

It's also a versatile style : this mix of elegance and casualness is socially well accepted. You don't take too many risks by dressing in such a way.

To go a little further, I would say that casual chic is a good stylistic foundation that then allows you to branch out towards more advanced, more cutting-edge styles.

After a while, depending on your style path, you might drift towards a more workwear chic, soft tailoring or minimalist style for example, all of which have common roots with casual chic.

This is what a more sophisticated casual chic outfit can look like with looser volumes, accessories and a more streetwear influence. BonneGueule jacket and pants

The style of an era necessarily corresponds to the offering of that era .

Around 2015 - when the casual chic style really took off - the menswear offering was more limited than it is today. There were fewer brands, less diversity in the shapes and volumes of clothes.

There were shirts and t-shirts, blazers and bombers. Jeans and chinos. Sneakers and ankle boots. Slim and skinny fit. I'm exaggerating a bit, but you get the idea.

The silhouettes of these years are only a reflection of this offer, mixing these pieces and influences together.

The typical outfit was fitted jeans with a mismatched blazer and shirt, it was the height of style with just the right amount of chic, but not too much so as not to come across as “overdressed”.

It corresponds to a still tenacious heritage of the Slimane silhouette, itself inspired by rock silhouettes.

Denim, narrow lapel blazer, boots, slim cuts… the photos of Stay Classic (now @timmelideo on Instagram) represent the casual chic style of the 2010s.

In 2024, things have logically changed. But what exactly?

Two major changes have taken place in recent years:

Where volumes were mostly fitted, recent years have seen the emergence of more generous cuts , both on the top and bottom.

Width is liberating : by exploring different widths and mixing loose and fitted in the same outfit, you open yourself up to new style possibilities.

Left: An outfit with tight-fitting clothing, very 2010s. Some will find it too tight. Right: An outfit with loose-fitting clothing, very 2020s. Some will find it too baggy. Photo credit: J.Crew

So if you're used to wearing fitted volumes, our advice is this: try volumes that are a little straighter.

I'm not talking about going for super baggy things. Just a little baggier than you're used to. We're talking about all types of clothing here:

• Whether it's pants, which you can choose a little looser at the thigh and calf. To give you an idea, a fitted pair of pants has a leg opening of around 18cm, on a size M. To aim for a little straighter, you can go around 20cm for example
• But this also applies to tops: choose t-shirts, shirts and sweaters with a little more room at the shoulders and armpits.

Not only will it be more comfortable, but it is possible that when you look at yourself in the mirror, you will find the result visually interesting.

Slightly straight clothing: a good compromise between very loose and very tight. Bonnegueule shirt and jeans

To get you started, we talked about the benefits of straight-cut pants in this article, for example.

And in our Bonnegueule collection, we have been offering straighter and more comfortable pieces for some time now:

The materials are now less thick and rigid .

Denim weights are more reasonable (goodbye to 23oz mega-thick jeans). More fluid materials are finding their place in the men's wardrobe. The return of velvet, a fluffy fabric with a rounder drape, also embodies this shift very well.

These more flexible fabrics, combined with slightly looser cuts, allow the garment to drape more and express itself around the wearer . Which contrasts quite a bit with the silhouettes of 5 or 10 years ago, which were much stiffer and structured.

Left: The iconic Naked&Famous jean standing on its own, alongside the brand's founder, Brandon Svarc. Rigidity at its peak. A very "2010s" trend.

Right: Look at the drape of the pants, loose and flowing. Silhouette Officine Générale , fall/winter 2024.

Today's casual chic shows a quieter, more relaxed elegance. The casual chic of 10 years ago had a more structured, very clean side.

When we take the idea of ​​“cool” elegance to its limits, we arrive at a stylistic trend that has its own name: soft tailoring, which we dissected in this article.

A vision of quiet elegance, not at all rigid or stuffy. By Stoffà , or the epitome of soft tailoring

A sure way to design a beautiful outfit is through coherence, harmony. Coherence brings fluidity, naturalness.

The advantage of dressing in a well-defined look (workwear, streetwear, tailoring, etc.) is that we have a natural coherence between the different pieces. For example, if we like the tailored style, it's easy to have coherence: a suit naturally goes with a shirt, a tie and leather shoes.

A natural consistency. BonneGueule suit and shirt (beagle not included).

And the risk of mixing several styles in the same outfit is to lose this coherence. Sneakers do not go naturally with a suit, it is not something obvious.

The challenge of casual chic style is therefore to find a good balance between these two worlds.

So here is the ultimate tip for mixing smart and casual clothes in the same outfit , very well explained by Jordan:

Jordan, aka Mr. Panache

To wear two pieces of different formality registers, you have to pull the formal piece towards casual and pull the casual piece towards formal .

Dressing smart casually means aiming for the middle of the scale. Make sure the formal piece isn't too formal and the casual piece isn't too formal either.

The more clothes you have that straddle the line between casual and formal, the more successful combinations you can make. Because you can pair them with formal pieces AND ALSO with casual pieces.

An example of an outfit that mixes casualness and elegance in balanced proportions. Polo shirt , jacket and pants BonneGueule

This is the most important idea to take away from this article: take formal and make it more casual, and vice versa.

This is how you harmonize two distant styles: by bringing them together.

With this in mind, we can understand why Nike Dunks don't go with an office suit. It's not so much that a suit and sneakers aren't compatible: it's more that this type of sneaker isn't compatible with this type of suit.

“And if we still wanted to wear Dunks with a suit, how would we do it?”

I don't like this combination, but if we wanted to do it, here's how I would do it:

1. Wear them in a resolutely streetwear aesthetic

With a colorful, loose, flexible costume, a hoodie, a printed t-shirt, jewelry/accessories.

The suit is a bit too tight here. It would benefit from being looser and “loose” ideally. Still, the idea of ​​the outfit, all black with a printed hoodie and a t-shirt, is good. @brkicks on X (ex-Twitter), with Kyrie Irving

2. Wear them with a more traditional suit and assume a contrast that stands out

We are talking about an approach where we no longer necessarily seek to respect harmony in the outfit. Yes, the shoes will contrast strongly with the rest, and we can find that very good.

The shoes really stand out from the rest of the outfit. However, there is a little something that comes out of them, that we can appreciate or not at all. (@larylarciu on Instagram)

Let's be very concrete: I offer you a checklist of the essential points to take into account to gauge the level of relaxation or elegance of the main men's clothing.

I noted for each item of clothing whether it is basically more formal or casual.

In a casual chic perspective, the idea is to wear more casual versions of formal clothing, and vice versa.

Click on each link to access an analysis by clothing typology. :)

• The shirt
• The blazer (or suit jacket)
• The jacket and the vest
• The t-shirt and the sweater
• The jean
• The chino
• Sneakers
• City shoes

The whole point of casual chic style is to explore, to play with these different codes.

We don't necessarily realize it, but each item of clothing we wear, through its cut, its color, its material, its details, gives off something: a universe, a style, a level of relaxation or formality.

To dress well, you have to understand what your clothes reflect. It is this knowledge, this perspective, that allows you to create a successful outfit, with pieces that work together in symbiosis.

Dress shoes with jeans can work or not. For it to work, you have to see for example that a fitted jean with elongated shoes gives a "big feet" effect. With this data in mind, we adapt and understand that we need less tight jeans and less pointed shoes to create more harmony.

Casual chic is a spectrum.

You can aim for looks that are right between chic and casual (50/50).

But we can also consider casual chic silhouettes which tend more towards elegance (for example 80% chic, 20% casual) or more towards relaxation (80% casual, 20% chic).

This idea is useful if you have very dressy or very casual clothes that are difficult to get out of style.

With cotton jogging pants (very casual clothing), you won't be able to create an elegant outfit with a shirt and blazer. On the other hand, you can work on a very casual silhouette but with a touch of chic and flair.

A well-worn jogging suit here at Aimé Leon Dore . No, it's not an elegant outfit in itself. But it's a well-crafted outfit that gives it a slightly chic side.

On the other hand, it is not necessarily easy to wear some very dressy clothes in a casual way. Typically, a very formal suit jacket will not really go with sneakers. The contrast in style is a bit strong between the two.

In this case, make a casual chic outfit but one that leans more towards chic.

Here's a great way to dress down a more formal navy jacket: with loafers and pleated trousers. A fine wool crew neck sweater is a great way to change up your shirt, while still maintaining the right touch of elegance. Photo credit: Blugiallo

Let's talk about the importance of silhouette, cuts, proportions.

As we said above: a successful silhouette is a harmonious silhouette.

This harmony can be achieved in width: that is, having clothes whose width is consistent for you (not too tight, not too wide), but also between them (not having two clothes whose cut is very different).

There is also harmony over length (or even lengths) which Jordan describes very well in this article :

Jordan, aka Mr. Panache

And this general harmony is, among other things, made possible by the balance between the upper and lower parts of your silhouette. This means that these two parts must be equal in their respective dimensions (head and feet included). In short, you don't want a disproportionate result.

An excessively long bust, mounted on short legs, lacks harmony.

Very long legs visually encroaching on a tiny trunk is no better.

To improve the harmony of your silhouette, start by undressing . Yes, yes. In order to understand your body and what clothing can do to enhance it.

Then, I advise you to take a critical look at your outfits. To do this, don't hesitate to look at yourself in the mirror, take a photo of yourself or even share your looks with other enthusiasts who can give you their feedback.

Here are two examples of outfits that I think lack harmony, with my tips for improving them.

@stufffinegoods on Instagram

Interesting composition , with quality clothing. The colors are well chosen. The pants are quite rich in details, which gives consistency to the whole.

On the other hand, the proportions ring false. The bust seems very elongated and the legs very short . This is due to the fact that the pants are worn low on the hips and short (rolled up). The shooting of the photo, slightly from above, does not help either.

To balance the silhouette, I think it would be good to wear the pants higher on the hips and to wear them longer . We could thus approach this type of rendering:

More balanced proportions. Roughly speaking, I would say that the pants are worn 5cm higher on the hips and 3cm longer than in the previous look. The person here gains a good 8 centimeters in leg, which has a big impact on the overall silhouette. Photo credit: Berg&Berg

@weatherman on Instagram

Not a smart casual outfit here but rather quite formal, but the teaching is interesting.

The outfit works overall, except for what we see at the bottom of the pants: the calf is tight and seems very small compared to the feet , which on the contrary seem very imposing. This effect is accentuated by the rest of the outfit: the jacket is long with a wide lapel. The collar of the shirt and the tie are also quite wide. Only the calf seems shrunken in this ensemble.

Here, you should choose pants with a larger leg opening , which provides more coverage for the foot. Shoes with a less elongated, more rounded shape could also reduce this “big feet” effect. Like this for example:

Wider pants at the bottom, rounder shoes = the “big feet” effect disappears. @urbancomposition on Instagram

It all starts there.

Well-cut clothes, in the right materials (natural as much as possible) which come in a range of simple colours.

Practice the idea of ​​bringing the sliders together in elegance and casualness.

At this point, you will make mistakes and that is completely normal , even desirable. That's how you learn! You should not stop there but keep moving forward. :)

Here is a short list of pieces that can be easily worn in level 1 silhouettes:

• Oxford button-down collar shirt
• Plain round neck sweater in a basic color (blue, gray or green for example)
• Casual blazer (soft construction, textured, with patch pockets)
• Jacket or windbreaker in a sober fabric and color: work jacket, denim jacket, harrington jacket
• Blue jeans (raw or bleach) straight cut
• Cotton chinos with pleats
• Clear sneakers with a sleek shape
• Rounded derby

In the Bonnegueule collection you will find:

Photo credit: Berg&Berg

The color palette is simple: white, navy blue, olive green, brown . Remember that these colors always work together, so use them in abundance.

The volumes are well controlled : neither too narrow nor too wide.

The polo collar that sticks out brings a little light to this ensemble.

The pleated cotton pants are a perfect fit here. You should have one: it's a piece that brings a perfect balance between elegance and casualness.

Discreet leather city shoes finish it all off. Suede leather like here is great.

BonneGueule overshirt , jeans and hat

Blue jeans, a beige overshirt: the base is very simple.

Brown hiking boots add character. But derby shoes would work just fine too.

Note that the pants have some room to go with the rather imposing shape of the shoes. Slim pants would make less sense.

The green hat works well as an extension of the beige and brown.

Rings are optional!

Photo credit: Proper Cloth

This is what a mastered casual chic outfit looks like with a blazer and jeans.

Top: A shirt and blazer, in casual mode. The shirt is oxford with a button-down collar and is worn slightly open. The blazer is fairly light in color and has patch pockets.

Bottom: Lightly washed jeans and brown suede tassel loafers. Don't like loafers? Wear derby shoes, the outfit will work just the same.

Also note the beautiful harmony of colors : white, sand, faded blue and brown.

Photo credit: @randomwalkshop on Instagram

The oxford shirt is still here. Blue jeans too.

Originality lies in this Harrington jacket, in a beautiful green. A way to bring a little sporty / Ivy League side to your style. Sober brown derby shoes finish it all off.

You've mastered the basics, avoiding the biggest style mistakes.

Now it's time to add some edge to your outfits . By sporting colors, cuts, even pieces that few other men wear (and that you like, of course).

You begin to differentiate yourself, your stylistic identity becomes more refined.

Short list of pieces to wear easily in level 2 silhouettes:

• Colorful tops (yellow sweater, pink or lavender shirt, etc.)
• Character shirt : stronger pattern, unique shape/cut
• Very casual, very textured blazer
• White or ecru pants
• Loose pants
• More accessories: bracelets, rings, scarves, hats…
• Shoes with a less common shape: loafers, boat shoes with cleats, derby shoes such as Paraboot Michael

In the Bonnegueule collection you will find:

Photo credit: @thedecorumbkk on Instagram

White, ecru, gray, black: here is an outfit in shades of gray that is very pleasing to the eye.

The sweatshirt, denim jacket and white socks bring a relaxed look, while the white shirt, pleated wool trousers and velvet slippers are more elegant.

The balance of volumes is also very successful : look at the length of the trousers or the jacket for example.

BonneGueule shirt , jacket and pants

The colors are quite sober here (white, blue, beige).

This look is distinguished by more original clothing shapes and volumes. We can note the pants, with a loose cut and a cargo pocket placed on the front of the left thigh. There is also the jacket, whose hybrid shape takes its inspiration from both the blazer and the work jacket. Finally, you have the tassel loafers, which are not seen so often on the street.

Photo credit: @ginga_ayuha on Instagram

A sweater, a blazer, jeans, loafers: fairly simple clothes. You notice the yellow of the sweater , which fits well with the rest of the outfit (gray and blue). Also note the white socks with red stripes , which are different from what we are used to seeing.

Adding some punchy, colorful pieces is a great way to spice up otherwise classic silhouettes.

Photo credit: @takumi_oshima on Instagram

The casual chic style can also tend towards other universes. Here, you have the association of dress pants with a shirt and leather shoes, but we feel that there is something else behind it.

So, this outfit leans towards the workwear style with pants in a rather rustic material (it looks like tweed), the beige shirt (which is a change from white and blue) and the faded denim jacket. The whole thing has character , we like it.

The clothes are also perfectly cut: the fairly short jacket still covers the waistband of the pants because it is quite high.

The lines are blurring.

Your style identity is clearly asserted : you know what you like and what you don't. You can now give free rein to your instincts. You feel what works and what doesn't work on you.

You respect some rules but you also break others . Sometimes to be provocative. Sometimes to create something cool, through imbalance and the unexpected.

You are sometimes told that certain clothes only suit you. Congratulations, you have found your style. Your playing field is now infinite.

From this level onwards, there is no longer really a “standard garment”!

Photo credit: Drake's

Take a look at British brand Drake's lookbooks for more inspiring and style-driven looks.

Here, we have a clever slalom between casual and more dressy.

The cap and cardigan are rather casual. The beige chinos too, despite their central pleat which structures the leg line a little. The braided belt too, but it remains in leather and matches the loafers.

The shirt, tie and blazer are more formal but not too much because they are colorful or patterned. We are not on a very formal “suit and tie”.

Note the layering at the top , with patterned pieces (jacket, shirt, tie) framed by other plain and sober ones (cardigan, coat).

If you were wondering if it is possible to mix two identical patterns in an outfit, the answer is yes. To do it well, vary their scale (wide stripe / thin stripe).

Photo credit: @shuheinishiguchi on Instagram

Shuhei Nishiguchi masters his subject like no one else . His outfits are always rich in lessons.

Here, an outfit constructed in a harmonious shade that goes from white to brown.

Each piece has a little story to tell. The pants for their impeccable cut. The shoes for their unique look (in exotic leather?). The t-shirt for its high collar that sticks out from the sweater with its melted diamond pattern. The blazer for its fluffy look. The jacket for its military side (as evidenced by the beige color, the epaulettes and the pockets). Even the necklace and its pendant fit into the monochrome.

A flawless outfit where everything works perfectly together: the different shades of beige/brown/sand complement each other wonderfully.

Photo credit: @scottfrasercollection on Instagram

A more advanced outfit, made up of specific clothes that are not found on every street corner.

Indeed, it is a vision of casual chic where each item of clothing is improved , boosted.

No simple t-shirt but a striped sweater (which I suspect is short-sleeved) and well textured with an openwork knit stitch. No classic straight blazer but a double-breasted jacket with a shawl collar, inspired by tuxedo jackets. And pants with a very distinctive style: high-waisted and loose.

Beautiful shapes, beautiful textures, beautiful play on volumes and a beautiful range of neutral colors make this look different.

Photo credit: @richardbiedul on Instagram

We end with a deliberately slightly provocative look.

I don't recommend dressing like this on a daily basis. It's more to show you that with confidence, experience and boldness, you can push your style quite far.

This is technically a casual chic look because you have:

• More formal clothing on top , with the embroidered white shirt, bow tie and black double-breasted tuxedo jacket
• And some more casual ones below , with raw-edged faded jeans (whose threads hang down at the bottom) and leopard mules (yes, yes). Oh yes, there's a cap too, while we're at it.

While there's not much that's coherent in this (that's clearly not the point of the outfit), you'll notice that each piece of clothing fits impeccably well. It helps to make some sense of it all.

Getting dressed is also about having fun, trying things out . Pairing a tuxedo jacket with jeans, for example.

Casual chic is a rich, multifaceted style. It is simple to understand but difficult to master well.

To create harmonious casual chic outfits, remember the following points:

• Understand the registers of the clothes you wear,
• Think about the overall harmony of your silhouettes ,
• Get inspired , again and again. Drink in inspiring looks, whether on Instagram, Pinterest or elsewhere. Try to understand why these outfits in particular appeal to you.
• To go further and make your casual chic outfits even richer, inject other influences into them : preppy, workwear, streetwear, etc.

Now it's your turn to play!

Questions, comments? Tell us everything in the comments, we'll answer you.