The suit is reinventing itself. This is because this “outfit consisting of a jacket and matching trousers and possibly a waistcoat” is losing popularity over the years: between 2011 and 2019, sales decreased by 58%, according to Kantar . In 2012, 15% of men surveyed said they would buy a suit during the year. This figure is now down to 6% in 2023.
These figures can be explained by the evolution of men's clothing: a gradual shift towards more relaxed clothing. Even the most formal environments, such as banking, are relaxing their dress codes. For some, it is no longer even mandatory to wear a suit and tie, leather shoes, etc.
Yet, for centuries, the suit was a must-have in the male wardrobe. Popularized in the mid-19th century in the United Kingdom by King Edward VII who wore it with a suit made of the same fabric, the suit was until the 1960s, the garment that symbolized power and success. In period photos, there are few men who do not wear a suit. Until the end of the 1960s, we demonstrated in suits, we went to the stadium in suits and of course we worked in suits. Not today.
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On the other hand, few people still wear it on a daily basis. Always in this concern for relaxation, men today favor comfort over aesthetics. However, a counter-culture called sartorialism perpetuates this tradition. Appearing in the 21st century, it is a way of thinking that advocates the impeccable look, the art of dressing in accordance with traditional rules. One item of clothing is therefore at the center of the sartorial movement: the suit.
If this movement is aimed at a small part of men, the suit jacket is aimed at everyone. In casual chic outfits, this iconic piece finds its place perfectly.
What is casual chic style?
Before sharing with you some looks to recreate with a suit jacket, let's focus on the definition of casual chic style.
On the one hand, “casual” refers to the casual wardrobe as a whole. Summer Bermuda shorts , gabardine chinos, raw denim or low-top canvas sneakers: anything that falls outside of a formal register generally finds its place under the casual label. What defines this type of clothing is therefore not linked to its aesthetics, its manufacture, or even its quality but almost exclusively to its destination, its use. These are everyday, comfortable clothes.
On the other hand, “chic”. We are then talking about a piece that reminds us of elegance and formality. The definition remains vague, since this notion evolves with time, trends and interpretations. But some clothes still seem to be unanimous. For example, it is difficult to be more chic than a suit, a shirt or a pair of brogues.
To make a suit “casual”, you simply have to mismatch it , that is, divide it, keeping only the jacket or pants, which you combine with everyday pieces.
Casual chic, the ultimate easy style?
If the casual chic style is omnipresent today, it is because it has a lot of advantages:
- It will be accepted and recognized by those around you. This versatile style will allow you to be comfortable in a multitude of different situations , such as at work, a first date or even a birthday party.
- This is a style that is very reassuring for beginners. Very easy to master , it is therefore a good way to approach the garment without losing self-confidence.
- Its balance is clear, both elegant and casual . There is therefore a certain flexibility: we can push the cursor towards elegant or casual, by playing on the shoes for example. If you want a more casual look, choose a pair of sneakers, white or gray . Conversely, for a more "chic" look, opt for leather shoes, such as loafers.
With jeans the perfect combo?
It's hard to do something as simple but as effective as the suit jacket/jeans combination. In this look, the so-called "classic" pieces all have a little something special that gives the outfit a unique touch.
For the jacket, for example, the material and its color are special and surprising . It immediately brightens up the outfit.
We continue to use basic pieces, especially with faded jeans with a particular grain and a brown t-shirt. On the feet, simple but striking: ?
To complete the outfit, we use a scarf tied around the neck and a black belt.
With white jeans
Second outfit, again jeans, but this time, we're going to talk about white jeans. In this look, the white of the pants should enhance and brighten the colors above.
The blue and white striped shirt perfectly links the color of the jeans to the duck blue of the jacket. Underneath, the pink t-shirt complements the blue and white shades of the outfit, to stay in the spring logic of the outfit.
Finally, to perpetuate the casual chic side, we use a pair of beige Wallabees.
When the suit jacket becomes more complex
Third look, we chose that of Kévin Tips Style. It will surely appeal to the most adventurous among you. The outfit is rather complex, but with a little hindsight, it is very interesting.
At first, the upper part is quite chic. Kevin is wearing a beige blazer, a brown checked vest and an ecru shirt.
To give priority to the upper garments, he uses navy blue suit pants. Our eye is directly drawn to the lighter colors.
To break the formal side of the outfit and bring something unexpected, he puts on a pair of white shoes. As a bonus, he accessorizes with a white and navy blue cap, which makes a nice reminder with the shoes and pants.
To add some color to the outfit, Kevin wrapped an orange knit sweater around his neck, which works perfectly with the navy blue.
With Bermuda shorts
For this last look, we offer you an unexpected combo: suit jacket and Bermuda shorts.
Same principle as look 3, the idea is to draw the eye to the jacket. For that, we opt for light tones for the jacket and the white t-shirt.
For the bottom, we add navy blue Bermuda shorts. A little reminder of color between the gray sneakers and the suit jacket. Finally, to reinforce this casual chic side, we find a cap and a scarf tied around the neck.
The final word
Similarly, it is entirely possible to mismatch your suit by keeping the pants and not the jacket. In a similar spirit, this way of using your suit will bring you closer to a casual chic style.
If you want to buy a quality suit, suit jacket or trousers, to mismatch them or not, BonneGueule offers them. Here they are.
How to adopt a casual chic style with a suit jacket?
What's better than a suit jacket to start adopting a casual chic style? Hybrid, it fulfills all the characteristics of a jacket to perfection . It will serve you all year round, from summer to winter, in very different ways. T-shirt or shirt, jeans or Bermuda shorts, here are some ideas for looks to reproduce without moderation, by mismatching them.