Dappered

Affordable Men's Style

  • Don’t Miss Anything
  • Start Here
  • Essentials Shop
  • Latest Deals
  • Style Scenarios
  • Reviews

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit

March 19, 2018 By Joe | Heads up: Buying via our links results in us getting a commission (not always, but just about), which helps keep the lights on around here. We also take your privacy rights seriously. Head here to learn more.

Great. You got some suits. You didn’t make some classic mistakes many of us have made. You got them tailored. You love the way they look and feel. But what happens when you don’t work in a suit & tie office? Or, what if you do, and still want to get some use out of those investments off the clock? It’s actually not that hard to take the stuffiness out of a suit. To dress it down. To wear it a bit more casually. Here are tips to do just that.

 

#1. Lose the Tie, and make sure your collar is great

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit | Dappered.com

  • Alloy Collar Stays – $9.95 (for a box of 36)
  • Ledbury The White Fine Twill Mid Spread Dress Shirt – $145
  • The Tie Bar Pinpoint Dress Shirt – $55
  • Nordstrom Trim Fit Non Iron Dress Shirt – $39.00

Wearing a suit, sans tie, can be a bit more complicated than simply unbuttoning the top button of your shirt and skipping the neck-wear. You’ll want some alloy collar stays instead of the cheap plastic ones your shirt came with. Put a bit of a bend in them. That should keep your collar at attention instead of pancaking out. Also, button placement on the shirt can be key for some (see the slightly lowered, 2nd button on the Ledbury shirt above).

 

#2. Mix up your footwear

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit | Dappered.com

  • Allen Edmonds Liverpool Chelsea – $495
  • Charles Tyrwhitt Compton Single Monk – $199 (shown above in a pronounced grain)
  • John W. Nordstrom Made in Italy Double Monk – $195
  • J. Crew Goodyear Welted Ludlow Longwings – $298
  • Jack Erwin Goodyear Welted Hubert Long Wings – $195 

Conservative dress oxfords, like the Allen Edmonds Park Avenue, are timeless. But they won’t help you dress down your suits. Put on a pair of chelsea boots. Or some monk straps. Or hell, if it’s an unconstructed, summery suit, why not some clean white sneakers? Have a bit more fun with your footwear here.

 

#3. Favor Blue Shirts instead of White w/ Dark Suits

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit | Dappered.com

  • Charles Tyrwhitt Slim Fit Non-Iron Step Weave Sky Blue Dress Shirt – $69 (often on sale for less)
  • Nordstrom Smartcare Trim Fit Herringbone Dress Shirt – $69.00
  • The Tie Bar Pinpoint Dress Shirt – $55
  • Ledbury The Blue Fine Twill Mid Spread Dress Shirt – $145

White can be a little stark up against charcoal or dark navy. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. But if you’re going to dress down a normally sober, dark suit, wearing a bright white shirt can look a little like you’re multiple hours (and drinks) into a wedding reception, and you just lost the tie so you could really get down on the dance floor. That’s probably not a good situation for anyone.

 

#4. Skip the shave, or keep the beard.

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit | Dappered.com

Sure, it can look a little… playboy? Too cool for the room? But it helps. A clean shave can look a little too clean if you’re looking to wear a suit more casually. So? Skip the razor that day (or heck for a few days).

 

#5. Wear a less subtle watch

5 Easy Ways to Dress Down a Suit | Dappered.com

  • Orient Mako USA II – $262.50 w/ DAPPERED30 ($375)
  • Hamilton Automatic Maestro Chronograph – $1000ish
  • Seiko 44mm Samurai – $315 w/ VIP ($400)
  • Seiko Solar SSC569 Chronograph – $172.98
  • Armogan Le Mans Chrono – $164.98

Leave the slim, simple dress watch on the dresser, and instead go for something with a bit more visual weight to it. That’ll help balance out that lack of tie, and also will look on point with the more interesting/less conservative shoes.

 

BONUS: Wear a colorful/patterned pocket square

  • The Tie Bar, White Linen with Navy Border – $11.99
  • Suitsupply Burgundy Silk Pocket Square – $49
  • TheTieBar “Owen” Wool Plaid Pocket Square – $10
  • J. Crew Italian Silk Tipped Pocket Square in Deep Alpine – $24.99 ($45)
  • The Tie Bar, Cotton Gingham in Sky or Royal Blue – $10
  • Kent Wang Lindisfarne Gospels in Silk – $45
  • TheTieBar Green Tipped Cotton or Linen Pocket Square – $10.00

Doesn’t have to be super flashy. It can be a white pocket square with a forest green or navy border. Or maybe a true blue gingham. Rule of thirds is almost always a good thing visually, no? The tie is gone here, so three things that jump out visually (pocket square, shoes, watch) a bit more than normal can really work.

Filed Under: Accessories, Clothing, Grooming, Shoes, Watches Tagged With: how do I wear a suit casually, how to dress down a suit, how to wear a suit casually, how to wear my suits more often

Continue the Conversation …

Want to share your thoughts on this article? Send us a tweet, join the discussion on Facebook, or hit us up on Instagram!

Don’t Miss Anything

Subscribe via email to get articles in your inbox or add Dappered on Flipboard. You can also follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Or subscribe to push notifications to get alerts immediately.

New Here?

Well, welcome to Dappered. Here are what we consider the most useful posts on the site if you're looking to put a little more effort into your appearance. Just want to see our favorite menswear products? Shop our essentials here.

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

Spier launches new $298 Half Canvas Suit Line – The Best Wedding Suit under $300?

They’re calling it their Red Label line. So… why another line? And how?

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Idea starters including neck massages, pickleball, and a little Sherlock Holmes.

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

The problem with AI, algorithms, and robots trying to sell us clothes

Why having Siri, Alexa, and ChatGPT as stylists probably isn’t a great idea.

Follow Dappered on Instagram »

Men’s Fashion or Affordable Style?

Men's Fashion or Affordable Style?

Fashion is temporary and expensive. Style is timeless and affordable. Dappered® helps you work the retail system so that you can be comfortable, look sharp, and save money.

Want to share a great product? Email Us.
For a fit perspective, see Joe's measurements.
Make sure to read our affiliate disclosure.

CONNECT WITH DAPPERED

Thanks! Check your inbox or spam folder to confirm your subscription.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Most Popular on Dappered

  • 10 Best Bets for $75 or Less – Rugged Boots, Italian wool trousers, & More
  • Monday Men’s Sales Tripod – Italian Traveler Wool Blazers, Nordy’s NOT final sale section, & More
  • The Dappered Space: 5 Essential Home Decor Items for any grown-guy’s home
  • Style Scenario: It’s still winter. (Nothing over $100 edition)
  • MTO Suits, Goodyear Welted Boots, & More – The Thurs. Men’s Sales Handful
  • The 2023 Valentine’s Day Gift Guide for Her

Popular Topics

  • Best dress shirts to own
  • Best looking watches under $100
  • Best men’s dress shoes under $200
  • Nike Killshot sneaker alternatives
  • How to wear a suit without a tie
  • Suitsupply store review
  • Suitsupply Blue Line review
  • J. Crew Factory Thompson suit review
  • How much does it cost to tailor a suit?
  • Dopp kit essentials
  • Brown shoes with gray pants
  • Men’s style buying guide

Copyright © 2023 Dappered.com | Dappered, LLC | Dappered® is a registered trademark of Dappered, LLC

Hat tip: Magazine Pro Theme On Genesis Framework

Dappered does not collect or sell its users personal information | Disclosures: Privacy and Affiliates, Gilt.com, FTC

WPE

We work with partners that use cookies to understand how visitors use our site. Find out more.