Dressing up doesn’t always mean dressing to the nines. Being subtle about it, especially in our ever-increasingly casual culture, is often the way to go. And it’s also cheaper this way! Here are 10 ways to work a little style in on the sly, while also staying on budget.
Even with a t-shirt and jeans. Good enough for your James Dean, Cary Grant, and your Grandpa, good enough for you. Yes we love some wrist-chunk around these parts, but wearing a slim and simple dress watch both dressed up AND down looks weirdly classy. There’s a real high-low thing going on, even if the price of the dressy watch was anything but high. Most of us have a dress watch already, but it just doesn’t see as much use these days. Here’s reason to dust it off and put it to use once again.
Having a bit of pocket square sticking out from a suit, blazer, or sportcoat’s breast pocket is one of the easiest things you can do to level up a basic tailored look. Especially if you’re skipping the tie, and going with a solid/quiet color of suit. Also works if you’re doing the jeans + blazer thing.
You don’t have to get mega crazy and wear hyper contrasting bold stripes. No one is recommending a Wicked Witch of the East look. Subtle dots or thin stripes will do the trick.
There are many, many alternatives to wearing a hoodie. And no one is saying you need to trash your hooded sweatshirts. But keeping them in the drawer every once in a while in favor of a timeless shawl-collar can help up your style-quotient a touch.
Many of us go a long, lonnnnng time between beard trims, scruff cuts, or clean shaves. But a clean shave or just getting consistent with keeping your beard length in line can make an enormous difference. Just be aware that even a simple trim or shaving after a bit of stubble can leave you feeling weirdly unfamiliar with your very own face.
Intentional enough to look dressed up, yet still nowhere near suit and tie. Here’s more on why it works, and here’s our archive of many, many ways to pull this combo off.
Your home is a reflection of your own personal style. So picking up, dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning bathrooms absolutely counts towards “dressing up” and feeling your best.
Knit ties are inherently more casual than their smooth silk counterparts. The texture, colors, and often matte finish makes these things lean friendly, and much less “I’m here to lay-off 30% of your workforce.“ You can usually get away with wearing one of these even in a super casual work environment. Just don’t do it often. You’ll alienate your co-workers.
As long as they’re a conservative shape and not too pointy, you should be able to wear your go-to brown dress shoes with dark wash denim. Those are Park Avenues in the dark brown “weatherproof” leather shown above, but the mahogany is a perfect shade here too. And yes, I hiked my pants up a touch to show off the socks for the camera.
Make sure they’re a washed, more casual fabric. Or if they’re tech, something matte and easy wearing. You don’t want pressed and slick office-ready trousers. Wear them with classic court style sneakers, and if you still feel a little funny wearing chinos instead of shorts, try cuffing the hems a touch for a more casual look.
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How to look relaxed yet respectful when the happy couple goes casual.