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What is Casual Style? How to Wear Casual Style so Fashionable
A lack of effort best defines the ‘gloomy-day’ slump. When production begins to stall and dull, it may be any day of the week. The dismal skies mirror your attitude, conversations are monotone, and every duty is received with a reluctant eye roll.
As a result, your wardrobe options are restricted to those that are merely functional and neutral in color. Of course, I’m not saying casual clothes is dull in any way—just it’s the go-to for folks who can’t be bothered to dress up.
Casual attire has an ironic beauty because it is basic, straightforward, and understated. For one thing, it’s an aesthetic that will never go out of fashion.
Two, there is a sense of security in fitting in with the rest of the throng. Obviously, the definition of “casual” varies from person to person, since pants and skirts may be too fussy for you.
If you’re out of ideas for what to dress or want to spice up your casual look by increasing the fashion ante, Teeanime have compiled a list of stylish clothes to consider. We’ll also talk about what casual attire is. By the end of this article, you should have learned:
- What is considered casual wear
- What is business casual wear
- Casual outfits for men
- Casual outfits for women
What Is Casual Wear?
The term “casual” is debatable. Some people dress in sweatpants, loose tees, and hoodies. Others dress in jeans, leather jackets, and gowns.
When it comes to everyday attire, there is no correct definition because it varies from person to person. However, there is a general agreement on what constitutes casual dress.
It must be both comfy and unobtrusive in appearance. When you wear these garments, you should feel at ease.
At the end of the day, how you perceive yourself is more important than what others think.
History Of Casual Wear
Casual, given its connotation, is a hazy phrase for ordinary wear. Fashion has existed for ages, and with it, centuries upon centuries of everyday clothing. I’m sure cavemen had their own version of ‘jeans and a plain tee’ back in the day.
Hundreds of civilizations contributed their take on what was considered casual, depending on region, culture, and demographic. It was the anorak for the Inuits. It was the poncho for southerners. The list is endless.
Contrary to popular assumption, the word “casual clothes” originated in the early twentieth century. Sweaters and shorts have become more popular in American society.
People began to put less and less attention into what they wore as the desire to break from the rigid suits and dresses of the earlier years grew.
Sure, it can be seen as a continuation of lazy fashion, but most people see casualwear’s success as a communal sigh of relief.
Western casual attire has evolved significantly throughout the years. We’ll always think of sweatpants and loose garments as the pinnacle of everyday fashion, but thanks to the athleisure movement, designer labels like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are putting their own touch on’mundane apparel.’
When To Wear Casual Attire
Casual clothing is only used for casual occasions, correct? Because of its ambiguous sense, the term “casual” can refer to any type of event. This covers weddings, cocktail gatherings, and work environments.
The term itself refers to a ‘lower-class’ version of what is generally expected. For example, you don’t have to dress up for your friend’s vow renewal. Casual formalwear consists of a basic gown and a lovely pair of heels.
Do you require more specifics? If so, this ‘what is casual wear’ guide is here to help. If the environment or venue requires ‘low-key attire,’ we’ll explain why to avoid embarrassment.
- Women’s business casual attire consists primarily of pencil skirts, trousers, 34 sleeve tops, blouses, and a plain button-up tee. You are not required to wear a blazer if you do not wish to!
- Men’s business casual attire consist of slacks, button-up tees, sweater vests, and a fitted jacket. Suits and blazers are completely optional.
- Wedding casual clothing for women: This includes anything that isn’t a Met Gala-approved ensemble. You can get away with a basic dress, heels, and minimal makeup.
- Penguin suits are regarded an absolute no-no for casual wedding clothes for men. We recommend replacing your tux with a basic white tee and a well-fitted jacket.
- What should females wear at a cocktail party? Consider a simple skirt, a ruffled blouse, or a well-fitted pair of trousers. The idea here is to appear like a free-spirited party girl rather than a James Bond leading lady.
- What is casual dress for a man to a cocktail party: this primarily consists of a simple pair of jeans, a white tee, and a fancy jacket if desired.
6 Outfit Ideas For Casual Wear
Nothing says “casual clothes” like full monochromatic. If you struggled with fundamental color theory in art class, this straightforward ensemble keeps things simple by matching green with green.
We recommend experimenting with several hues of olive to break up the monotony of solid greens.
A simple pair of white sneakers will never go out of style. This is the ideal way to answer the question “what is casual wear?” It’s simple, attractive, and highly functional for no-nonsense days.
The PB&J of basic fashion is white tees and jeans. It’s ideal for lazy days, events with a casual dress code, and grabbing fast lunch at your local restaurant.
Sure, you can wear baggy Levis and a $5 shirt, but we recommend paying great attention to the silhouette and style.
A well-fitted clothing is essential for a coherent look. Keeping this in mind, it’s always preferable to wear a flattering top and jeans that fit your butt, hips, and waist.
Of course, the heeled sandals are completely optional, but they are recommended for people who are bored of wearing ordinary sneakers.
So, what exactly is casual wear? Most people have just one obvious answer: sweatpants. There’s nothing like a pair of joggers and a hoodie to get you in the mood for Netflix. They’re cozy, comfortable, and oh-so-versatile.
We recommend fine-tuning the final fit with a white tank top, matching socks, running shoes, and a baseball cap for outdoor use. It’s the ideal comfort food for any homebody on a leisurely day. If you want to accessorize, we recommend a pair of sterling silver hoops.
Shorts were the first to be deemed casual in American fashion history. Given this, it’s only natural that we provide an example in our ‘what is casual wear’ guide.
This ensemble is composed of a collegiate hoodie, a white t-shirt, black shorts, and a pair of green Vans.
This streetwear suit is considered a ‘washed-down’ variation of the hypebeast style and is intrinsic to skater culture. If you’re looking for stylish men’s outfits, we recommend giving this OOTD a shot.
Bomber jackets and hoodies are essential pieces of casual clothing. Its boxy and oversized design is a perfect choice for those who dislike form-fitting clothing.
The black pants and matching Converse serve as a “bold Sharpie” to assist outline the colors in this outfit. A simple baseball cap can never go wrong, thanks to its ability to conceal terrible hair days.
This OOTD is a perfect illustration of casual dress for people who are unsure what it is.
The lumberjack image is inextricably linked to Canadian casual clothes. We won’t lie: we wear a lot of denim jackets and flannel button-ups in this part of the country.
If you like a more’subtle’ look, opt for a neutral-toned plaid rather than bright red. This casual male ensemble, complete with a white tee, khakis, sneakers, and a bucket hat, is worthy of a memorable Instagram photo op.
What Type Of Casual Outfits Can You Get?
Casual clothing can refer to a variety of things. It truly depends on your geography, culture, and personal aesthetic. To keep things brief, we decided to explore the western perspective on everyday dress.
From sweatpants to jeans, you can rest assured that each of these ensembles is both comfortable and useful.
- T-shirt and jeans: considered the main go-to for casual dressers, this classic combo keeps things simple and straightforward. This outfit can be interpreted in many different ways. For instance, you can opt for a pair of bell-bottoms and a graphic tee instead of skinny jeans and a crop top
- The sweatsuit: composed of a sweatshirt, hoodie, leggings, or a pair of joggers; nothing spells comfort than burying yourself in head to toe jersey knit
- Shorts and an interesting top: Cropped bottoms and a basic tee deserves a ‘meh’ when it comes to styling. If you want to jazz things up a little, we suggest a graphic tee, a blouse, or a collegiate sweater for a bit of spice
- Hoodies and jackets: this is sort of a repeat segment, but hoodies are considered the pinnacle of casual wear. It’s also a great way to add a head covering to a trench coat or bomber jacket
How To Choose The Best Casual Outfit
Casual wear is synonymous with wardrobe essentials in the fashion world. It’s the go-to outfit for individuals who don’t want to bother. With this in mind, it is critical to prioritize quality over quantity.
Even if a $5 jacket sounds appealing, you should usually choose for a $60 option to ensure longevity and continued use. Nothing is more upsetting than opening an online order and discovering that your leather coat is actually made of vinyl.
When it comes to clothing, whether it’s jeans, tees, sweatpants, or a bomber jacket, shoppers should keep six things in mind. Quality, material, pricing, fit, design, and comfort are all factors to consider.
Let’s begin with fabrics.
Cotton, fleece, jersey knit, and spandex are considered non-negotiable soft materials. Nothing is more bothersome than an itchy sweater, therefore it helps to ensure prolonged use.
The apparel in question should provide a good combination of flexibility and durability. For example, you should be able to squat comfortably in a pair of jeans, but it doesn’t mean you should settle for jeggings.
Casual clothing features neutral tones and modest designs. We recommend cream shades and calm colours unless you’re a fan of maximalism.
Tassels, sequins, and crystals aren’t considered practical for everyday use, but it ultimately relies on your particular aesthetic.
We can’t provide readers an exact pricing range to follow because of the broad nature of casual apparel. Having saying that, we recommend that you avoid excessively inexpensive clothing.
$10 hoodies and jeans are often indicative of thin fabrics and low-quality construction.
How To Style Casual Outfits
The question “what is casual wear?” frequently has preconceived notions. It’s portrayed as lazy, carefree, and quite comfy.
Of course, you should never follow fashion trends, as there are other methods to elevate your regular look. We’ll show you how to fine-tune your final fit, and don’t worry—these suggestions don’t require any styling effort.
- A hat: whether it’s a baseball cap or a bucket hat, the power of a smart chapeau should never be underestimated.
- Dainty jewelry: looking for some glitz? If this is the case, we recommend replacing your bulky chain with a pair of delicate diamond studs.
- Socks and sneakers: you can always go with ‘invisible’ knits for a more breathable option. However, to raise your fashion game, we propose wearing your streetwear kicks with a pair of white socks.
- The traditional French tuck and the denim cuff: these two stylistic suggestions serve to balance out your proportions and are regarded a simple method to improve any casual outfit.
- A fashionable bag: if your ensemble is missing something, a gorgeous leather bag is always a good choice. Those who own a designer carry-on bag get extra points.
Fashion Tips To Avoid With Casual Outfits
Contrary to common assumption, casual attire necessitates some style effort. Choosing ‘anything that works’ raises the possibility of color clashes and unfavorable silhouettes.
There is a significant difference between effortlessly chic and “I crawled out of the city dumpster.” For those who like the first approach, we’ll go through some fashion mistakes to avoid when wearing casual attire.
- Dad fashion will never be fashionable with cargo shorts and polo tees. Unless you’re a devoted father, we recommend avoiding the ‘neighborhood BBQ’ aesthetic.
- Don’t get me wrong: I enjoy a good crop top now and then. Having said that, there are times when I favor full-coverage silhouettes. Finally, you should never underestimate the strength of the French tuck.
- Oversized clothes is considered the height of comfort, but nothing is more unattractive than suffocating yourself in excess fabric.
- Ill-fitting clothing: jeans that don’t highlight your waist and hips are destined for the garbage can. This is also true for boxy blazers and XXL t-shirts.
- As enticing as it may sound, you should never wear your monkey PJs in public. Slip dresses are acceptable as long as they are properly styled.
How To Take Care Of Casual Outfits
So, have you figured out what casual wear is? If this is the case, it is time to begin some basic care and maintenance. If you don’t want to bother with an in-store specialist, here are several methods for cleaning your clothes at home.
- Examine the laundry tabs. Some clothes come with clear instructions on how to wash them properly. Who can say? Perhaps that blouse should be dry washed instead.
- Turn your garments inside out to protect graphic prints and embellishments.
- Always use cold water and a light detergent while washing. Bleach and other abrasive treatments frequently cause color bleeding.
- Put the clothes in the dryer on the lowest setting. You can also choose to line dry them.
Best Places To Buy Casual Outfits
Before we wrap up this ‘what is casual wear’ guide, we felt it would be appropriate to provide our readers with some store recommendations. Do you require dressy casual women’s clothing?
What about some professional attire? Regardless of the environment, we will make the following recommendations to customers:
- Everlane
- ASOS
- Nordstrom
- Urban Outfitters
- Reformation
- Aritzia
Final Thoughts
Choosing what is and isn’t casual should not result in a ‘clothing pile casualty.’ Yes, styling does involve some work, but never to the point of annoyance. If anything, it should serve as a reminder to get back to basics.
Wardrobe essentials like a pair of jeans, a bomber jacket, and a simple white tee are straightforward to put together. At the end of the day, it’s all about basic color theory and what silhouettes are considered flattering.
Hopefully, you understand what casual wear is. We’re certain that this course has taught you the fundamentals of basic clothing, from sweatpants to streetwear chic.