The Smart-Casual Check
We are all very familiar with smart-casual dressing here at FashionBeans; it can be considered our house style. If our readers were to create an essentials list (as loathe as I am to use that word), it would almost certainly contain at least one blazer and many shirts with which you could dress said blazer up.
Yet when it comes to creating smart-casual outfits, the majority of men still tend to stick to the same type of shirts – invariably an Oxford cloth version or white dress styles. Just when menswear is finally beginning to accept colour and pattern, we continue to turn our noses up and stick with what we know – which, incidentally, is exactly how the check shirt became so boring in the first place.
Our stylish Iberian cousins are particularly adept at converting the check shirt into smart-casual wear, so it’s always worth taking a browse through their offerings. For example, HE by Mango produces the perfect kind of shirt for this look: cutaway collars, slim-fitting and constructed from lighter weight cottons, they strike the right balance between formal and casual.
Just make sure you look for shirts with a curved hem that is long enough to be tucked in – we don’t want you looking sloppy.
How To Wear
Step out of your comfort zone by pairing your check shirt with a deconstructed, textured or heavyweight jacket – these aren’t as formal as a structured blazer and therefore complement the slightly more relaxed nature of the shirt perfectly.
Knitted, soft shouldered, bold coloured or unlined blazers work particularly well, as do those jackets that include heritage detailing such as patch pockets or elbow patches.
If you go down this root, don’t be afraid to add a textured tie for an extra injection of character and individuality.
Alternatively, those who have a more relaxed personal style can try subbing out the blazer for something like a shawl neck cardigan, leather biker or waxed jacket.
Finish with a pair of slim-fit jeans or heavyweight trousers and your choice of footwear (brogues, desert boots or suede Derbies would be ideal) for a look that works just as well on a night out as it does within a business-casual environment.
REVIVING THE CHECK SHIRT