Some smart but casual looks for the weekend

[Bouji]

I find dressing casually but nicely is much harder than getting into more formal attire. I'm 35 with a youngish face, so I can get away with both older and younger looks. Here are a few of some of my basic casual looks, please share some of yours as I'm stuck for ideas:
1. Un-tucked/Tucked shirt with jeans, can be formal or casual shirt, but is mostly a formal shirt, as I don't have many casual shirts. In winter I put a sweater on top; on a colder spring/summer day a linen jacket. If the shirt is tucked in I'll dress it with some designer loafers (Gucci, Tods, Prada, etc.) and a designer belt (Hermes or Gucci)
2. Shirt tucked into light linen/cotton trousers with a web belt and suede shoes
And one I've started recently due to the heat
3. Linen trousers with a long sleeve polo shirt un-tucked and suede driving moccasins.
I cannot bring myself to wear short-sleeves, it just feels wrong.

 

[Edward Appleby]

Do you mean that you don't wear short sleeve "dress" shirts, or are short sleeve polos out too?

Because that's a rather large branch of summer casual wear right there.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by Edward Appleby

Do you mean that you don't wear short sleeve "dress" shirts, or are short sleeve polos out too?

Because that's a rather large branch of summer casual wear right there.

I don't wear any form of short-sleeve, polo, t-shirt, or 'dress' shirt. Although I do often role my sleeves up.

 

[Edward Appleby]

Originally Posted by Bouji

I don't wear any form of short-sleeve, polo, t-shirt, or 'dress' shirt. Although I do often role my sleeves up.
Wow. I don't think I could go through summer like that. May I ask why not?

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by Edward Appleby

Wow. I don't think I could go through summer like that. May I ask why not?

Actually it was always sub-conscious. The only time I found out was when I was shopping with my girlfriend and I bought a long-sleeve polo shirt, and she said “It’s good because you never wear short-sleeves.” Before this, I never even realized myself, and until today I still don’t know – but I’m not going to start wearing short-sleeves now.

 

[DGP]

Here's a favorite of mine that I think would be perfect:

Dark, fitted straight leg jeans, black chelsea or side-zip boots and a fitted long sleve t-shirt. Go with a nice, upscale tshirt, but nothing with a designer logo. You can also get some shirts that are supposed to help keep you cooler that should fit this bill, assuming they don't look too much like runner/biker shirts. In cooler weather, this would work well with a nice, relatively thin and very fitted sweater.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by DGP

Here's a favorite of mine that I think would be perfect:

Dark, fitted straight leg jeans, black chelsea or side-zip boots and a fitted long sleve t-shirt. Go with a nice, upscale tshirt, but nothing with a designer logo. You can also get some shirts that are supposed to help keep you cooler that should fit this bill, assuming they don't look too much like runner/biker shirts. In cooler weather, this would work well with a nice, relatively thin and very fitted sweater.

What t-shirts do you have in mind? Any brand examples?

 

[DGP]

Originally Posted by Bouji

What t-shirts do you have in mind? Any brand examples?
I usually go with Banana Republic, but I'll do short sleeves in the Summer. As for a tshirt that keeps you cooler, check out any sporting goods maker. I imagine that in London a store like Lillywhite might have such a shirt.

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by DGP

I usually go with Banana Republic, but I'll do short sleeves in the Summer. As for a tshirt that keeps you cooler, check out any sporting goods maker. I imagine that in London a store like Lillywhite might have such a shirt.
Heat is not so much of an issue as I stay in the A/C, but I'll surley try this look out, thanks.

 

[DGP]

Originally Posted by Bouji

Heat is not so much of an issue as I stay in the A/C, but I'll surley try this look out, thanks.


In that case, I would just look at stores that have good, upscale clothes for a more fashionable crowd, like Harvey Nichols and Selfridges, to name my London favorites. Their tshirts will look a lot better than one from a maker of athletic clothes.

 

[gamelan]

this is a great post. i'm 33 and getting to that point where i feel like i shouldn't even be browsing the Streetwear forum. but then you see guys like Get Smart (who i'm guessing is a similar age) who pulls off the craziest **** and still manages to look damn good. definitely take a look at some of his posts for ideas.

i'm definitely more of a minimalist. i like the Chucks, APC jeans, AA hoody look. in the summertime, i like white pants, navy blue Polo linen sweater, and sandals or white shoes (usually my white Jil Sander loafers or white Costume National tennis shoes). denim jackets have slowly made their way into my staple items. i've got a Navy blue Helmut Lang, a 1969 Gap, and an SBU. i've got great peacoats from Marni, Corpus, and US Navy standard issue that i try to wear as much as possible here in sunny So Cal. and i'm slowly trying to incorporate boots and blazers into my casual wardrobe. i've got boots from CT and Costume National which will hopefully tide me over until i can afford a pair of Jodphurs from EG or JL. blazers i've found amazingly difficult to pull off for some reason. my fave is a cotton khaki Jil Sander one.

let's hear from others on this thread!!!

-Jeff

 

[LA Guy]

Um, I'm 31. *

Anyway, my summer uniform is a layered tee, usually in contrasting colors, with one more neutral, jeans, an accent belt, and sneakers. Chucks, Vans of various flavors, and the Adidas Italia are go to kicks. Really pretty simple. On a fancy day, I might throw on a miltary or western style shirt over the long sleeve shirt, but even that is only once in a while.

 

[drizzt3117]

Living in the UK you can afford to not wear short sleeves in the summer...

While short sleeved dress shirts are out, I wouldn't be able to survive without polos or Ts...

While the polo/jeans isn't particularly creative, I enjoy putting together outfits with linen pants with various polos, usually solid, and sometimes pastel, in honor of Miami Vice!

 

[Wade M]

--Wade_

 

[Bouji]

Originally Posted by drizzt3117

Living in the UK you can afford to not wear short sleeves in the summer...

While short sleeved dress shirts are out, I wouldn't be able to survive without polos or Ts...

While the polo/jeans isn't particularly creative, I enjoy putting together outfits with linen pants with various polos, usually solid, and sometimes pastel, in honor of Miami Vice!

I'm with you - a polo with jeans or chinos can look too bland; add linen and it looks 'dressed'.

Admittedly, the OC is much hotter than London, but it has been about 35 C (95 F) for the past 5 days, and before that 28 C (83 F) ish.