What is casual?
Casual style — is a casual clothing trend whose main principles are comfort, practicality, and casualness. This style emerged in the 20th century as an alternative to strict formal dress codes. It allowed people to wear comfortable clothes outside of work and formal events.
The foundation of the casual philosophy is freedom of movement and a rejection of rigid silhouettes. Soft, comfortable fabrics such as cotton, denim, and thick knits predominate in the wardrobe. Clothes are free of the rigid frame elements, shoulder pads, and corsets typical of a classic business or evening suit.
Main types
Within this style, several distinct subtypes are distinguished. Smart casual (dressy everyday) combines basic, relaxed pieces with formal wardrobe elements. A typical example of this look is straight-leg blue jeans paired with a classic single-breasted jacket and leather loafers.
Business casual is adapted for an office environment with a relaxed dress code. It eliminates classic three-piece suits, replacing them with cotton chinos, shirts without ties, simple blouses, and wool cardigans.
Sport casual integrates elements of athletic gear into a basic wardrobe. These looks pair hoodies, sweatshirts, joggers, and sneakers with casual jackets, jeans, or coats.
Street casual is a dynamic urban style that allows for great freedom of self-expression. It makes extensive use of layering, oversized cuts, bold combinations of textures, and statement accessories.
How to wear
The foundation of a casual wardrobe is built on high-quality, simple-cut basics. These include classic blue jeans with no fading, solid-color T-shirts, smooth wool turtlenecks, and simple knitwear. The color palette is based on neutral shades: beige, gray, navy, white, and khaki. These colors are easy to combine, creating harmonious ensembles.
Layering is used to create visual interest and add complexity to the silhouette. A classic approach is to pair a long cotton trench coat over an oversized sweater or an unbuttoned shirt over a basic top.
Casual footwear is chosen with long walks and maximum comfort in mind. Flat shoes or low, stable heels are preferred. Leather or suede sneakers, trainers, loafers, brogues, oxfords, and Chelsea boots are most often worn for everyday looks.
