Casual
Casual
Smart Casual
Business Casual
Business Formal
At its most basic, smart casual bridges the gap between casual wear and business casual. Chances are, if you’re reading this, you’re probably unsure what smart casual attire entails. Rest assured, you’re not the only person to be baffled by this elusive dress code!
The smart casual outfit for men is one that requires a certain degree of sophistication about casual wear, although it’s nowhere near as formal as the business professional style.
Smart casual can easily become your day-to-day attire, depending on where you work. It’s meant to be elegant, mature, comfortable and fluid to adapt to different situations and locations.
With a few well-chosen items, you’ll be able to look polished whatever the occasion.
We’ll look at:
For ALL styles, this next piece of advice runs true. A few timeless items are worth investing more in. Some items won’t last for more than a season. Don’t spend on these, but others will stay with you for years. That’s the case for a coat, jacket, high-end sneakers, a luxury watch for example. Decide which pieces you want to keep and invest in quality over quantity.
When starting to build your wardrobe, begin with neutral colours such as black, white, navy, tan, grey and brown. These are all easy to mix and match and will never go out of fashion.
Once you have the basics in place, you can start to play with your outfits, adding touches of your own personality – add luxurious fabrics such as silk or cashmere and bolder colours. These bolder colours should be reserved for your accessories such as your belt, watch strap, socks etc.
Always have the correct fit. Nothing is sadder to see a man with clothes too tight or too baggy. If it doesn't fit, but it suits you, have it tailored if it’s an investment piece, if it’s not, don’t buy it.
Men’s casual wear is almost an open invitation to dress in what feels most comfortable for you. Dressing casually is about finding the right balance between comfort, individuality and style. Think functional, yet fashionable outfits.
The wardrobe basics for your casual wear include:
Casual Brands that are tried and Tested
When shopping, always decide what you want first, then look for the items. Don’t pick a brand and aimlessly browse their collections. That said, there are a few brands we recommend that offer superior quality at the right price – the reason why we stock and sell them!
These brands all offer easy to wear, modern style staples with high-end finishing without breaking the bank. Superb quality mixed with long-lasting items, every piece will elevate your style.
So, to answer your questions on what’s OK for casual dress:
Note images above and below: The casual knitwear, well-fitted jeans, stylish long sleeve shirts, fleeces, hoodies and rugby jumpers - all quality items denote the casual look.
Smart casual is neat, conventional, yet relatively informal in style, however, still fairly ambiguous! Its meaning will vary depending on the season, location and occasion you will be attending. In general, it means neat chinos or a pair of dark coloured jeans with a shirt, a blazer, and a pair of leather shoes. Your outfit must be well-fitting and slightly less formal than business casual.
“Smart casual on a summer weekend in Sardinia for a cocktail at the yacht club is different than smart casual in Toronto during the winter for an informal dinner. It is the knowledge and the good taste to understand the differences in terms of place, theme, people, weather and spirit” – Andrea Perrone, CEO of Italian luxury fashion house Brioni
If you’re unsure about the expectations, ask the event organiser or check with other people who might have been there before. If in doubt, go for the more formal option. It’s better to be overdressed than underdressed. You can never look too good!
The wardrobe essentials for smart casual include:
Note quality fabrics, use of blazers, long sleeve shirts, well-fitted jeans and chinos denotes the smart casual look. The location and occasion will determine the formality required. e.g. a wedding in a city venue, an away event for work etc.
Another ambiguous dress code! Its execution will depend on your office culture and the people you’ll be meeting with. In general, it’s a slightly more relaxed version of your usual business professional attire. If that’s a suit and tie, it means you can leave your tie at home and roll up your sleeves if you take your jacket off, but you’re still wearing a suit and business shirt! In other workplaces it means smart casual. Just remember, take it down a notch, but don’t go too far.
“Business casual is a classic, clean-cut and put together look where a full suit is not required” – Dress for Success, University of Toronto
A mix below of business casual and business formal
It’s important to know how to dress the part in the office. On the surface, it’s relatively simple. You wear a suit and tie. The biggest take away is conservatism, however, there are ways to make it fun and some workplaces allow for wiggle room. Again, it depends on your workplace. If you work in government, law or are at the C-level, you’ll likely be wearing a suit at least 4, if not 5 days a week. See our article on The Fundamentals of Men’s Style for the do’s and don’ts of buying and wearing quality business clothing.
a) Suits
Your suit should be two-piece, either charcoal, navy or blue. If you wear a business suit every day for work, then you should have at least three suits in two or more colours. For your first suit start with a plain dark navy with no pattern as this is the most flexible colour that can be easily combined with different shirts and ties. Your second suit should be dark charcoal. It’s also easy to mix and match and can be worn for more formal occasions like weddings and funerals. Once you’ve discovered your style and workplace culture, add in texture and patterns.
b) Business Shirts
Stick to timeless classics when selecting your business shirt. Start with classic white then add in some colour. Make sure they look good when buttoned up. The collar needs structure to frame your tie. You can decide on barrel or French cuffs. It will depend on your personality and workplace culture.
c) Ties
A tie allows you to express personality, it doesn’t have to be boring! A good set of quality ties will help you change your overall look while wearing the same suit and shirt. Your tie knot should always conceal your shirt’s collar button behind it. Avoiding bright, loud and electric hues will ensure you don’t go overboard.
d) Shoes
Carefully choose your dress shoes or boots. This means that your shoes or boots should be all leather with leather soles. No rubber soles, no chunky double or triple soles and no contrasting materials.
The most commonly worn business shoes are Oxfords, but there are many good quality dress leather shoes and boots, the “Chelsea” style being the most popular dress boot, think R.M.Williams, on the market. Make sure they are clean and polished and that you have 3 or 4 pairs to rotate. There is nothing worse than scuffed and worn-out shoes on a man in a suit (in anything actually!).
Switching up your footwear can create an interesting and fresh take on your regular suit, especially if you also change up a few accessories. For instance, your socks can add a touch of your personality, but make sure it’s appropriate in your office culture. Add a pocket square, add colour with your tie or shirt.
e) Belts
If you’re wearing a belt, make sure it matches your shoes. Its buckle should ideally match the colour of the other metallic objects you’re wearing e.g. watch, cufflinks.
f) Socks
Until you’re sure of your office workplace culture, start with socks that match your suit colour but aren’t “crazy” socks. Once you understand your office culture, knock yourself out with crazy socks and colours, but make sure your socks don’t sag!
Note the interest colour and pattern can create. Quality footwear including Chelsea boot and leather shoes. Wristwatch to match your outfit. i.e. dress watch vs. fitness tracker. Socks and a quality briefcase.
While the specifics of men’s smart casual wear can vary from place to place and culture to culture, a few things remain constant. Here are some general do’s and don’ts when it comes to smart casual wear, keeping in mind your own body shape:
You've invested heavily in your R.M.Williams boots, if you show them some love, they will give it back in spades and last you a lifetime.
Here are tips on maintaining your boots from R.M.Williams themselves!
Whether it’s a brand new wallet or a one-of-kind pair of boots, it’s crucial to take care of your leather goods. Leather is a very durable material, but that doesn’t mean it’s not subject to damage. Many factors can contribute to your beloved boots looking and feeling worn down, from stains to wear and tear. Here’s how to give any your boots the tender love and care they deserve and make them last a lifetime.
FINISHED LEATHERS INCLUDE
Yearling, Veal Calf, Willow, Kangaroo Black and Chestnut, Ostrich Black, Crocodile
CLEANING
Our R.M.Williams Leather Cleaner is specifically formulated to help you look after your R.M.Williams leather goods, ideal for removing dirt and grime from your boots and shoes.
1. Wipe over with a damp cloth to remove mud, dirt, dust or salt.
2. Apply R.M.Williams Leather Cleaner directly and evenly onto any excessive marks in the leather.
3. Rub cleaner evenly over surface with a damp cloth until clean.
4. Remove any excess cleaner with a dry clean cloth.
CONDITIONING
R.M.Williams Leather Conditioner should be applied regularly to finished leather footwear to maintain and preserve the leather and prevent it from drying out or cracking.
1. Apply R.M.Williams Leather Conditioner evenly to finished leathers with a clean cloth or hands.
2. Allow the conditioner to penetrate for approximately one hour
Note: Be careful not to over condition; leather also needs to breathe. Therefore, if you clean your boots every week, do not use conditioner each time (we recommend every 2-3 months).
POLISHING
Use R.M.Williams Stockman’s Boot Polish regularly to maintain the colour of your boots and remove scuffs. This keeps the smart finish of your leather boots, particularly for dress boots.
1. Apply R.M.Williams Stockman’s Boot Polish to finished leathers with a clean cloth or brush and rub in well.
2. Allow polish to rest on surface and penetrate leather for a minute.
3. Buff briskly with a shoe shine brush and finish with a buffing cloth to obtain a high shine.
Note: For boots which are badly scuffed, optimum results will be achieved if the polish is left on the uppers overnight. This will ensure the pigment is absorbed into the leather.
SUEDE LEATHERS INCLUDE
Suede, NuBuck, Desert Kip, Roughout Suede, Distressed Leather
PROTECTING
Used regularly, R.M.Williams Suede Protector will create a durable and breathable layer to protect suede and Nubuck leathers from water and stains that occur with regular wear.
1. Prior to wear, spray R.M.Williams Suede Protector in one direction, onto clean footwear at a distance of 20cm
2. Allow to dry naturally, avoiding direct heat.
3. Spraying in the opposite direction, repeat this process for a total of 3 times for best results.
CLEANING
For suede or Nubuck leathers, R.M.Williams Suede Cleaner should be used.
1. Gently brush the suede with a suede brush.
2. If you have any stubborn marks on your suede boots, focus your brushing and cleaner spray on this area.
3. Spray Suede Cleaner onto a clean cloth or sponge and work cleaner in a circular motion to surface of boot.
4. Dab the shoes with a clean towel to remove any excess moisture and leave to dry naturally, avoiding direct heat.
5. Once dry, brush up nap with a suede brush to remove marks. It can be hard to get every mark out of suede, but any remaining will add to the character of your boots.
6. Re-apply R.M.Williams Suede Protector using the same method above.
Note: If you do get wet mud on suede boots, let it fully dry first. Then brush gently using a suede brush.
OILY LEATHERS INCLUDE
Greasy Kip, Oily Fern, Vesta
CLEANING
Our R.M.Williams Leather Cleaner is specifically formulated to help you look after your R.M.Williams leather goods, ideal for removing dirt and grime from your boots and shoes.
1. Wipe over with a damp cloth to remove mud, dirt, dust or salt.
2. Apply R.M.Williams Leather Cleaner directly and evenly onto any marks in the leather.
3. Rub cleaner evenly over surface with a damp cloth until clean.
4. Remove any excess cleaner with a dry clean cloth.
CONDITIONING
R.M.Williams Leather Conditioner should be applied regularly to finished leather footwear to maintain and preserve the leather.
1. Apply R.M.Williams Leather Conditioner evenly with a clean cloth or hands.
2. Allow the conditioner to penetrate for approximately 15 minutes
Note: Be careful not to over condition; leather also needs to breathe. Therefore, if you clean your boots every week, do not use conditioner each time.
Note: Do not use Stockman’s Boot Polish on vesta or greasy kip or oily leathers, as it drastically changes the appearance of the boots
BURNISHED LEATHERS
In the Burnishing Process, a coloured dye is applied by hand onto an unfinished crust leather. It is prone to marks and blemishes, this creates boots with individual character and style, and you will want to look after your boots well to retain their unique finish.
ANILINE LEATHERS
Aniline leathers are dyed with soluble dyes so that the colour goes all the way through the hide giving the leather its lush and rich colour. No protective coating or surface pigmentation is applied, this helps keep the natural feel and look of the hide. The leathers maintain their natural markings and texture which contributes to the authenticity of the leather.
CLEANING
Get the best out of your boots by keeping them clean. Look after your boots and they’ll look after you.
1. Only clean lightly with a damp cloth.
Note: Do Not use any leather cleaner or conditioner. Leather conditioner will drastically alter the appearance of the burnished boots and will darken anilin leathers due to the unprotected finish of the leather.
POLISHING
Use R.M.Williams Stockman’s Natural Boot Polish regularly to protect and maintain the look of your boots.
1. Apply R.M.Williams Stockman’s Natural Boot Polish with a clean cloth and rub in well.
2. Allow polish to rest on surface and penetrate leather for a minute.
3. Finish with a buffing cloth to obtain a high shine.
Note: that when you polish your boots the first couple of times, a small amount of excess dye may come off – this will not affect the overall finish.
INCLUDES
Hi-Shine Leathers, Metallics
CLEANING
Get the best out of your boots by keeping them clean. Look after your boots and they’ll look after you.
1. Only clean lightly with a damp cloth.
Note: these leathers are designed to age and gain character over time.
All products are available in store at Blowes Clothing - Wagga | Orange | Bathurst | Mudgee | Dubbo
All outfits availabe online or in store at Blowes Clothing
Superdry is an exciting contemporary brand inspired by an inspirational trip to Tokyo in 2003. The brand focuses on high-quality products that fuse vintage Americana and Japanese-inspired graphics with a British style. All products are characterised by quality fabrics, authentic vintage washes, unique detailing, world leading hand-drawn graphics and tailored fits with diverse styling.
Blowes Clothing supplies Superdry in all of our stores - Wagga, Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst and Dubbo, with selected items online.
Such distinctiveness has gained the brand exclusive appeal as well as an international celebrity following. David Beckham who has been spotted wearing signature Osaka T-shirts and Brad leather jacket. Other celebrities who have been spotted out and about include, Ryan Kwantan, Kate Winslet, Idris Elba, Josh Duhamel, Bradley Cooper, Zac Effron, Ed Sheeran and Dannii Minogue.
]]>Do you keep buying new clothes but feel like you never have anything to wear? Undestand the fundamentals of men's style and you won't go wrong. Achieve a great look with clothes that last the distance.
We'll give you the do's and dont's of buying and wearing quality clothes.
Dressing well is something every man can readily accomplish. Today we're discussing fabric quality, cut and fit to give you the knowledge on how to choose the clothes that will become long-term players in your wardrobe and personal style.
Mastering style starts with the "Style Pyramid" - fit, fabric and function. These are the characteristics that define a garment. They are where you're getting the most bang for your buck in your clothing purchases.
FIT
Out of all three aspects of the style pyramid, fit is the most crucial. A good fit is one that's tailored to flatter your frame, emphasising the features you want to draw attention to, and minimising the ones you want to conceal.
Let's talk garment length. In general, clothing should stick to the following guidelines:
Now let's talk width. Different bodies need vastly different widths. Follow these guidelines:
If you find something that works for you and you like, but doesn't quite fit, think about using a tailor to make those small adjustments if it's a piece that will stand the test of time. This way your wardrobe is always tailored for you.
FABRIC
When you buy a custom-made suit, most tailors will set their price based on the fabric you select. This should give you an idea of how important fabric selection is. It's the most fundamental aspect in a garment's construction. Most menswear is made of either wool or cotton. The fabric used affects: weight and texture, the way it drapes on the body, the way it feels after hours of wear, and the care it requires.
Fabric properties are important to ensure comfort, fit, flexibility and match.
Wool
Sheep's wool is the staple material for men's suits, jackets and dress trousers. It comes in many weights and weaves - the finer the wool the better the drape, insulation and feel. Wool is warmer than cotton and has a smoother drape over the body. It's more expensive to produce and requires more careful cleaning and maintenance, but will last the test of time.
Cotton
Some very casual items likeT-shirts and sweatshirts are made from knitted cotton rather than woven, which creates a looser, softer and more shapeless garment. Cotton is sometimes measured by thread count, however, the "hand feel" of the shirt is more accurate judge of how it will actually feel on your body.
Men's dress shirts and more casual trousers are ususally made from woven cotton fabrics. The best shirts are 100% cotton, but a cotton blend that incorporates a small amoutn of synthetic for extra durability, still has the same form-flattering draped and feel of the natural fibre.
Quality Woolen Fabrics for Men's Suiting
Quality Cotton Fabrics for Men's Shirts
FUNCTION
This element is the most straightforward of the trio. Take a look at your outfit then consider its purpose.
Is it meant to be formal, business, business casual, smart casual or just casual? Is it the right uniform for the job? You need to mae sure the clothing you've invested in is appropriate for you and the message you want to send to the world. Whether it be for a job or a hobby, you need to zero in on the characteristics that you want to show through.
To summarise, fit determines how well your garment compliments your body type, fabric has implications for the maintenance of your garment and funds required for purchase, and function represents the purpose of your investment.
In an ideal world these would recieve equal treatment. However, if you have limited resources and need to prioritise, go by: FIT > FUNCTION > FABRIC.
Once you learn these, you'll be the master of our own wardrobe!
Work Functional
Casual Functional
Smart Casual Functional
Business Functional
Our story spans over 85 years. We are proud to be a family-owned and operated business of three generations, founded by legendary retailer Cyril Blowes who in 1936 opened our first store in Mudgee NSW, Australia.
Blowes Clothing continued on in the safe hands of David and Warwick Blowes, Cyril's nephew and son respectively, in the 1970's and the present day sees David's son Aaron taking the helm since 2002 and expanding the brands and stores.
Today Blowes Clothing is as iconic as the brands it sells including being the largest independent retailer, selling world renowned brand R.M.Williams, since opening our doors in 1936.
As a proud Australian company, Blowes Clothing makes sure that many of the products it stocks are designed and manufactured within Australia, utilising the talents of the skilled craftsmen based on our shores such as Akubra, R.M.Williams and Industrie, and more recently acquiring international superbrands Levi, Polo Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, GANT and Superdry labels, along side our stylish men's suiting ranges New England and Studio Italia.
In 2010 we launched our website and social media platforms, originally it was to sell to our repeat customers who lived in remote areas, but this has grown, not only to those customers with limited access to shops, but to city and international customers, embracing the quality and lifestyle that Blowes Clothing has to offer.
We pride ourselves on excellent customer service and attention to detail. Currently we have a team of 42 local employees ready to help you with all your Clothing needs. You will find Blowes Clothing both online at www.blowesclothing.com.au and at our five stores within New South Wales: Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst, Dubbo and Wagga Wagga.
We look forward to welcoming you to our family soon.
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