Mens Fashion Guide

The Men's Guide to Dressing Down Suits

Yes, suits are the signature attire for formal events. But that doesn't necessarily mean you can only wear your suit to establishments with three stars or more. The fashionable man knows that the whole suit ensemble, shirt, tie and all, can work even with a much more casual look. It's just a matter of tweaking the outfit to go from cubicle to clubhouse.

Loosen Up, Literally
Few things say 'workday' as clearly as a necktie that's all done up and pristine. Ties in asphyxiating knots are most associated with fussy and meticulous guys, the same ones who you don't expect to see at the nearby watering hole after work. It's time to ditch the clean guy look without chucking away the tie (or the guy) altogether.

Give your necktie knot a slight pull, enough such that the knot isn't flush against the top button and collar of your shirt. Don't pull it too much, else the result will be downright sloppy with a tie that's plain undone. While you're working on your tie, feel free to leave the tie a little askew to either side and not straight down the middle to look extra rakish.

Likewise, your buttons shouldn't stick to the rules so much once you're trying to go for a more relaxed look. Don't button your shirt all the way up to the top. Heck, leave the first two open! It sounds almost sacrilegious to think of wearing a partially undone shirt with a knotted tie, but it's actually a very popular combo with some big names in men's fashion.

Casually Colorful
Do you remember all those rules on picking light, muted colors? Throw them out the window on more casual days. Formal suits are all about conforming and sticking to the long-held traditions of men's fashion. Conversely, dressing down a suit means working with an entirely opposite set of rules.

Find yourself a shirt that's in a slightly loud color; brights are permissible if you're going casual. Mustard yellows, ketchup reds, mint greens and royal blues are all good color choices for either your shirt or your tie. Keep in mind that some rules still apply, such as keeping just one loud item in your outfit. Once you've already buttoned up that bright green shirt, opt for a slightly subdued gray tie so that your look doesn't scream.

Tricks of the Casual Trade
Another rule you could do away with is the need to wear crisp, freshly ironed shirts. You don't necessarily have to wear them all bunched up and straight from the dryer, in most cases, that's plain sloppy, but it doesn't have to be starched straight either.

One trick to get some casual wrinkles in there is to iron your shirt flat, and then sandwich it between two heavy pieces of clothing like jeans or outerwear on your bed. The result won't make you look like some unwashed hobo, but there'll be enough wrinkles and creases in there to keep you from looking like a corporate suit as well.

Looking casual in a suit doesn't mean buying a whole new 'casual' suit. You can look at ease and casual with any suit imaginable, as long as you know how to pull off the outfit. Wear it with an interesting shirt, a suave necktie and an attitude to match.

About Author

Hendrik enjoys writing on mens fashion. To date he has over dozens of articles published on mens style. He also gives style advice on his fashion blog, and he is also the founder of online retailer for finest Mens Ties and cufflinks.

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