Casual Means Something Different.

Casual must mean something entirely different in my world, because I have a tough time with short sleeve shirts worn open over tank tops and shorts with sneakers or sandals.

Smart casual, business casual, elevated casual, regardless of what you call it, casual adult clothing should look different from what the kids down at the boardwalk are wearing. Leather biker jacket, t-shirt and jeans with black Chucks? Stay gold, Pony Boy.

This is not to say that I don’t wear casual clothing, even jeans, although I tend toward five pocket off-white models and khakis/chinos instead. Polos are a staple in the warmer weather. But there’s a difference between choosing a striped Vineyard Vines golf shirt worn with a pair of tech khakis and the ubiquitous woven sneaker, and opting instead for a navy merino polo, navy trim cut cotton (or tropical wool) trousers and a navy or black driving shoe. Both are “adult casual”, but one is decidedly golf/sporty and the other is not.

Of course I advocate the addition of a sport coat or a blazer in a seasonal fabric. For those of you who aren’t entirely sold on that level of “formality”, consider the tailored chore coat or safari style jacket. The Architect thinks I look like I’m wearing a leisure suit when I step out in my chore coat. It may be my having imprinted on Roger Moore as James Bond in “Live and Let Die” that is to blame. This is one area where I feel a t-shirt can work nicely, one in a merino blend or a woven example especially.

Back to the shoe for a moment. I think that the driving shoe or loafers — sans white sole please, and worn with or without socks — are the way to go here. A far as color goes, black goes with everything, dark brown with almost everything, except black. Reserve lighter browns/chestnut/cognac/tan for use with lighter colored trousers. The current vogue for wearing light colored shoes with dark clothing is jarring to my eye. Unless you want everyone to stare at your feet, in which case pull out the skinny tie and spectators and channel your inner Mod revivalist.

A word about trousers. Pleated or flat front are matters of comfort and style. I like both, although I prefer a trimmer cut pleated trouser rather than the full cut of yesteryear. They can look especially elegant when worn with a tailored shirt or slim cut polo if your physique allows for it.

So may I suggest stepping up your casual wardrobe, even if you’re currently trapped inside because of a revolting combination of ice and Virginia-clay red mud.