What is casual attire exactly? Here’s a fascinating exploration of a style of dress that’s more than just t-shirts and flip-flops.
Find five men from five different walks of life. Now, ask each of them the following question: What is casual wear?
That was a hypothetical request, of course. But if you did do that, I promise that you’d get anywhere from three to five different answers from these hypothetical people.
You may even get some qualifying follow-up questions. Do you mean full casual casual or smart casual? Business casual, perhaps?
A casual dress code in one context, say, a restaurant or an office, may differ wildly from another. Heck, it even varies from season to season. Still, I think we can all agree that two important and common qualities of casual attire include comfort and function.
Let’s dive into this big sartorial tent that is casual wear. In a world that’s becoming more informal by the second, it’s important to understand what relaxed attire is. This way, you can better navigate all of these grey area dress codes, so many of which seem to be casual-adjacent.
What Is Casual Dress?: A Brief History
Casual attire is rooted in sportswear and utilitarian wear. For example, in the 1920s, men wore tweed sport coats for hunting, compared to the more delicate formal attire made for evening wear. Meanwhile, shorts also came about around this time as cycling gained popularity.
While formal clothes were made of velvets and silk, workwear incorporated materials like denim, fleece, and flannel.
Then, the 1960s counterculture brought rise to casual wear as we know it today. Its rebellious aesthetic embraced informality and incorporated past sportswear, workwear, and other utilitarian pieces into everyday fashion.
They started wearing underwear (t-shirts) as outerwear. I should mention that exposed t-shirts started with American laborers in the 19th century. They would undo the top part of their jumpsuits during the hot summer months.
Naturally, the practical build of military clothes, such as utility shirts, combat boots, and trench coats, also made their way into casual wear.
So when it comes to a casual dress code today, it simply means “not formal”, which ranges. Fortunately, since casualwear takes from several traditions of sport and industry, it’s easy to accommodate one’s personal style.
Ironically, a lot of the oldest utilitarian pieces of the past aren’t as casual by today’s standards. A trench coat, tweed sport coat, and button-down are all pieces that can be worn formally as well as casually, though they all have their more formal counterparts.
Sportswear
It’s funny that tweed is technically a distant ancestor of today’s basketball shorts and hoodies. It was invented in the 18th century as protective wear for Scottish farmers. It then came into use for outdoor sports, mainly hunting and other English countryside sports.
I suppose the direct descendants would be today’s actual hunting gear, which includes insulated shell jackets and wellies. Still, sportswear of all types is one of the most important branches of casual wear.
Rugby shirts and tennis whites are casual preppy staples, on and off the field. Meanwhile, basketball gear and hoodies have gone from the court and gym to be important parts of cool, urban streetwear.
Converse Chucks are a retro-cool but always relevant fan favorite.
White low-profile white leather
Athleisure
Workwear and underwear eventually evolved into the everyday-friendly t-shirt and jeans. The equivalent for sportswear is arguably what we today call athleisure.
Athleisure hasn’t been around the block as much, though. And how appropriate athleisure is for your day-to-day life is hotly debated.
REI even referred to athleisure as a bridge between the gym and work. I’m going to respectfully disagree with that. I, for one, would definitely get fired if I showed up to the office in sweatpants and a track jacket — even the stylish, clean-lined ones brands are making these days.
The word itself is a neologism combining athletics with leisure. So here at TMM, let’s honor that leisure part of it and, instead, consider athleisure a bridge between the gym and weekend wear. Not so much the office.
As mentioned, though, athleisure brands today are coming up with designs that are as flattering as any well-structured pieces. These aren’t the oversized, sloppy-lined tracksuits, sports jackets, sweatshirts, and hoodies of yesteryear.
I’ve even seen cinched joggers worn with blazers and flannel, resulting in a pretty dynamic silhouette.
Workwear and Military Style
No school of casualwear has made an impact on menswear as much as workwear has. Everyone wears jeans, after all, and they were originally created for miners and laborers.
In fact, we have a guide on workwear style that covers everything you need to know about the matter.
Then check out some of our favorite workwear clothing brands.
Chore jackets, leather, utility shirts, carpenter pants, and cargo pants are a few examples of hard-wearing casual clothes. The reason I credit workwear as an important part of men’s casual attire is because of how much architecture these pieces add to the silhouettes of casual combinations.
They add that masculine touch that separates our off-duty looks from women’s casual attire.
Besides, cargo pants are back from the 2000s, albeit cleaner and slimmer, and Timberland boots have been popular in streetwear since the ‘90s.
And, of course, the military has made an indelible mark on men’s style. I’ve always said that one way to know if a piece is a menswear classic is by looking at its origin. If its origins are in the military, then the answer is likely yes.
I’m talking about service boots, chinos, trench coats, field watches, and more.
Even the modern-day suit is partly inspired by uniforms from the Napoleonic Wars. And while the suit is obviously representative of some of the highest forms of formality, more casual pieces have come from it as well. Unstructured blazers and creatively incorporated separates, for example.
Home and Leisure
What’s more casual than clothes that were made for the house? Remember how Mr. Rogers would change out of his suit jacket and into a cardigan?
Well, just as tweed blazers are more formal-friendly than their ancestors were, so are many home and leisure pieces. A cardigan or cashmere pullover is office-appropriate because of how classic and elegant they are.
Slip-on shoes, inspired by moccasins, have hard-soled variations for the outside world. And the house slipper, which has been around for centuries, is really just a less robust sandal.
All of the best resort-chic garments, like linen button-ups, shawl collars, and leather sandals, are essentially outdoor versions of home and leisure casualwear.
FAQs
Do you still have questions about casual clothes for men? That’s no problem at all. Here are some common ones and their answers.
What Are the Rules for Casual Wear?
There are no set rules for casual wear. However, if you want to look like a grown, well-adjusted adult, make sure your clothes are well-fitted and clean. Yes, even if all you’re wearing is a T-shirt and jeans. This is especially important if you’re around work colleagues. Add structure in the form of outerwear, like a blazer, and go for loafers or minimalist
What Does Casual Attire Mean for Men?
It ranges. Informal clothes for men include T-shirts, jeans,
Are Casual and Smart Casual the Same?
No, though, depending on the context, there might be overlap. Smart casual is more formal but not stuffy. You might choose chinos over jeans, polos over t-shirts, and loafers over
Conclusion: Casual Outfits Range Widely
So the answer to the question, “What is casual wear?” really depends on your personal style and the context of your situation. Fortunately, we have a whole toolbox of historically grounded, tried-and-trues at our disposal.
Let’s say you’re going to a work picnic over the weekend. Sure, a t-shirt, cargo shorts, and flip-flops are technically appropriate, but wouldn’t you rather go for a knit polo, chinos, and clean leather
These are work friends, after all. I’d say the same for a church picnic.
A Sunday brunch with friends might call for a T-shirt and jeans. That’s perfectly fine as long as they’re well-fitted. But why not add a chore coat to the mix?
Or, if you love a streetwear look, go for some Timberlands and a track jacket, too.
Think of workwear, military garb, and sporty pieces as ways to add visual intrigue or personal expression to your casual outfit!
What do you usually wear on a casual day? Do you prefer sporty pieces or more standard-issue classics? Let’s start a conversation in the comments!
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