It is sometimes be difficult to dress down, but it can be a necessity to avoid looking like a sore thumb in a situation where it is needed to blend in. This can be particularly challenging if you find yourself in a more casual work environment than your own style leans into. I'm not saying that you should throw away your personal style, but sometimes it is better to adopt to the room. That doesn't mean you have to only wear jeans and t-shirts!
Make More of Your Blazers
I consider the blazer one of the most versatile pieces you can have. It gives structure and warmth, it sharpens your silhouette and it can subtly highlight your frame in a way that feels both natural and masculine.
Blazers don't just belong in weddings or in boardrooms - they are just as powerful in your everyday wardrobe. The key is fabric, fit, and what you pair it with. If you have a more relaxed style on your blazer it will be even easier. Try a soft-shouldered wool blazer with a pair of jeans, or a lightweight linen blazer with chinos in the summer.
Layer your blazer with a sweater instead of shirt and tie
A soft shouldered flannel blazer paired with a less formal shirt and a neckerchief. Add pocket square for extra flare
Because the blazer comes in an abundance of fabrics, you have a great amount of combination that can help you either dress down a formal look, or elevate a casual look, all year around. Play around with colors, texture and patterns.
Pair with a casual denom shirt and light jeans
Black toned outfit with a turtleneck
Use Your Ties
I love ties, and it’s sad to see them becoming less common. When I first started wearing ties to the office at the beginning of my style journey, my colleagues would often ask "What’s the occasion?". But I never felt like a tie needed an occasion - I just thought it worked well with what I was wearing that day. Over time, people got used to seeing me in a tie, especially on Tie Tuesday - though I never managed to convince anyone else to join in.
If you put a tie on while wearing a suit and shirt, it will of course elevate your outfit to a quite formal level. But if you pair it with less formal garments, it can give you a chic and elegant look that makes your expression look well planned.
Using an overshirt can soften the impression compared to wearing a blazer
Wearing jeans together with a tie can be a relaxed and cool looking combination
Tailored Trousers
One of the best things about tailored trousers is just how effortlessly they punch above their weight. Throw on a pair of dress pants with a plain T-shirt, a crew neck sweater, or even a relaxed button-up — and suddenly, you’ve got something that looks intentional without trying too hard.
In a world dominated by jeans and chinos (no hate — they have their place), dress trousers offer a subtle way to stand out. They shift the whole energy of an outfit — from everyday casual to quietly elevated.
Dress trousers combined with an informal short sleeve shirt
Flannel dress trousers are excellent for winter - and can easily be paired with a sweater
Trousers do a lot of the visual work for you. They cover nearly half your frame, which means they carry a lot of style weight. A clean cut, a well-pressed crease, maybe even a subtle texture or pleat(s) — these are the kinds of details that add polish without shouting.
Final Thoughts
Dressing down doesn't mean dressing dull — and dressing up doesn't have to aim towards a stiff and rigid look. It's about knowing how to use the pieces you already love in new, unexpected ways. A blazer doesn't need to be saved for big meetings.
Blending formal and casual is more than a style trick — it allows you to show up as yourself while reading the room. It proves that looking put-together doesn't have to mean standing apart. With a few smart combination, your formal wardrobe get a lot more bang for the buck.
So next time you're debating between dressing up or dressing down, why not try a combination of both?
Cheers!
