Thursday 13 September 2012

Perfecting a Smart-Casual Outfit

The fine art of perfecting the smart-casual outfit can be difficult to pull off successfully. It's often easy to find an elegant and smart dress, or something laid back for meeting friends, but finding something that works well at a less formal work function, for example, can be tricky. Indeed, many of us dread such social occasions less because they involve the necessity of fatuous banter around a tray of barely defrosted supermarket vol-au-vents and more as a consequence of the necessity of buying an outfit just to fit in. In fact, what even constitutes smart-casual is something of a moveable feast and, quite frankly, nothing leaves you treading water more than a rather nebulous dress code that could quite conceivably incorporate anything from a pair of jeans, to a smart summer blazer and matching skirt. However, woes beside the woman who turns up at a social event to find that she has completely misjudged the dress code.

Playing it safe is the best way, but how exactly can you do this? The answer is by layering. By the judicious use of a number of great fashion staples and a few accessories, you can easily dress yourself up or down in the flick of a beautifully made silk scarf. As with any outfit, the foundation of your look will revolve around your choice of skirt or trousers, so go for something neutral. If it's an evening event, stick to a plain dark colour and if it's a day event, go for neutral or pastel shades. Alternatively, why not go for an all in one approach and find a simple yet elegant summer dress that can then be worn with a variety of other accoutrements.

This also gives you the added advantage of ensuring you can stay cool if the weather is nice, or keep warm if you need to and accessorise with a smart cardigan. Indeed, the most important part of your ensemble is what type of top you choose. Go for something that you might wear to the office, but then dress it up by accessorising with a nice scarf and necklace. Plain colours are best as they won't attract attention and can then be layered with the addition of a nice jacket or blazer. Indeed, it is the use of a jacket that ensures you'll fit in whatever the event, as it can quickly be removed if you find that you're overdressed, or given a further formal edge by the addition of a broach or other jewellery accessories.

Samantha Brown is an experienced author who specialises in fashion and enjoys sharing her thoughts and interests with you. The websites recommended by Samantha have been chosen by herself from her own personal experiences. Take a look at Diva clothing and buy online today.


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