Dressing for the right occasion plays a crucial part in looking good. After all, you don’t want to wear a tuxedo to a basketball game just as you wouldn’t want to wear shorts and a t-shirt for a charity dinner.
That’s why you need to know the different dress codes. One of the most common is semi casual because it can work for a variety of occasions. But what is semi casual?
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What is Semi Casual?
Semi casual is a step up from casual wear and a step down from informal wear. Semi casual wear involves outfits that you can wear on a daily basis while looking better than your average self. However, when it comes to the office, semi casual wear might not substitute the standard business dress code.
Semi casual wear is meant for when you want to go out, but you also want to impress the people around you. Semi casual outfits show that thought and care have been put into the piece. They also tend to have a lighter tone compared to more formal outfits which use neutral colors and standard dress procedure.
That being said, you can expect semi casual outfits to be free-moving around the body, comfortable, and easy to match. Essentially, they’re pieces of clothing that you can wear on a daily basis.
Semi Casual Pieces of Clothing
Now, I mentioned what semi casual outfits are like. It’s time to look at a few pieces of clothing that can be deemed to be semi casual.
Well-Fitting Plain Tees:
There’s a fine line that draws the t-shirt between casual and semi-casual. A casual t-shirt is one that fits in any way with any design. A semi-casual tee has a minimalistic design and is built to fit around your body.
What I mean by this is that t-shirts are always going to be a casual piece. However, the fit and design determine just how casual the piece can be. Loose t-shirts with graphics are on the more relaxed spectrum while well-fitted, uniform t-shirts are built for relaxed, informal occasions.
Button-Up Collared Shirt (Long-Sleeve and Short-Sleeve):
Button-ups have become particularly popular over the years. Button-ups are usually meant to complement another article of clothing. Think items such as a jacket for a suit or a sweater for the winter.
However, by itself, the button-up gives a relaxed look. The buttons and collar help maintain a sense of formality. But over the years, the button-up has become a staple for men in the workplace. Men have become more prone to taking off their suits and leaving the button-up on after work.
The short-sleeve button up has also become a popular piece during the 21st Century. This variation of the long-sleeve button up can be sported during the spring or summertime. Because of its comfort and free range of movement for the arms, the short-sleeve button-up is considered by many to be a great semi casual piece for many occasions.
Nice, Clean Jeans
In most business environments, a pair of jeans have never really fit the formal dress code standard. However, jeans will fit most casual situations that you can think of. Whether you’re going out for coffee or going to grab groceries, a pair of nice, clean jeans make up a major component of your outfit.
Covering more than ⅔ of your body, the way your jeans look on you are imperative. Go for jeans that tuck well around the waist, but leave about one-two inches from beneath the knee.
Other semi casual dress items may include:
- Shorts
- Dark and Light Mid-Length Socks
- Button-Up Dress Shirts
- Sweaters
- Polo T-Shirts
- Jacket Variations
If you like semi casual outfits, check out the piece we wrote on parkas!
When Can You Wear Semi Casual Outfits?
Most people wear semi casual outfits when they’re going out to perform a task that doesn’t require a certain degree of professionalism that would be found in a traditional workplace.
This could be going out to get coffee, hanging out with friends, shopping–the list is infinite. Because semi casual outfits hold a great degree of comfort over professionalism, you can wear semi casual outfits in the same circumstances as you would wear casual outfits.
The only difference is that for semi casual, you’ve added more to your appearance. Maybe you’ve switched the joggers for the trousers or the sandals for a pair of white sneakers.
My favorite rule of thumb when deciding whether to dress semi casual or not is to ask yourself this: is the event a formal one and how will others be dressing around you?
For example, if your family is having a Christmas dinner, you’ll probably have to dress business informal.
Semi Casual With Accessories
You should also pair your semi casual outfits with accessories that elevate the overall look of the clothing. This can include bracelets, watches, chains, or bracelets. Because you’re wearing something that’s more formal than casual, we recommend investing in a high-quality timepiece that looks good on your wrist.
Automatic watches tend to have the highest quality of craftsmanship but quality brands like Bulova, Seiko, and Citizen have quartz models that perform just as well. Both types of movement–automatic and quartz–have their advantages and disadvantages so look at each one’s features carefully before making a choice.
You can also pair your watch with bracelets around your wrist and wear a necklace to attract attention to other parts of your body. Either way, invest in something that can make your outfit pop more than it already is.
Semi Casual Mens Outfits
We’ve seen the different types of semi casual clothing and we’ve looked at when wearing semi casual clothing is appropriate. But we haven’t looked at some of the different outfits that can be created from the different semi casual pieces of clothing.
So, if you’re in a rush for the day or you don’t want to spend time planning your outfit, here are a few ideas that you can bounce around for the next time you go out.
Well-Fitted Short-Sleeve Button Up Tucked Into Linen Pants
This outfit is more on the business informal side, but it’s perfect for all semi casual occasions. You wear the outfit by taking a short-sleeve button up that fits nicely around your arms and chest and tuck it into a pair of linen or silk pants.
From here, you can match the outfit with a pair of white sneakers or a pair of neutral-colored trainers. Do not go for anything outside this range since footwear like boots or loafers aren’t meant for the occasion.
Well-Fitted Plain Tee With Chino Shorts
One of the more ideal summer looks, a t-shirt and shorts combination can be accentuated by making sure that the t-shirt fits well and that the shorts are built for your size. I like to wear my shorts about two inches above the kneecap and have my shirt fitted with only about half an inch of margin between the sleeve and my arm.
As for color combinations, since this is a summer look, brighter colors are a possibility here. A good rule of thumb is to not use so many bright colors that you look more like a neon party from the 1980s than an actual person trying to dress well.
Personally, I like to go with a white t-shirt since this can combine well with the entire color range. Whether you like your colors dark or you like them bright, as long as you match them well, you can pull off the look.
Jeans and a White T-Shirt Layered With a Blouson Jacket
In my opinion, everyone should have a blouson jacket. The jacket can be used during the spring, summer, and most of fall. Furthermore, a blouson jacket adds a little bit more texture to simple looks like jeans and a white t-shirt.
The outfit is simple: pair the white t-shirt and jeans how you normally would (tucked shirt or untucked). Use trainers or neutral-colored sneakers as your footwear and then layer it with a blouson jacket that is preferably neutral toned as well.
I’ve found this outfit to be very useful at times. If you’re too busy to pick out your clothes for the day, you can simply put on a white t-shirt, throw on some jeans, pick your footwear of the day, and finish off the looks with a stylish blouson jacket.
It’s simple, but it works very well.
Semi Casual Work Attire
While business environments usually do not allow their workers to come in with relaxed work attire, there are some instances where semi casual work attire is allowed. For example, some workplaces have “casual Fridays” when employees are allowed to wear something other than a suit or dress shirt to work. Other offices just allow a more laidback dress code.
But what is semi casual in the workplace? What attire appropriately fits semi casual without pushing the boundaries of the casual dress code? Let’s take a look at some semi casual outfits that can work for the office.
Pullover Sweater With Choice of Pants
Pullover sweaters are an option for men who want to add an extra layer over their base garment. Despite its formal look, sweaters are meant to be paired with some type of trouser, such as pants or jeans.
Button-Up Shirt and Trousers Layered With a Blouson Jacket
For work, you’ll see a common outfit among the crowd: button-up long-sleeve with a pair of trousers. It’s standard and it’s consistent. However, if you want to mix it up, consider adding a jacket in the mix.
No, not a sports jacket but something that is more relaxed and flexible for the arms and chest: a blouson jacket. The button-up and trousers will keep the professional look, but blouson jacket added into the mix will help relax your entire image.
Polo T-Shirt and Trousers
Like the blouson jacket, a well-formatted polo t-shirt can relax your professional figure. Throughout my years of wearing a polo, I’ve found that a polo t-shirt can be used for both lesser formal and casual events.
However, because of its sleeve length, the polo tee is best used to give you an edge up during casual events. So in the workplace, I recommend this combination. The trousers are standard business dress code but the polo t-shirt helps you keep it formal enough while allowing you to sport a more moderate appearance.
Final Thoughts
What is semi casual? That’s a good question and it’s a question that doesn’t have a definite answer. Since everyone has their own form of dress, each person has their own understanding of what semi casual means.
For me, semi casual means dressing for a relaxed, professional appearance. What is semi casual for you?