A Stylist's Guide to Smart-Casual

Smart-casual is the most useful dress code to master because it covers so much of daily life — work, dinner, a weekend outing. The trick is building outfits that can shift up or down with one small change.

Begin with a solid foundation: well-fitting trousers or dark denim and a clean, uncomplicated top. From there, a collar and neat shoes push the look smarter, while a relaxed knit and sneakers soften it.

Fit matters more than labels. A modest shirt that fits properly will always look sharper than an expensive one that does not. When in doubt, tailor the shoulders and hem first.

Finish with one considered detail — a watch, a belt, a folded sleeve. Smart-casual is really about looking like you thought about it for exactly the right amount of time.