What footwear is appropriate for smart casual?
There are times in life when not everything is black and white. You can't show up to your cousin's engagement party wearing your 1995 Real Madrid jersey, but it's also not acceptable to show up in a suit and tie and come across as a snob. That's where the subtle world of smart casual comes in .
Smart casual is a term that's often overused these days. It seems like everything is smart casual , but if everything is smart casual , then nothing is smart or casual . This term is used to refer to the gray area of events where guests are expected to wear elegant but not formal attire.
Elegant but not formal? How do you eat that? To understand it, you have to understand the difference between these two concepts. Elegance is the combination of a sense of occasion with self-awareness—that is, knowing what looks good on you and when to wear it. Formality, on the other hand, only indicates the level of seriousness of the event. Therefore, you can look extremely elegant in linen trousers and lace-up espadrilles for dinner on the Marbella seafront, but not at all formal. However, if you wear a tuxedo to a birthday party at twelve o'clock in the morning, you'll be looking excessively formal, and therefore not at all elegant.
But, back to the problem: What to wear when the invitation says "smart casual" ? It's actually quite easy given the wide range this term gives you. A blazer, chinos, and suede shoes like the Barcelonas are a classic and balanced smart- casual look that never fails. If you're not sure whether the rest of the guests will be wearing jackets, the same idea with a V-neck sweater is also impeccable. Or, if it's really hot, even a shirt.
The range of footwear to wear in these cases is as wide as the concept itself, but it is essential to avoid wearing black and formal footwear like the Doñana , especially if they are shiny, and opt for warmer and more versatile materials like suede, both in low shoes and ankle boots (insert link to product – Gijón Ante Chocolate) , or brown calfskin (insert link to product – Ordesa Becerro Mururoa ) .
The pointed toe, in this case, is especially useful because it helps further subtract that hint of formality that closed-toe shoes always carry. If you haven't tried it yet, go for it!
And in summer? A low-top loafer like the Granada (insert product link – Granada Calfskin Tiger Nut) worn without socks and paired with slightly shorter trousers – be careful! Never Bermuda shorts, as Bermuda shorts are completely informal and not suitable for smart casual , regardless of the heat – or even the ever-useful Bayona boat shoe (insert product link – Bayona Calfskin Toast) will cover all your smart casual needs during the summer.
When in doubt, as with everything in life, it's always better to ask, and we're happy to recommend you. Contact us at ayuda@diplomaticbrand.com (insert link to contact page) or stop by to say hello at our flagship store (insert link to store page) at 19 Claudio Coello Street, Madrid.