Stir Some Formal Into Your Casual

It is fairly common to see country touches in city clothing, from tweed suits to worsteds with hacking pockets. It is much rarer to see relatively formal clothing mixed into a casual ensemble, though that can be equally effective. In the photograph, a paisley silk scarf adds interest to a casual gilet on the weekend. The scarf repeats the yellow, green and black of the sweater and waistcoat, and adds touches of red as well as some sheen to a matte background.

Some city clothing does better next to casual clothes than others, such as a velvet jacket worn with gray flannels in the evening, suede house shoes with jeans or a chesterfield overcoat over cords and a crewneck sweater during the day. The keys are quality and context. The dressy item has to look like it was worn because the wearer liked the look and was willing to break the rules, not as though he wore it because he had nothing else. It should be obviously of good quality and add an unexpected touch to an ensemble rather than be the ensemble, if you know what I mean. Black brogues and a pin striped city suit worn to spectate at a Saturday polo match are just going to look odd.

Try stirring something dressy into your casual clothes.