Published on November 13, 2023
Want to learn how to wear dress pants casually? You’ve come to the right place. In this short article, you’re going to learn all about wearing dress pants casually.
Yep – you heard us right. Wearing dress pants casually is one of the best ways to dress casually smart without looking overdressed in more low-key scenarios. And, if you’re headed from work to lunch, dinner, the bar, or anywhere else where you don’t want to overdo it with a full-blown suit and tie – you can effortlessly transform your look. All without having to run home and change your entire outfit.
It’s really as simple as changing your shoes, your top, and adding a few final touches to complete the look. Don’t worry – we’re going to cover everything you need to know about the casual dress pants look. Let’s start by answering the question you are probably asking yourself right now – can you wear dress pants casually?
Can You Wear Dress Pants Casually?
When we talk about wearing dress pants casually, we are oftentimes greeted by funny looks and skepticism. Can you really wear dress pants casually? Yes – and it’s actually a pretty common look among the well-dressed men of this world.
Just as you can learn how to wear an overcoat casually, any garment can be dressed up or down with ease – and dress pants are no exception to this. Now, that’s not to say you can just throw on your favorite pair of sneakers and pull off a casual look. There is a bit more to it. That’s why we’re going to walk you through a few different ways how to wear dress pants casually. Before we get to that, though, let’s talk about a few situations where we commonly rock the casual dress pants look.
When Wearing Dress Pants Casually Makes Sense
Now sure when to pull out the casual dress pants look? The smart-casual vibe is a great choice in a number of situations. To help you understand when you can pull this look out of the bag, let’s start by addressing when not to style your dress pants casually.
In any formal event, such as a wedding, fancy dinner, or even the workplace (depending on your dress code), you’ll want to stick with the traditional dress pant styling protocol. Stick with dress shoes, a nice button-up shirt (tucked in, of course), and add a tie. You may even want to add a blazer or overcoat.
However, sometimes the dress code has a bit more wriggle room. If you want to spice things up in a business casual or semi-formal setting, you can dress down your slacks. This will allow you to toe the line between overdressed and underdressed to perfection. This is a great look for date night, the club, garden parties, running errands around town – you name it.
Our absolute favorite instance in which you can wear slacks casually is when you’re running from work to another event where you may be deemed overdressed. If you don’t have time for a full-blown outfit swap, you can just take the tie off, change your top and shoes, and voila – you still look the part without having to run home and change your pants!
How To Wear Dress Pants Casually
Now that you have a bit more understanding of when to pull out the casual dress pants look, it’s the moment you’ve been waiting for. We’re going to walk you through how to wear dress pants casually. To really illustrate how much possibility there is with this style, we’ll share a few tips and tricks along with some actual outfit recommendations you can piece together yourself.
First Things First – Choosing The Right Dress Pants
First and foremost, you need to start with the right base – your dress pants themselves. As you know, not all slacks are made equal. There may be some pairs of slacks in your closet that are entirely off-limits when it comes to the casual look. If you have a pair of wool trousers that you really can’t picture without the rest of your suit, you’re probably right to assume that building a casual outfit from them isn’t going to be easy. Use your best judgment.
When shopping for custom dress pants that can be worn casually, look for a tapered style with no break between your shoes. These are a bit more modern and versatile, as you’ll be able to show off your sneakers underneath (more on footwear later) to add to the casual vibe.
Of course, it also is imperative that your dress pants fit you well in order to pull off any look – casual or formal. That is why we encourage you to go custom. Ill-fitting dress pants will never look good – no matter how you style them. That’s why we recently wrote a complete guide on how dress pants should fit. Take a look at this important resource before you get started shopping. For now, though, let’s move on to the next tip.
Pick Quality Garments For The Rest Of Your Outfit
In terms of selecting the rest of your outfit, including your shirt, a sweater, a coat, and even your shoes, quality matters. We’ll talk about picking the specific style later on – first, ensure the garments themselves are of high quality.
Just because you’re going for the casual look doesn’t mean you can throw on old, ratty shoes and a worn t-shirt. There is a big misconception that casual is synonymous with unkempt – let’s clear that up right now. You still need to dress well – which means finding quality garments.
Turn Your Formal Work Look Casual Effortlessly
Now, let’s start sharing some ways you can effortlessly wear dress pants casually. We’ll kick things off by explaining how you can take your formal work look down a few notches for some casual after-work fun. Say your workplace dress code requires slacks and a button-up t-shirt – perhaps even a tie. Well, here is how you can turn that formal look casual in seconds:
Start by ditching the tie – perhaps even the belt. Then, unbutton the shirt and show off some of that chest – we like going 3-4 buttons down to really casualize your dress shirt. Next, uncuff your sleeves and roll them up towards your elbows. Even with dress shoes, this is a great smart casual look. But, you can take things a step further by swapping out the loafers or dress shoes for a nice pair of boots or mid-top sneakers.
Ditch The Dress Shirts In Favor Of Sweaters or Cardigans
Dress shirts are great – we wear them on almost a daily basis ourselves. And contrary to popular belief, dress shirts can be worn casually too! We recently wrote a complete guide on how to wear dress shirts casually.
However, if you’re looking to wear dress pants casually, you may want to ditch the dress shirt altogether. These two garments together are just a bit too formal – it makes it tough to dress down the rest of your outfit. So, what should you wear on top instead?
If weather permits, add a sweater or cardigan to the look. These are still really nice garments so you won’t look too casual, but they will tone down your slacks a bit. If you want to add a bit more formality to the look, you can keep the dress shirt on underneath – just letting the collar pop through the sweater. This is perfect for a business casual setting. If you want to make things even a bit more casual, you can roll the sleeves up on your cardigan or sweater.
Try Wearing A Cotton T-Shirt With Your Dress Pants
We know what you’re thinking – a t-shirt with slacks? That’s way too much contrast! But hear us out – this look can actually work wonders when done correctly. The key is in picking the right t-shirt. Try matching a custom tailored casual shirt with the same color slacks for a really unique, modern look.
This is a perfect look for summer – but if you want to formalize it a bit while adding some warmth, pair it with a nice blazer. To tie the whole outfit together, add some nice polished boots and a leather timepiece to your wrist.
Pick Casual Shoes To Tone Down Your Slacks
The best advice we can give to anyone looking to wear their slacks casually is to pick your footwear carefully. Remember – earlier, we said that the quality of your garments matters too. Just because you’re going casual doesn’t mean you can wear a pair of beat up sneakers. However, a really nice, polished pair of sneakers or even some boots can tone down your slacks without adding too much contrast. Stay away from vans or trainers – stick with canvas or leather shoes.
When In Doubt – Swap The Slacks For Other Pants!
Sometimes, slacks just won’t cut it – even if styled casually to perfection. Don’t force this look if you don’t have to. You will undoubtedly experience scenarios where you’ll want to choose between chinos vs dress pants, and chinos will be the right choice. This is why it is so important to have a well-rounded wardrobe!
Final Thoughts On How To Wear Dress Pants Casually
Now you know how to wear dress pants casually. As you can see, it’s not all that hard. You can dress slacks down with ease. Just emphasize other garments like your sweater or cardigan, a bold cotton t-shirt, or some eye-catching sneakers. You also know which scenarios call for wearing dress pants casually. At this point, there is just one thing left to do – head over to Black Lapel and start upgrading your wardrobe!
We’ve helped men like yourself with custom-fitting garments and expert style recommendations for over 10 years now. If you need help getting clothes that fit not just your body, but your lifestyle, we’re here to help. Once you experience the Black Lapel difference, you’ll never go back to traditional shopping again. From custom-fitted suits and tuxes to custom shorts, t-shirts, and even other types of custom pants for men, we have everything your closet needs. Let’s get started!
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