Some of my guy friends have a habit of wearing shirts and ties everyday. I mean, literally, daily and without fail. Much like girls inspired to overdress a little everyday, trading American Apparel for Club Monaco, a man choosing more tailored, ‘business casual’ clothing might stand out more but for all the right reasons. Far more comfortable than tights and heels, the suit offers a cleaner, pulled-together look. The best part is that, even if you didn’t have time to shave or would rather not wear your Ferragamo loafers, slight alterations to the traditional ensemble make it look even better.

Outfit 1:
The first way to make the Suit a casual, day-appropriate get-up is to trade the matching pants for a monochromatic pair of jeans. Think grey or black or maybe even a neat shade of brown, keep them dark and complementary to the jacket. Depicted above, he kept suspenders (great touch) and a tie part of his outfit while treating the jeans as though they were slacks. Dress shoes stay in the same vein; every piece, aside from the jeans, should keep the veneer of the formal suit alive.

Outfit 2:
Another way of cheating elegance is to nix the dress shoes and supplement boots—think Blundtstones or combats. This guy has also abandoned a tie or suspenders and chosen a black shirt both of which help to tone down the formality of the outfit. Mussed up hair, scruff, and sunglasses (not necessarily depicted above) have the same effect. Remember: play Suit, don’t just wear it.

Ladies Touch by Maggie M; a freelance writer and fashion consultant.