If you are a fashionista aware of the latest trends and watch the catwalks as closely as some people watch the world news, you will know that dressing casually is a delicate balance.
While the idea of dressing casually seems simple, finding a way to look comfortable and in touch with your aesthetic without looking unkempt or untidy can take a little while to master, mainly if you are used to being on the more glamorous side of daily style. While there is nothing wrong with looking glamorous every day, there might be occasions when a casual look is more appropriate, or you might want to start branching into a new style. Either way, there are some simple ways to look casual, chic, and well put together. The key is to make sure you have beautiful pieces in your wardrobe to wear for all different styles and seasons. An overflowing closet of items that don't fit you perfectly and or that you only wear once every year is not ideal for planning or being able to think about how to put your looks together. If you are thinking of branching out into a more casual style, look at what you already have and see what can be suitable for dressing down. When planning a glamorous outfit, you will consider the layers and textures of your attire, which is still the case with a more relaxed look.
Footwear is a great way to make your look more informal, but it doesn't mean sacrificing your style. With most top-end designers from Gucci to Louis Vuitton now branching out into sneakers, you can still have your fashionista roots visible in your chilled out choices. The ranges of informal shoes from designers are vast, from chunky platform trainers that still add height and elevation to tennis style shoes that can create a classic girl next door aesthetic. These more informal styles of shoes can be seen on red carpets and catwalks worldwide with the ever-changing face of fashion. Whichever angle you choose, just know that a comfortable casual shoe is just as well accepted in the fashion world as a pair of killer heels.
After you have considered the building block of your footwear, move on to the outfit proper. We know that jeans have been a fashion staple for hundreds of years. There are now so many choices in the fit and style of these well-loved trousers. When thinking about the overall outfit, you need to consider what works best for your body shape. If you are looking to create length in your legs, then the perfect way to do this is to opt for a more fitted trouser, whether that's jeans or any other item, and then add a chunky shoe with some height to it, such as a platformed sneaker. Make sure you choose a combination of different fits, so if you have a fitted bottom half to your outfit, an oversized jumper can be an excellent option for your top half. This idea works in reverse too. If you are looking to embrace the baggier version of trousers such as paper bag waist jeans, linen culottes, or even a luxury pair of sweatpants, think about the looks you can create with more fitted designer t-shirts or tailored outerwear. A contrast of fits is a surefire way to get a great mix of volume and shape.
Another element of your casual looks is the colour palette you want to go for. You can always manage your colour palette based on the season, with pastel tones being a staple of spring and earthy tones being an autumnal essential. If you have a more capsule wardrobe, you can opt for timeless monochrome pieces that can work with any other clothing item. Monochrome is also great for branching out into incorporating colour by adding accessories such as bright jewellery to bring an outfit to life.
When you start to build your casual outfits, make sure you still keep your unique fashion approach in mind. The joy of fashion and the clothes we choose to wear is that it is a way to represent ourselves or to encourage us to feel a certain way. There is nothing better than feeling comfortable in your fashion choices and while you might feel slightly self-conscious when ditching your dresses for jeans, or your heels for sneakers, know that you can create beautiful outfits for every occasion.