Smart Casual Streetwear for Men: 8 Outfits That Work Anywhere
Eight smart casual streetwear outfits for men - collared shirts, knitwear and faux leather over relaxed denim. Real pieces, real prices, in stock now.
Smart casual is the hardest brief in menswear because nobody agrees what it means. Too sharp and you look like you came from an interview. Too relaxed and you look like you did not read the invitation.
Streetwear solves it better than tailoring does. Keep the shapes relaxed, raise the fabric quality, and add one collar. These eight outfits are built from pieces in stock today, with prices, so you can see exactly where the line sits.
The outfits
1. Stand Collar and Cardigan
The stand collar is the most useful shirt shape for this - it reads smart without a tie ever being implied. A zip cardigan over the top keeps it soft.
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ROCQERX Men's Corduroy Stand Collar Shirt, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual layering — £16.00
£20.00 -
ROCQERX Men's Ribbed Zip-Up Knit Cardigan with zip front, Relaxed Fit for cooler days — £17.20
£20.00 -
ROCQERX Men's Brown Carpenter Detail Denim Jeans, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £28.70
£35.00
2. Argyle Over a Collar
Pattern knit over a plain collar is the oldest smart casual trick there is, and it still works. Keep the trouser quiet so the argyle is the only thing doing the talking.
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ROCQERX Men's Argyle Knitted Sweater with ribbed trims, Relaxed Fit for cooler days — £16.00
£20.00 -
ROCQERX Men's Corduroy Stand Collar Shirt, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual layering — £16.00
£20.00 - ROCQERX Men's Corduroy Pants with ribbed trims, multiple pockets, elastic waist & drawstring waist, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual wear — £20.00
3. Quilted Leather and Turtleneck
A turtleneck under a quilted faux leather jacket is about as sharp as streetwear gets without becoming tailoring. Good for dinner, good for a gallery, fine at the pub.
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ROCQERX Men's Faux Leather Quilted Jacket with Snap Button Closure, Relaxed Fit for autumn and winter — £28.00
£35.00 - ROCQERX Men's Turtleneck Knitted Sweater with ribbed trims, Relaxed Fit for cooler days — £9.99
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ROCQERX Men's Denim Washed Grey Panelled Jeans with zip front, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £28.70
£35.00
4. Coach Jacket, Clean Lines
The coach jacket is underrated here. It has a collar and a placket, so it behaves like a shirt jacket, but the cut keeps everything relaxed.
- ROCQERX Men's Embroidered Faux Leather Jacket with zip front, Relaxed Fit for autumn and winter — £30.00
- ROCQERX Men's V-Neck Knitted Sweatshirt with ribbed trims, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual layering — £10.00
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ROCQERX Men's Black Denim Cargo Pants with multiple pockets, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £21.00
£25.00
5. Half-Zip Over Denim Shirt
Layering a knit over a collared denim shirt gives you the collar without the stiffness. Let the collar and cuffs show - that visible edge is the whole point.
- ROCQERX Men's Half-Zip Ribbed Knit Sweater with zip front, Relaxed Fit for cooler days — £20.00
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ROCQERX Men's Washed Denim Stand-Collar Shirt, Regular Fit for everyday streetwear — £21.00
£25.00 -
ROCQERX Men's Denim Baggy Fit Jeans, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £20.00
£25.00
6. Biker Jacket, Corduroy Shirt
Biker jackets read tough on their own. Corduroy underneath softens them into something you can wear to dinner without looking like you are in costume.
- ROCQERX Men's Faux Leather Biker Jacket, Relaxed Fit for autumn and winter — £40.00
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ROCQERX Men's Corduroy Shirt with ribbed trims, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual layering — £18.40
£20.00 -
ROCQERX Men's Black Cargo Denim Jeans with zip front & multiple pockets, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £29.40
£35.00
7. Cardigan and Tee
The most relaxed outfit that still counts as smart casual. It works because the cardigan is patterned and the rest is not.
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ROCQERX Men's Argyle Knit Cardigan with ribbed trims & button-up front, Relaxed Fit for cooler days — £16.80
£20.00 - ROCQERX Men's White Oversized T-Shirt, Oversized Fit for everyday wear — £15.00
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ROCQERX Men's Denim Light Blue Jeans with cargo pockets & multiple pockets, Relaxed Fit for everyday streetwear — £32.90
£35.00
8. Bomber and Corduroy Trousers
Faux leather up top, corduroy below - two strong textures that do not compete because neither has a pattern. The heavyweight sweatshirt keeps the middle simple.
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Men’s Bomber Jacket – Vegan Leather Detail, Zip Front, Ribbed Hem X-2015 — £28.35
£35.00 - ROCQERX Men's Heavyweight Sweatshirt with Pocket Detail with ribbed trims, multiple pockets & contrast trim, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual layering — £18.00
- ROCQERX Men's Corduroy Pants with ribbed trims, multiple pockets, elastic waist & drawstring waist, Relaxed Fit for smart-casual wear — £20.00
Final word
If you take one rule from this: smart casual is about fabric, not formality. A corduroy shirt and a knit cardigan will always read more considered than a crisp shirt worn badly. Start with texture and work outward.