Five Ways To Dress Down Your Workday Suiting For The Weekend

By Brian Maynor

 

Suiting and tailoring are expensive, so you definitely want to get your money’s worth in wear, but sometimes finding the right balance is hard.

When we look at our suiting, it is hard to see past the personification of formality and conformity and typically the last thing considered when looking for a relaxed and casual weekend outfit.

Not only are suits a growing trend in casual wear, now that we’re heading into fall the cooler temperatures will make it easier to wear them that just wasn’t possible during the height of summer.  Here are five ways to style your suits that are guaranteed to work well on the weekends, ensuring you get more wear out of your investments:

1.    Lose the collar.  Sure you can wear your suits with your standard button-front shirt, but if you really want to set the tone of a casual outfit, lose the collar all together.  Whether you call them banded-collars or grandad collars is neither here nor there, the effect is the same: a smart, stylish and look that is a step up from the expected t-shirt.

2.    Break up the set.  One of the biggest trends is suiting is to mix-and-match your pieces.  Wearing different blazers and trousers together is a nod to the expanding freedom of tailoring and literal way of breaking the bonds of convention.  While you may have to try on a few pieces to find the perfect set, just because they came as a matching set doesn’t mean they can only be worn that way.

3.    Add a sporty touch.  With the elevation of sportswear pieces, there are now viable options you can wear with suits.  If sweatshirts and hoodies under your blazers are a bit too collegiate for you, try adding a funnel collared half-zip top over your t-shirt or oxford and simple white leather sneakers.  It’s the perfect blend of traditional, contemporary and comfortable styles.

4.    Literally loosen up.  For years the trend in suiting was to have everything tightened up for a very fitted look, but for the past few seasons the pendulum has swung in the opposite direction.  Now the trend is toward more relaxed shoulders and generous cuts of both blazers and pants.  Not to be confused with sloppy or slouchy, this new trend is not about totally abandoning structure, but rather softening the uptight look and feel of ‘serious suiting’.

5.    Switch the shirt for a knit.  If you really want an easy way to dress down a suit that only requires one change, this trend is for you.  By switching out a shirt for a sweater you instantly create one of the hottest looks of the season.  Whether you like crewnecks or turtlenecks, bold colors or neutrals the only ‘rule’ to pull off this look is to keep the knit lightweight.

When it comes to actually wearing your suits more often the key is to see the garment on the hanger as a starting point, not the end result.  Tailoring is all about freedom and personal choice, so the next time you go to buy a suit or have one altered try on different tops and shoes to ensure the pieces work for all the ways you want to wear them, not just Monday through Friday.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

Click here or on the images below to learn more about the outfit.

 

 

I am always curious to hear some of your weekend wardrobe dilemmas and challenges. Please send your comments and questions to [email protected]. Also find each of these storyboards at http://brianmaynor.polyvore.com with links to purchase each item.

 

About Brian Maynor

Brian Maynor has built a reputation as one of the leading style coaches in the Southeast and is quickly expanding his eponymous company, BRIAN MAYNOR and his FIND, FLATTER & FLAUNT line of image consulting services. A professional with a fresh, upbeat and down-to-earth personality and boundless creative energy, he works frequently with with local celebrities; Fortune 500 companies and nonprofit organizations; modeling agencies; fashion designers; production companies; record labels; media and individuals. A regular contributor to various fashion blogs and online communities, Brian Maynor is one of the most trusted and recognized style experts in the region, utilizing his education and training as a broadcast journalist to serve as a style lecturer, emcee, and commentator for over a decade. He has appeared at fashion shows, expos, and charity fundraisers, as well as events with big brands like Banana Republic, Ann Taylor, Chico’s and Macy’s. His approach is innovative, creative and fashion-forward, balancing fresh, modern styles with classic pieces to keep one’s look grounded. To learn more, visit http://www.brianmaynor.com.

 

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