The secret to smart casual? Totally fabulous statement tops!
Smart casual .
It’s what everyone is always asking for: And it’s hard to get right:
You want to be chic, slightly dressed up but look effortless. Feel relaxed.
You don’t want to look overdressed or look too try hard !
It might be drinks, it might be BBQ, it might be dinner, a concert or a low key event.
But it’s not black tie, it’s not weekend casual and it’s not workwear either.
Oh la la : It’s pretty broad isn’t it ? So choose your own smart casual adventure ….and dress accordingly.
The secret for all those occasions: Table top dressing.
Which is how you dress from the waist up.
It’s a FiFi philosophy: the attention and focus on top of the body (everything else is hidden under the table!)
Which of course can only mean one thing: Fabulous tops !
Statement tops and pretty blouses.
Just as chic and easy as dresses but ten million times more versatile.
What to look for in a smart casual top?
You want a soft floaty blouse, puff sleeves, shoulder pads, balloon sleeves, lace or sequins.
What’s new this season: peplum tops, one shoulder and strapless bustier ( good under a blazer).
It might be sheer blouse which I love. (Just add a cami under it )
A big poet sleeve or a big dramatic cuff always looks so right.
A cream or white blouse is my pick ( white next to face takes years off)( I should know!).
If you go for black, make sure it has shine, texture, embellishment.
That means lace, velvet or sequins.
And this season look for fringing, feathers and a little crochet .
Ignore bright colours ( hot pink never looks expensive, unless it is) and those pesky old lady prints. Never versatile. Remember you are getting the drama in the shape not the colour.
(Update black and white into new strong modern shapes : Stops you looking like a waitress!)
By the way what’s the difference between a blouse and a shirt ? A blouse is something to wear at night and might be collarless and pretty and floaty. A shirt? It’s very day time with pockets and simple collar and cuffs.
For smart casual you probably want a blouse because it has drama. And it is quite often prettier.
You’ve got the tops but now what to wear on the bottom?
Baggy or dark denim jeans, cotton camel chinos or slouchy balloon pants, white or camel .
(Any of these sparkly tops thrown back with denim jeans and flats is smart casual to me don’t you think?)
It’s modern and chic !
Think contrasts. It’s the DNA of effortless chic: tough with pretty, casual and dressy, with soft and hard.
A fabric that will dress down sequins /lace/chfffon is important.
Think denim or cotton pants ( or just pants !) with a blouse or top in a pretty evening fabric .
This season for smart casual I will be wearing bermuda shorts ( with heels !)
(Black tie ? Joosh up any of these tops with a black velvet/lace/luxe skirt and more glamorous accessories).
Styling ideas:
Grab a sequin/lace top : toss it OVER a white tank, pull on baggy blue jeans, flat sandals/birks = low key casual.
Sequin/lace top: pull on tan cotton chinos or black barrel jeans, strappy kitten heels and a chic clutch= smart casual.
Sequin/lace top : pull on tailored pants or a midi skirt , sparkly heels, metallic clutch, dangly earrings = event dressing
Hint: A rule of thumb is to style silver with black and browns with gold. Easy.
To finish the look :
Throw a camel or chic white blazer on your shoulders. A crop trench. A black (Tuxedo) blazer is always right at night too. A beige trench is totally chic. You don’t need to WEAR it …Just throw it nonchalantly sitting ON your shoulders.
The sneaky trick to all this styling?
Shoes !
Change your shoes, change the look.
Pull on strappy kitten heels or pointy flats. Toe thong mules.. White is good. So is silver. Black is chic, gold of course.
A beaded T bar flat sandal will be right anywhere : With jeans, with a long black taffeta skirt.
In terms of jewellery:
Love and adore a bold silver or gold cuff, major glittery earrings or a pendant.
Grab a chic clutch: a quality designer bag in a metallic will always take it to another level.
NOTE: if you already have a fabulous top then make sure you update your lewk with modern new shape pants like wide leg, balloon, barrel or seriously slouchy! They will instantly update any top you own.
Now get shopping !
