Sharp Casual
The 2024 list of New Luxury’s top brands as chosen by fashion industry experts and published by respected fashion media outlet Highsnobriety is out, and among the expected key players in the top 10 were Prada, Louis Vuitton, Loewe and Bottega Veneta, but coming in hot at number 7 was Sports brand New Balance, which means pretty much all of us can and probably already do own a piece of New Luxury but the list also tells us sportswear and casual fashion is here to stay.
In 2021 Casual Styling got a bit of a bad rap, fast fashion peddlers were telling us to throw out our joggers in favour of other trend items, but what most of us realised from our time wearing comfy clothes is that we enjoyed the freedom of movement and so they became a bit of a down-time staple. We all have those clothes we wear for chilling & chores and just generally staying indoors but fast forward 3 years and we are in a place where track pants have evolved into a staple and not just something you throw on to go for a pint of milk.
90s inspired baggy track pants are the style i reserve solely for casual-casual, that means dog walks or under a long coat for the school run, slimmer styles are much more stylish option, if you’re buying new stick with a neutral grey, if you want to sharpen your track pant game, go for a retro inspired knit track pant with a straight leg such as Adidas Originals available on END clothing for £55 or Adidas’ celebrated collab with designer brand Wales Bonner which are more on the spenny side at £230 from Net a Porter.
When we are talking about wearing casual looks that are appropriate for work there is a massive difference between scruffy and casual, the difference is in the detail, sharpening up details makes the most casual of outfits look smart, avoid gym wear, those shiny fabrics are a giveaway, iron those creases, a freshly pressed cotton t-shirt is a world apart from a creased one, add jewellery and a watch, often people avoid jewellery with casual clothes, jewellery says this isn’t a sporty look.
Instead of a trainer, try a loafer with a casual pant, if the sock is visible give sports socks a miss, don’t try and hide your sock with those funny little half socks and don’t just grab any sock, a ribbed wool or cashmere pair sharpens things up.
And finally the quickest way to sharpen up is too add corners, a blazer, a long tailored coat and a square-ish bag, forget quiet luxury or mob wife aesthetic, this is sharp casual and its here to stay.
