What Is Casual Wear?

Written by Sophie Diego

Sophie Diego

Read about our editorial guidelines

The ‘glooms-day’ slump is best defined by a lack of effort. It could be any day of the week when productivity starts to slow and dull. The gray skies reflect your mood, conversations are strictly monotone, and every task is met with a begrudging eye roll. 

Consequently, your clothing choices are limited to those that are solely practical and neutral in tone. Of course, I’m not saying that casual wear is boring in any sense—but it’s usually the go-to for those who can’t be bothered. 

Basic, simple, and understated, there’s an ironic beauty found in casual wear. For one, it’s an aesthetic that will never go out of style.

Two, there’s an element of comfort in blending in with the rest of the crowd. Obviously, the definition of ‘casual’ depends from person to person, as you may find jeans and skirts too fussy for your liking. 

If you’ve run out of things to wear or are looking to embellish your take ‘casual’ by upping the fashion ante, we’ve rounded up some trendy outfits worth considering. We’ll also discuss what is casual wear. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll learn:

• What is considered casual wear 
• What is business casual wear 
• Casual outfits for men 
• Casual outfits for women 

What Is Casual Wear?

The word ‘casual’ is up for debate. For some people, it’s a mix of sweatpants, loose tees, and hoodies. For others, it involves jeans, leather jackets, and dresses. 

There’s no correct definition when it comes to everyday clothing, as it depends from person to person. But, there is an underlying consensus on what makes casual attire casual.

It must be comfortable and low-key in aesthetic. You should feel at home when you wear these types of clothes. 

At the end of the day, it’s all about how you perceive yourself and not what others think. 

History Of Casual Wear

Given its connotation, casual is a vague term for everyday clothing. Fashion has been around for centuries, and with it—come centuries upon centuries of mundane apparel. I bet cavemen had their own rendition of ‘jeans and a simple tee’ back then. 

Depending on the location, culture, and demographic, hundreds of civilizations offered their take on what was considered casual. For the Inuits, it was the anorak. For southern Americans, it was the poncho. The list goes on and on. 

Contrary to popular belief, the term casual wear was born in the early 20th century. American society saw a rise in athletic attire, that being sweaters and shorts. 

The need to deviate from the uptight suits and dresses of the latter years began to slowly increase, and consequently, people began to put less and less effort into what they wore.

Sure, it can be viewed as a progression of lazy fashion, but most attribute casualwear’s popularity as a collective sigh of relief. 

Over the years, Western casual wear has changed quite a bit. We’ll always attribute sweats and loose clothing as the pinnacle of everyday fashion—but due to the trend of athleisure, designer brands like Gucci and Louis Vuitton are adding their own spin on ‘mundane attire.’ 

When To Wear Casual Attire

Casual clothes are strictly worn for informal occasions, right? Given its vague connotation, ‘casual’ can be applied to any sort of event. This includes weddings, cocktail parties, and office settings. 

The definition itself means a ‘lower-class’ version of what’s typically expected. For instance, you don’t need to wear a met gala-type ball to your friend’s vow renewal. Casual formalwear means a simple dress and a nice pair of heels. 

In need of in-depth specifics? If so, this ‘what is casual wear’ guide has your back. If the setting or venue calls for ‘low-key attire,’ we’ll explain things further to help mitigate embarrassment. 

• Business casual for women: This mainly involves pencil skirts, trousers, ¾ sleeve tops, blouses, and a simple button-up tee. You’re not expected to wear a blazer if you don’t want to! 
• Business casual mens outfits: This includes trousers, button-up tees, sweater vests, and a tailored jacket. Suits and blazers are considered totally optional 
• Wedding casual clothes for women: This basically includes anything that isn’t a Met-Gala-approved outfit. You can make do with a simple dress, a pair of heels, and minimalistic makeup 
• Casual wedding outfits for men: penguin suits are considered an absolute no-no. We suggest subbing your tux with a simple white tee and a well-fitted blazer on top 
• What is casual wear for ladies for a cocktail party: think of a simple skirt, a frilly blouse, or a pair of well-fitted trousers. The key here is to look like a free-spirited party gal instead of a James Bond leading lady 
• What is casual wear for a man for a cocktail party: this mainly involves a simple pair of jeans, a white tee, and a fancy jacket if you’re so inclined 

6 Outfit Ideas For Casual Wear

Nothing screams casual clothes more than complete monochrome. If you failed basic color theory in art class, this simplistic ensemble keeps things pain-free by matching green with green.

We recommend experimenting with different shades of olive, as it’ll help break the monotony of solid verdant. 

For shoes, you can never go wrong with a basic pair of white sneakers. Plain, pretty, and super practical for no-nonsense days, this is the best way to approach the ‘what is casual wear’ question.

White tees and jeans are the PB and J of basic fashion. It’s the go-to for lazy days, casual dress code events, and grabbing fast food at your favorite diner.

Sure, you’re free to wear a pair of baggy Levis and a $5 shirt, but we recommend paying close attention to its silhouette and shape. 

A cohesive outfit relies on well-fitted garments. With that in mind, it’s always best to opt for a flattering top and a set of jeans that flatters your butt, hips, and waist.

Of course, the heeled sandals are totally optional, but it’s suggested for those who are tired of traditional sneakers. 

So, what is casual wear? For most, there’s only one obvious answer: sweatpants. Cozy, comfortable, and oh-so-versatile, there’s nothing like a pair of joggers and a hoodie to put you in a Netflix-binging mood. 

For outdoor use, we suggest finessing the final fit with a white tank top, matching socks, running shoes, and a baseball cap. It’s the perfect lazy day go-to for any homebody. If you’re looking to accessorize, we suggest a set of sterling silver hoops. 

According to the history of American fashion, shorts were the first to be considered casual. With that in mind, it’s only fitting that we include an example within our ‘what is casual wear’ guide. 

This simplistic outfit features a collegiate sweatshirt, a white t-shirt, black shorts, and a pair of green Vans.

Intrinsic to skater culture, this streetwear ensemble is considered a ‘washed-down’ version of the hypebeast aesthetic. If you’re in search of trendy men’s outfits, we suggest giving this OOTD the ol’ college try. 

Bomber jackets and hoodies are a vital part of casual wear. Boxy and oversized in silhouette, it’s an excellent alternative for those not fond of form-fitting clothes. 

The black jeans and the matching Converses act as a ‘bold Sharpie’ that helps outline the colors of this outfit. You can never go wrong with a simple baseball cap, given its helpful ability to disguise bad hair days.

For those wondering what is casual wear, this OOTD is considered a prime example. 

You can say that the lumberjack aesthetic is intrinsic to Canadian casual wear. We’re not going to lie; we wear a lot of denim jackets and flannel button-ups in this neck of the woods. 

If you prefer a more ‘subtle’ take, we suggest a neutral-toned plaid instead of bright red. Accentuated with a white tee, khakis, sneakers, and a bucket hat, this casual male outfit warrants a momentous Instagram photo op. 

What Type Of Casual Outfits Can You Get?

Casual wear can mean several things. It honestly depends on location, culture, and your personal aesthetic. To keep things short, we thought it best to discuss the western take on everyday fashion.

From sweats to jeans, you can take care knowing that all of these outfits score high points in comfort and practicality. 

• T-shirt and jeans: considered the main go-to for casual dressers, this classic combo keeps things simple and straightforward. This outfit can be interpreted in many different ways. For instance, you can opt for a pair of bell-bottoms and a graphic tee instead of skinny jeans and a crop top 
• The sweatsuit: composed of a sweatshirt, hoodie, leggings, or a pair of joggers; nothing spells comfort than burying yourself in head to toe jersey knit 
• Shorts and an interesting top: Cropped bottoms and a basic tee deserves a ‘meh’ when it comes to styling. If you want to jazz things up a little, we suggest a graphic tee, a blouse, or a collegiate sweater for a bit of spice 
• Hoodies and jackets: this is sort of a repeat segment, but hoodies are considered the pinnacle of casual wear. It’s also a great way to add a head covering to a trench coat or bomber jacket 

How To Choose The Best Casual Outfit

In the world of fashion, casual wear equates to wardrobe basics. It’s the go-to ensemble for those who can’t be bothered. With that in mind, it’s important to settle for quality rather than quantity.

As tempting as a $5 jacket sounds, you should probably opt for a $60 alternative to ensure durability and continued use. Trust me, nothing’s more disappointing than unboxing an online order and finding out that your leather coat is actually made of vinyl. 

Whether it’s jeans, tees, sweats, or a bomber jacket, shoppers should consider 6 things when it comes to clothes. This includes quality, material, price, fit, design, and comfort.

Let’s start with fabrics first. Soft textiles, such as cotton, fleece, jersey knit, and spandex, are considered non-negotiable. It helps to ensure continued use, as nothing’s more irritating than an itchy sweater. 

The clothing in question should offer a balance of flexibility and sturdiness. For instance, you should be able to squat in a pair of jeans with no problem, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for jeggings. 

Casual wear involves neutral tones and subtle patterns. Unless you’re a fan of maximalism, we suggest opting for cream colors and mellow hues.

Added embellishments, such as tassels, sequins, and crystals, aren’t considered practical for daily use, but it ultimately depends on your personal aesthetic. 

Due to the expansive nature of casual wear, we can’t pinpoint an exact price range for readers to follow. With that being said, we suggest that you stay away from super cheap apparel.

$10 hoodies and jeans are often indicative of thin fabrics and low-quality construction. 

How To Style Casual Outfits

The ‘what is casual wear’ question often comes with prior connotations. It’s stereotyped as lazy, effortless, and super comfortable.

Of course, you should never abide by clothing cliches, as there are ways to level up your everyday ensemble. We’ll share some ways to finesse your final fit and don’t worry—these tips don’t involve that much effort to style. 

• A hat: whether it’s a baseball cap or a bucket hat, you should never underestimate the power of a stylish chapeau 
• Dainty jewelry: in the mood for some sparkle? If so, we suggest swapping your chunky chain for a set of dainty diamond studs instead, 
• Socks and sneakers: sure, you can always opt for the ‘invisible’ knits for a more breathable alternative. But, we recommend pairing your streetwear kicks with a pair of white socks to help up your fashion game 
• The classic French tuck and the jean cuff: considered a simple way to elevate any casual outfit, these two styling tips help to even out your proportions 
• A fashionable bag: if your outfit is missing a little somethin’ somethin’, you can never go wrong with a stylish leather bag. Bonus points to those who own a designer carry-on

Fashion Tips To Avoid With Casual Outfits

Contrary to popular belief, casual requires a bit of styling effort. Opting for ‘anything that works’ increases the risk of color clashing and unflattering silhouettes.

There’s a major difference between effortlessly chic and  ‘I crawled out of the city dumpster.’ For those who prefer the first approach, we’ll discuss some fashion tips to avoid with casual outfits. 

• Cargo shorts and polo tees: dad fashion will never be in-style. Unless you’re a doting father, we suggest staying clear of the ‘neighborhood barbeque’ aesthetic 
• Crop tops: don’t get me wrong, I love a good crop top now and then. With that being said, there are days when I prefer full-coverage silhouettes instead. At the end of the day, you should never underestimate the power of the French tuck 
• Baggy silhouettes: Yes, oversized clothing is considered the pinnacle of comfort, but nothing’s more unflattering than swamping yourself in unnecessary fabric 
• Ill-fitting clothing: jeans that fail to accentuate your waist and hips are destined for the trash can. This also applies to boxy blazers and XXL t-shirts 
• Pajamas: as tempting as it sounds, you should never wear your monkey PJs out in public. Slip dresses are considered passable as long as they’re styled correctly 

How To Take Care Of Casual Outfits

So, have you tackled the ‘what is casual wear’ question? If so, it’s time to initiate some basic care and maintenance. For those who can’t be bothered to visit an in-store professional, here are some ways to clean your clothes at home. 

• Check for laundry tabs. Some clothes come with clear instructions on how to wash them properly. Who knows? Maybe that blouse needs to be dry cleaned instead. 
• Turn your clothes inside out to help protect graphic prints and added embellishments. 
• Always wash in cold water with mild detergent. Abrasive solutions such as bleach will often lead to color bleeding. 
• Toss the clothing into the dryer on its lowest setting. You can also opt to line dry them as well. 

Best Places To Buy Casual Outfits

Before this ‘what is casual wear’ guide ends, we thought it best to leave our readers with some store recommendations. In need of dressy casual women’s clothes?

How about some office-appropriate attire? Regardless of the setting, we’ll provide some suggestions for customers to consider:

• Everlane 
• ASOS 
• Nordstrom 
• Urban Outfitters 
• Reformation 
• Aritzia 

Final Thoughts

Deciding what’s casual and what’s not shouldn’t result in a ‘clothing pile casualty.’ Yes, it does require a small amount of effort to style, but never at a point of frustration. If anything, you should take it as a sign to go back to the basics. 

Wardrobe classics, such as a pair of jeans, a bomber jacket, and a simple white tee, are fairly easy to put together. At the end of the day, it’s all about rudimentary color theory and what’s considered flattering in terms of silhouettes. 

Hopefully, you know what is casual wear. We’re confident that our guide has taught you the basics of basic apparel, ranging from sweats to streetwear chic. 

Looking to up your fashion game? We’ve got you covered:

What To Wear With Green Pants

What Shoes To Wear With Skinny Jeans

What To Wear To A Football Game