I’ve almost always worked in industries were casual clothes are the norm. I’ve never had to wear a three piece suit into an office everyday and, well, I’m thankful as it’s just not me. That said, I love getting dressed in a smart-casual outfit. Whether it’s for meetings across the city or a fancy dinner and drinks, it feels nice to get dressed up in smarter designs that still feel comfortable to wear. I always say that it doesn’t matter how fashionable or expensive a piece of clothing is, if you don’t feel comfortable wearing it then it’s not worth a dime! So, for today’s Bright.Style post I’m sharing a comfortable smart-casual summer look that I styled in collaboration with BarIII and Macy’s. Click through after the jump to see the full look!
For this look I decided to head downtown to Wall St. and the One World Trade Oculus building for this look, which felt fitting as I often dress at my smartest for business meetings and events in this part of New York City.
I built this outfit out from my favorite piece in the BarIII collection: their Indigo Chambray Slim-Fit Sport Coat. The moment I picked it up I knew it was a piece I would love to wear. Lightweight yet structured and stylish, it’s the perfect piece for dressing up a summer look. Of course, it helped that I love chambray, too!
Have you walked through the Oculus building yet? It’s right next to One World Trade and is a breathtaking piece of architecture. I highly recommend checking it out soon as it is set to become a mall so will likely be full of shoppers in the future. Right now, it’s like a slice of ethereal and cooling calm in the city.
Soaking up the downtown vibes and contrasts in architectural details.
I’m often working at my laptop while on the go in coffee shops, on trains or on planes. This outfit is my new go-to for those Friday afternoon meetings when I know I’m heading straight to cocktails or a dinner: it’s flexible enough to work well for both situations.
Naturally, I squeezed in some color hunting in the Wall St. area, too!
I paired a Slim-Fit Navy and White Gingham Short-Sleeve Dress Shirt with the jacket for a classic look and feel. I like how the gingham pattern speaks to the preppy, east-coast look that feeds into most of my outfits.
As well as the short sleeves of the shirt, the option of wearing a jacket over the shirt makes it a versatile outfit for layering up and down as the temperature fluctuates.
To keep the look in line with my more casual aesthetic, I wore white denim pants that I dressed up with Brad Suede Plain Toe Oxfords in navy to tie in with the gingham shirt.
What are you favorite pieces from my BarIII outfit? How do you dress smart and cool for the summer?
// Creative direction by Will Taylor | Photography by Jean-Laurent Gaudy for Bright.Bazaar | Posted in partnership with BarIII & Macy’s; all views my own.
20 Comments
Lovin that jacket Mr!
@Andrew – Thank you! So comfortable and light, I love it. 🙂
Mr. McDreamy in that jacket!! 😉
@Harriet – Ha! I laughed aloud, you are too kind!
Killin’ it bro.
@Adam – Cheers!
Forwarded this to my husband so he can see what smart-casual is meant to look like lol
@Suzanne – Haha! Thanks for passing it along!
Will, I love your style posts! The jacket, the glasses, the shoes, I could go on but suffice to say it all looks very stylish.
@Elly – High praise, thanks so much!
Get down w/ your bad self, pal! (two thumbs up)
@Drew – Ha! Love that. Thanks, man! 🙂
Great look. Could you please provide the source for the belt?
@Kris – Thanks! The anchor belt is from ASOS last season. 🙂
Gorgeous jacket! Love the story behind this! Oculus building architecture is fabulous.
@Grace – Thanks so much!
Love the outfit Will! The glasses are definitely a nice touch to finish the smart look.
@Tom – Thank you!
Hi Will, could you let me know the name of your denim white pants? I love them too, hope I can still get it somewhere. Thanks!
@Sean – Thank you! This pair were from Club Monaco, but I also bought a great pair from Old Navy this season, too.