If you’ve ever put on a suit and immediately felt like you needed a boardroom, a briefcase, or at least a very serious meeting…you’re not alone. Suits have a reputation. But there are ways about how to wear a suit casually…no matter what you’re doing that day.
Quote of the day: “Believe you can, and you’re halfway there. ” Theordore Roosevelt
I know, I know…when you retired, you probably gave away all of your suits, because you were starting a casual Lifestyle.
But here’s the thing I want you to remember: a suit is just another outfit. And just like any outfit, you get to decide the vibe.
Heck, I’ve bought a couple of suits AFTER retiring, just because it’s not so different than a matching set.
I realize that it’s easy to break a suit apart and wear the individual items. We did that years ago, after wearing the suit pieces together.
But I believe you can keep the suit intact (matching blazer and pants) and still make it feel relaxed, playful, and completely you.
In these outfits, I kept the same neutral suit as the base.
The idea came after I wore this suit for the question about whether your shoes have to match the outfit.
This suit was thrifted for $10 at Goodwill about 5 years ago. Yes, I had my mom shorten the pants for me, but otherwise, it was perfect.
Instead of showing you the full outfits, I’m breaking it down by elements…then you can treat it like the paper dolls we used to play with and put them together how you want.
Think of the suit as your canvas. Now we add personality.
I hope you join my email Family. It’s the place where I share things even before creating on my blog. It’s also my space for fun and positive content. In addition, you also get my free eBook when you sign up, but that’s not the best part.
The best part is being part of my community, where we inspire and lift each other up.
Let’s discuss what you can wear under the blazer.
Instead of a professional blouse or top, I want you to think casually.
For most of us, the obvious option is a graphic t-shirt.
But don’t forget a hoodie as well (because it’s fun to have a design element from the rear).
Insider tip: Just as many people see you from the back, so give them something fun to look at.
Another option is to wear the blazer as your top…that means nothing under it. Now I’ve seen women letting their spicy bra peek out, but for us modest folk, I used my scarf hack.
Remember the 2 words for layering: OVER and UNDER. Just because your blazer is usually the outermost item, doesn’t mean it has to be.
Instead, I layered another jacket over it, a puffer vest over it, and a long sweater vest over it.
When you start playing in your closet, I bet you will find loads of ideas that would work like this.
Insider tip: How about a big silk scarf worn over the blazer almost like I did over a puffer jacket.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, footwear matters. Your shoes have a vibe just like all your other clothing items, and by adding dichotomy with your footwear, you can change up the vibe of a suit. It’s the easiest change for how to wear a suit casually.
In my opinion, casual shoes are:
–Cowboy boots (either tall ones or short ones). If your suit trousers have a tighter leg opening, think about tucking the pants into your boots…that will really casualize the look.
–Sneakers. Of course. These are worn nowadays with everything and anything. Whether you choose your low profile sneakers (or the new sneakerinas), or your dad style sneakers. Any of these athletic shoes will casualize a suit easily.
–Combat boots. Yes, my mom’s generation calls these clobhoppers, but I think they are fabulous especailly for us older women. For one, they are flat and can be very comfy. And then they are just plain edgy and cool, so they change the feel of something you might consider dressy or businessy.
There’s always more up my sleeve, right?
Treating your blazer as a “top,” you could layer an infinity scarf to hide the lapels, and then, how about a statement belt for fun?
Your trousers could be made to look like joggers by using an elastic to hold them up. This is very similar to my video about how to “alter” pants that are too long.
And then accessories can make a difference too. I’m only showing 2 examples, but the ideas are endless.
-Your purse gives off a vibe, so make it casual.
-Hats!! These are an easy way to create a different vibe. We’ve shown how baseball caps can be worn beyond the ball field.
If you still have a suit in your closet or even a matching set, I challenge you to play with these ideas.
I know women ask me why I can’t just wear things as they are meant to be worn, but the idea of making anything more casual for our laidback lifestyle once the alarm clock is retired is smart.
Why?
Because you save Money and create new brain pathways.
As I like to promote, style isn’t about dressing for the rules; it’s about dressing for your life.
And when you start experimenting like this, you realize something really important:
A suit isn’t limiting. It’s just 2 pieces of clothing sewn into a blazer and trousers.
And once you realize that, you might start thinking about it as one of the most versatile things in your closet.
I hope I thank you enough because your support allows me to continue this journey, which I Love!!!
Supporting a blog can be easy and free. Just visiting my pages, clicking my links (especially for Small Businesses and sponsored posts), and sharing the things you like on your social media make a huge difference. Spreading the word is how I can reach more wonderful people like you!
Or feel free to “buy me a coffee” which is a monetary way to tell me that you enjoy reading my blog.
The post How to Wear a Suit Casually When You’re Retired appeared first on Jodie’s Touch of Style.
