Best Clothing Brands for Smart Casual Events and What to Buy
Author: Stylist and brand team at Tellar
Date: 2025
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Smart casual is one of the most versatile dress codes—perfect for dinners, office events, networking, gallery openings, and even upscale brunches. It’s a balance between polish and ease: think well-cut trousers with a soft blouse, or a relaxed blazer over a fitted tee. But getting the fit right is crucial—and that’s where Tellar.co.uk helps.
Why Fit Matters: Use Tellar Before You Buy
Tellar.co.uk is the UK’s leading free sizing tool. We match your body measurements to over 1,500 clothing brands so you can find your size before you shop—avoiding the sizing guesswork that comes with buying online.
We’re also a free library of fashion articles with expert sizing reviews, honest styling guides, and real brand comparisons. Even when we use affiliate links, we never let that bias our advice—our priority is your perfect fit.
Start with our most popular guides:
What Counts as Smart Casual?
Smart casual clothing bridges the gap between workwear and weekend. It’s not jeans-and-trainers casual, but also not suited-and-booted formal.
Key smart casual staples:
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Tailored blazers or overshirts
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Polished midi dresses or shirt dresses
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Structured trousers or chinos
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Crisp shirts or soft knits
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Leather loafers or low block heels
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Clean, minimalist accessories
Best Smart Casual Brands in the UK & USA
All links below take you directly to the brand’s homepage so you can browse their smart casual range:
🇬🇧 UK Smart Casual Brands
Me + Em
Polished tailoring, work-appropriate dresses, and elevated staples.
Reiss
Known for structured coats, trousers, shirts and contemporary dresses.
Karen Millen
Sleek silhouettes, occasionwear-friendly cuts, and strong tailoring.
COS
Minimalist staples in premium fabrics—perfect for smart layering.
Charles Tyrwhitt
Shirts, chinos, and relaxed tailoring for smart men's wardrobes.
🛒 https://www.charlestyrwhitt.com
Marks & Spencer (M&S)
Blazers, trousers, and knits in Autograph, Per Una, and Collection lines.
🛒 https://www.marksandspencer.com
🇺🇸 USA Smart Casual Brands (Ships Internationally)
Aritzia
A go-to for high-waisted trousers, clean blouses, and minimal dresses.
Everlane
Ethically-made basics with modern tailoring—great for both men and women.
Banana Republic
Dressy jumpsuits, relaxed suiting, and city-style staples.
🛒 https://www.bananarepublic.gap.com
Buck Mason
Menswear heroes—knit polos, tailored tees, structured shirts.
Frank And Oak
Eco-conscious label blending smart shirts, blazers and casual tailoring.
Best Pieces to Invest In
For Women:
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Tailored Midi Dress – Add a cropped blazer and mid-heel for versatility.
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Wide-leg Trousers – Aritzia and COS both offer flattering, clean cuts.
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Structured Blazer – A must-have. Me + Em or Reiss offer excellent tailoring.
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Smart Knit Top – Pair with trousers or skirts for easy elegance.
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Polished Footwear – Loafers or block heels elevate the outfit.
For Men:
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Unstructured Blazer – A soft cotton or linen blend from Buck Mason or Reiss.
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Tapered Chinos – Choose a neutral tone; look at M&S and Banana Republic.
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Knit Polo or Smart Shirt – COS and Charles Tyrwhitt both excel here.
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Merino Wool Jumper – Lightweight and layerable.
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Leather Loafers or Minimal Sneakers – Simple but sharp.
Smart Casual Styling Tips
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Start with one tailored piece – Like a blazer or structured trousers—and build around it.
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Layer with care – A merino jumper over a shirt, or a blazer over a fine knit.
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Neutral palette wins – Stick to navy, cream, grey, olive, black or white.
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Comfort matters too – Look for breathable fabrics and some stretch.
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Minimal accessories – Keep jewellery and bags polished but understated.
More Smart Casual Help from Tellar
If you’re unsure how a brand fits you, use the Tellar store size lookup:
🔍 https://tellar.co.uk/store-size-lookup/
Explore our latest brand-specific fit guides:
All these links are live, accurate, and reviewed regularly by the Tellar team.
📲 Stay Connected with Tellar
Follow us for daily sizing tips, brand updates, and outfit ideas:
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Instagram: @Tellarsizing
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Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
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Facebook: Tellar Sizing
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Pinterest: TellarSizing
Final Thoughts
Smart casual doesn’t have to be confusing. With Tellar’s free tools and honest content, you can dress for every event with confidence. Whether you’re building a capsule wardrobe or buying a one-off outfit, we help you get the size right—and discover brands that truly fit your body and lifestyle.
Use Tellar.co.uk today and take the guesswork out of getting dressed.