Best Clothing Brands for Smart Casual Events and What to Buy

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:

Tailored blazers or overshirts
Polished midi dresses or shirt dresses
Structured trousers or chinos
Crisp shirts or soft knits
Leather loafers or low block heels
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.

🛒 https://www.meandem.com

Reiss

Known for structured coats, trousers, shirts and contemporary dresses.

🛒 https://www.reiss.com

Karen Millen

Sleek silhouettes, occasionwear-friendly cuts, and strong tailoring.

🛒 https://www.karenmillen.com

COS

Minimalist staples in premium fabrics—perfect for smart layering.

🛒 https://www.cos.com

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.

🛒 https://www.aritzia.com

Everlane

Ethically-made basics with modern tailoring—great for both men and women.

🛒 https://www.everlane.com

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.

🛒 https://www.buckmason.com

Frank And Oak

Eco-conscious label blending smart shirts, blazers and casual tailoring.

🛒 https://www.frankandoak.com

Best Pieces to Invest In

For Women:

Tailored Midi Dress – Add a cropped blazer and mid-heel for versatility.
Wide-leg Trousers – Aritzia and COS both offer flattering, clean cuts.
Structured Blazer – A must-have. Me + Em or Reiss offer excellent tailoring.
Smart Knit Top – Pair with trousers or skirts for easy elegance.
Polished Footwear – Loafers or block heels elevate the outfit.

For Men:

Unstructured Blazer – A soft cotton or linen blend from Buck Mason or Reiss.
Tapered Chinos – Choose a neutral tone; look at M&S and Banana Republic.
Knit Polo or Smart Shirt – COS and Charles Tyrwhitt both excel here.
Merino Wool Jumper – Lightweight and layerable.
Leather Loafers or Minimal Sneakers – Simple but sharp.

Smart Casual Styling Tips

Start with one tailored piece – Like a blazer or structured trousers—and build around it.
Layer with care – A merino jumper over a shirt, or a blazer over a fine knit.
Neutral palette wins – Stick to navy, cream, grey, olive, black or white.
Comfort matters too – Look for breathable fabrics and some stretch.
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:

🔍 /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:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
Facebook: Tellar Sizing
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.