THE POWER OF EFFORTLESS ELEGANCE
Q As the summer is here, I would like to know what to wear in a slightly relaxed corporate setting without being too informal. Any advice?
AThe summer is an opportunity for every gentleman to conquer his deepest fear by playing with light and vibrant colours, which otherwise are relegated to the back of his wardrobe. The trick, however, to make it not seem too flamboyant is to strike the perfect balance between looking slightly relaxed without being too casual or informal. This is something which can only be achieved by practising effortless elegance.
Effortless elegance is a term that is used to describe a look that has crisp minimalism with well thought-out details put together in a carefully studied manner that appears random and nonchalant.
It is essentially putting together perfect imperfections in places that get noticed in an effortless but not a careless manner. To achieve this look, you should opt for a blazer, preferably in a lighter hue of grey or blue. Make sure that the fabric has a pattern such as a windowpane check or a houndstooth. If you are going to wear a bespoke blazer, instruct your tailor to give you a slim notch lapel no more than 7cm wide, with one button on the front and three buttons on your sleeves.
Ensure you have working buttons on your sleeves and have the first buttonhole on your sleeve in a different colour. This detail can be showcased by leaving the first button on your sleeve undone, which is the perfect way to exude effortless elegance. It is something that will get noticed while you gesture with your hands when you talk or interact with people.
Add to this by pairing your jacket with cotton trousers or chinos that contrast yet complement the colour of your summer blazer, possibly matching the colour of the checks on your blazer.
To ensure that the entire look doesn’t seem too casual, balance this combination with a white self-textured shirt. Leave your shirt collar open without a tie to give a smart casual appeal. Balance this by using a nice and vibrant silk pocket square that complements the colour of your first button hole on the sleeve. This is a perfect way to implement the studied randomness of effortless elegance.
Just so your pocket square and the buttonhole detail don’t stand out too much from your entire attire, attracting too much attention towards your upper body, make sure your socks match the colour of your pocket square.
Finally match the colour of your shoelaces to your chinos. This careful attention to detail will surely create an impression in your workplace – making everyone understand that your work reflects the same kind of attention to detail and that you are a gentleman who believes in the fact that you are what you wear. Such is the power of effortless elegance.