After graduating college I basically had a fashion melt down. If you’re women in her mid twenties I guarantee you know what I am referring to. My closet maybe had one or two ‘adult like’ tops in it. The rest was basically all tiny tank tops, cropped tees, mini skirts, shorts, ect. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to dress anymore after graduating college and landing my first adult job. Then I found the term ‘casual chic’ and was able to breathe again.
Casual chic dress code is basically what you think of when you think of THAT soccer mom. Comfortable, sophisticated, put together, yet still effortlessly casual like they just threw on the first thing in their closet, whipped their hair up into a cute little top knot, topped it off with whatever jewelry was floating at the top of their jewelry dish and somehow still look flawless.
Casual chic outfits are characterized by comfortable fabrics that are slightly elevated. Throughout this post, I am going to break down the staples of a casual chic outfit and throw in some styling photos at the end for some inspo on how to style them yourself.
As always, if something catches your ey, it will be linked to the price point underneath the photo for purchase!
Tops
Basics are your best friends when trying to dress casual chic. Stick to neutrals: black, white, cream, blush, browns, ect! If you’re wanting to add a texture or a pattern, go with tweed, silk, simple stripes, cheetah print, knitwear, or fabrics with draping. I love the look of high neck tops and turtle necks for casual chic outfits too, they look incredibly sleek and are easy to dress down with a pair of jeans and flats.
Below are a couple of stores that will be your go to if you’re trying to curate a casual chic wardrobe or just get a few more adult like staple tops.
I basically live in this top. The fabric is so soft and it fits like a glove on your body. At one point in time, A&F sold these tops in packs of 10 of varying neutrals on their site but unfortunately I couldn’t find them. If I could rewind the clock, I would purchase the multipack in a heartbeat.
I love the versatility of this top.. You could wear it out on the town with a mini skirt and knee high boots or pair it overtop of a baby tee with jeans to appear more and flats for a casual chic look.
H&M is a great place to shop affordable basics. Ensure to read the label on how to wash or just air on the side of caution by air drying all of your tops so you don’t accidentally shrink them!
In my opinion, jackets and sweaters are basically considered accessories when dressing casual chic. They are an incredibly easy way to chic up an outfit that feels too casual! You’re jackets are where you can play a little with color too! I personally think jewel tones are the best if you’re going for a chic look.
BLAZER
To make a blazer appear more casual, opt for a soft fabric, relaxed fit (no shoulder pads/less structure), and a blazer with no pockets! Below are a couple of my favorite that I found.
These cutie cardigans have been popping up more and more recently. I think they look good with the very top and bottom buttons undone and a simple white tee underneath.
I know what you’re thinking. Floor length cardigans look a little intimidating. Just wait until you see it styled at the bottom and I guarantee you’re going to want one of your own. IMO, the chunkier and looser the better although I do love the look of this form fitted one.
There are three styles of bottoms that are staples for casual chic outfits. You can mess with the colors as much as you want, just make sure to stick with the neutral theme or pattern. If you are wanting to add a splash of color, jewel tones are a classy way to elevate your outfit.
JEANS
I feel like everyone has their own specific brand of jeans that fits them incredibly well and then they just stick to that brand for the rest of their life. Don’t focus so much on the brand of these jeans. More so focus on the wash of denim and the style! I am sure you can find a similar in the brand that best fits you.
I love the look of a satin maxi skirt with a chic print to make a casual chic outfit stand out. If cheetah print or stripes aren’t your thing.. opt for polka dots, neutral or jewel toned skirts instead!
Shoes is really where the casual aspect comes into play which is perfect for someone who is on the run a lot during the day. I personally love the look of flats, sandals, and sneakers! You can easily dress them up with a shiny finish or a gold embellishment if that’s your preference.
In my opinion, the casual chic look is best paired with chunky gold jewelry! For sunglasses, the world is really your oyster. I think gold framed, sleek, and chunky glasses are all cute depending on your outfit!
For the sake of your time, I didn’t include purses or belts in this section. If you need inspo… neutral colored belts with chunky gold buckles and any kind of neutral colored oversized tote bag for purses!
When styling outfits on your own, use the 50/50 method. If you’re going with a chic top.. pair it with a more casual bottom and pair of shoes . If you want to wear a chic jacket, pair that with a super basic top and bottom! Basically.. 2 chic items and 2 casual items!
If you feel like your outfit is too dressed up and you were going for a more casual look, the best way to dress it down is going to be with a top knot bun and super natural make up. Keep your eyes peeled on the IG (@whatsfresh.blog) for a top knot tutorial!
