How To Create An Elevated Casual Wardrobe

What is an Elevated Casual Wardrobe?

Elevated Casual is a literal blend of your Sunday best with the comfort of your favorite porch-sitting outfit. You know, take basics that you love—from the go-to jeans to that soft, cozy tee—and kind of “tweak” them into something a little bit more chic and sophisticated. The beauty is, that with an elevated casual wardrobe, it’s all in the mix. Pair your everyday favorites with a few key pieces to create a look that’s both approachable and envy-worthy.

5 Steps to Creating an Outfit

• Tops: Start with a blouse, button-down shirt, or fitted tee. Something that feels good against your skin and fits just right.
• Bottom: Pair it with jeans for a casual vibe or trousers for a touch of sophistication. Remember, fit is everything.
• Completer Piece: This is where the magic happens. Add a blazer or trench coat on top to pull them together.
• Shoes: Choose something comfortable yet stylish – pumps, flats, or loafers work wonders.
• Accessories: The final touch. Simple jewelry, a chic belt, or a scarf can add that extra flair to your outfit.

Investing in Versatile and Quality Pieces

Now that you know the 5 steps, here’s the secret to a chic wardrobe: quality over quantity. Choose from fabrics that look just as divine as they feel—cotton, linen, silk, and cashmere are fabrics that elevate everything. These naturally made materials are eternal and could do miracles, especially if there is a hint of luxury about an everyday look. You’ll also want to pick items that are versatile. A blazer/jacket, a soft dress, or a classic trench, among many other mixes, make it so easy to create multiple outfits from your existing wardrobe.

Ways To Style An Elevated Casual Wardrobe

A good T-shirt is a versatile piece that everyone needs. Not one with holes or stains, and not one that would fit your husband. You’ll want to choose one that skims the body for a slim silhouette, and a V-neck or a scoop neck is the most flattering. This Cotton Modal V Neck Tee is a super soft and stretchy cotton blend that is wrinkle-resistant with a flattering, smooth finish.

I paired my T-shirt with a pair of straight Slim-Leg Jeans. This is the modern version of skinny-leg jeans. These hit at the ankle, so you can wear all styles of shoes with them. (Remember, we want items that are versatile) I’m wearing a size 8, and they fit me perfectly.

One of the style tips was about accessories. This outfit would look fine with just the T-shirt and jeans, but adding the belt elevated the look. The belt I’m wearing is years old, but here are some similar ones that would create the same look.

The 100% European Linen Structured Blazer in sand adds the finishing touch. This takes it from an outfit to a styled look. It shows that I put some time and effort into what I was wearing and made it look polished and put together. I’m wearing a medium in the blazer.

I kept on the jeans and belt but switched out the T-shirt for a button-up Tencel Camp Shirt. The shirt gives the casual look I wanted and is collared, which makes it great for wearing under blazers and cardigans. I’m wearing a medium, but I felt like it was a little too oversized, so I tied it at the waist to create a slimmer look.

This time, I added the 100% European Linen Structured Blazer in deep navy. The deep navy gave the outfit a different vibe, more saturated and noticeable. Navy is a neutral, so you can wear it with most other colors. It looks great with bright colors as well as pastels.

The Italian Leather Convertible Crescent Handwoven handbag ties in well with the belt and creates a cohesive look. I love this woven style, and crescent handbags are all the rage. This one is also available in black and taupe, or it would be if they weren’t out of stock. (I told you they were all the rage.) Sign up for the waitlist, and you’ll get an email once they are back in stock.

I like that you can carry this as a satchel, a crossbody, or a shoulder bag—it’s versatile. Lol!

These Italian Leather Pointed Bow Flats are super cute! I’ve worn them non-stop since I bought them. I wore them to my mother’s, and we were leaving to run some errands. As I walked down her concrete steps, I remembered that I had forgotten something in the house. I turned around too quickly and stubbed my toe on the concrete. It scuffed the leather, and it almost made me sick.

I’m ordering another pair because I love them so much, but I think I’ll get the cognac color this time. They are slightly tight, so if you are between sizes, you might want to size up.

All outfits start with a basic look. What you add to the basic look creates a “style.” My summer go-to outfit is a black T-shirt and a pair of jeans (blue, black, or white). This Cotton Modal Scoop Neck Tee is easygoing and will look great with shorts or slacks this summer. I paired it with these NYDJ White Ankle Jeans in a size 8.

NYDJ is a retailer that knows how to fit a woman’s body. I’ve heard that it stands for “not your daughter’s jeans,” which means they are cut to fit our fuller figures that have curves. I did a review on several of their jeans, you can read about it here.

To turn this into an elevated casual look, I added a classic denim jacket. This one is my favorite, although I own several of them. They are versatile pieces of clothing that can be worn with skirts, shorts, and even fancy evening gowns.

I love an all-white sneaker. This white premium leather pair from Cariuma is super nice, and they fit and look great. My sister and I both ordered this canvas green pair last year and I wore mine with a navy maxi dress for a cute casual look.

I’ve carried this Italian Leather Triple Compartment Crossbody a lot on the blog. It looks great with everything, and I love the three compartments. It is fabulous for traveling, and I usually carry it or the Pearl Nappa Leather Crossbody, which is in black.

I love a one-and-done outfit. That is when you only have to pick one piece of clothing out of your closet, and no thought is required for pairing it with a top or bottom. A jumpsuit or a dress are the two one-and-done looks I wear most.

This long, stretchy, and flowy Short-Sleeve Maxi Dress is so simple to throw on and head out the door. I’ll wear it knotted on one side to shorten it and show a glimpse of my shoes and ankles.

To change up the look, I added a blue pinstripe 100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt over the dress. I once again added the Italian Leather Convertible Crescent Handwoven handbag that I carried with the navy blazer.

Have you noticed that all of these pieces are mix and match. I can wear this 100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt with jeans or a white pair of jeans or pants. I could also wear this dress with a denim jacket or a white blazer. It is fun to experiment and see how many ways you can change the look of an outfit.

These last two outfits are slightly more elevated. I still consider them casual, but they are definitely very elevated. These are the same NYDJ White Ankle Jeans as above, but I added a Classic White 100% European Linen Long Sleeve Shirt and a Heather Grey Lightweight Cotton Cashmere V-Neck Sweater to dress up the jeans.

A column of white (the jeans and a white linen shirt) would look casual with the denim jacket or the deep navy blazer. Cashmere elevates every outfit, but it can be pricey. Quince is known for affordable cashmere, and this sweater is only $29.90!!! This sweater is lightweight, and is available in several colors. I wear a large in most Quince cashmere sweaters.

The Pearl Nappa Leather Crossbody by Lo & Sons is one of my favorite bags. The size, color, and texture of the buttery soft leather are all perfect. It looks elegant, especially with the gold embossed LS on the front.

This is one of my favorite elevated looks. It can be worn for a date night, to brunch with the girls, to work, to church, and any time you want to look and feel fabulous.

The Brushed Short Sleeve Lounge Tee is soooo soft! I love the Dolman sleeves and the banded bottom; it is so flattering. This can be worn with jeans, and I ordered the Organic Stretch Cotton Twill Straight Leg Cropped Pants in black and rust. They are similar to a pair of jeans, and the brushed tee will look great with them. I’m wearing a medium, and it fits great.

Since I wanted this look to be dressier, I added these Ultra-Stretch Ponte Kick Flare Pants in black. It is funny how the simplest looks can also look the most elegant. I’m wearing a medium in the pants, and they are borderline tight, so if you are in between sizes, you’ll want to size up.

I added my favorite Black Pumps to keep the outfit elevated. I wore a similar outfit in February with a brown Mongolian Cashmere Cardigan Sweater. I’ll include the outfit below since it shows me wearing the flare pants in a size large.

So there you have it, gurls. Creating an elevated casual wardrobe is about looking put-together without looking overdone. Tweaking your basic outfits with accessories and a 3rd piece, such as jackets, blazers, and cardigans, can make all the difference, and it only takes a few minutes. Plus, don’t forget to add lipstick to brighten your face!

Here are a few other items that I ordered for this post but didn’t arrive in time for the photos.

More Clothing To Create An Elevated Casual Wardrobe

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