Styles
Classic Menswear: A Guide to Timeless Men's Style
Classic menswear explained: the suits, shirts, ties, coats and shoes that never go out of style, and how to wear them in a modern way.
Style Guide
Men's Style Types Explained
Casual, classic, smart casual, sport-classic, minimalist, streetwear: a clear guide to the main men's fashion styles and how to find yours.
Styles: all guides
3 in-depth articles in this section.
Styles
Smart Casual for Men: The Complete Guide With Outfit Ideas
What smart casual really means for men, the key pieces, the rules, and 8 outfit formulas for offices, dates, dinners and weekends.
Styles
Sport-Classic Style for Men: Where Tailoring Meets Sportswear
Sport-classic (sporty chic, "sport-luxe") blends tailoring with athletic comfort. Learn the key pieces, outfit formulas and how to wear it at work and on weekends.
Finding your style
A "style" is really a set of shared choices: the fabrics, fits, colours and shoes a group of clothes have in common. Knowing the main styles gives you a vocabulary. Instead of buying random things you like, you can build around a direction and every new purchase will work with the rest.
The main men's styles at a glance
| Style | Signature pieces | Shoes | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classic | Tailored suits, dress shirts, ties, overcoats | Oxfords, derbies, loafers | Business, formal events, traditional workplaces |
| Smart casual | Blazers, chinos, knitwear, oxford shirts, dark jeans | Loafers, suede boots, clean sneakers | Modern offices, dinners, dates |
| Casual | T-shirts, jeans, hoodies, overshirts, bombers | Sneakers, boots | Weekends, travel, relaxed jobs |
| Sport-classic | Knit polos, unstructured blazers, technical trousers | Leather sneakers, loafers | Business travel, creative offices |
| Heritage / workwear | Field jackets, chore coats, raw denim, flannel | Work boots, moc-toes | Everyday wear, outdoors |
| Minimalist | Neutral basics, clean lines, no logos | White sneakers, chelsea boots | Anyone who wants an easy uniform |
| Streetwear | Graphic tees, hoodies, cargo pants, statement outerwear | Statement sneakers | Younger, fashion-forward settings |
Deep dives
We have full guides to the three styles most men get the most use from: classic menswear, smart casual and the increasingly popular sport-classic style. For military, British country and American workwear, see our heritage section.
You don't have to pick just one
Most well-dressed men mix two neighbouring styles: classic at work and heritage at the weekend, for example. The shared pieces, such as a navy blazer, an oxford shirt or brown boots, hold the wardrobe together.