How to dress smart casual this fall winter 2013

The Smart casual look is increasing in popularity and as Chanel’s designer Karl Lagerfeld would say, some things never go out of fashion. A pair of jeans, a white shirt and a Chanel jacket….and he is so right.

Watch Chanel’s “the jacket” video below.

What is smart casual?

The smart casual look comprises of mixing smart clothing with casual clothing so that the final outcome is not too smart but not too casual. It’s a perfect balance of smart casual. Usually the smart casual look is made up of jeans, a shirt or top or blouse, a pair of stylish smart shoes, could be heels, loafers, ballerina shoes or knee high boots with a matching handbag worn with a la mode jacket.

For this Fall Winter 2013, here’s a list of what’s trending. We picked items from the collection of two popular designers in the UK, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton.

The Ralph Lauren Autumn Winter collection was very much about easily mixing and matching items together which is great for the smart casual style. The collection really reminded me of Russian aristocracy. The models poised in little berets, big Cossack pants, puckered sleeves, white shirts with big frills at the front and bows around the neck, lots of trousers, military coats, velvet dresses, long fitted layered skirts. Most of the items featured turtle necks and most of the collection was black.

Be trendy this season and match your jeans with velvet shirts, tops and white shirts with front frilly layers and big bows. Match your outfit with pointed toe heels.

The Louis Vuitton Autumn Winter 2013/14  Collection on the other hand, saw models walk around in silk gowns and tweed dresses with lace trimmings, fur handbags and long coats full with embellishments or fur or both. High heel platforms with chunky heels. Lots of lilacs, blush, indigo, maroon and inevitably black.

You could not even tell there was Kate Moss modelling Marc Jacob’s collection as all models looked alike with their short, dark haired wigs and red lipstick.

Be trendy this season and match your jeans with silk ladylike shirts, blouses and tops with beautiful lace trimmings, open toe sandals with wide heels. Dress up your outfit with a lovely fur handbag and if you bump into many women with dark short hair and lipstick ask yourself whether this is the new Marc Jacobs look or pure coincidence.