Casual for women: what to wear
Jeans or shorts + a tee or sweater + sneakers or sandals.
Weekends, casual meet-ups, travel, picnics, informal events.
- When
- Any time
- Trousers for women
- Yes
- Jeans
- Yes
- Sneakers
- Yes
Three outfit ideas
City day
Straight jeans, a white tee, a beige trench and white sneakers.
Summer day
A linen dress, leather sandals and a straw bag.
Travel
Wide knit trousers, a cashmere sweater and comfortable sneakers.
What to wear
- Jeans, chinos, skirts
- Tees, shirts, knits
- Summer dresses
Shoes
Sneakers, sandals, loafers.
Accessories
A tote, a cap, sunglasses.
What to avoid
- Dirty or worn-out clothes
Colours
Anything.
In summer
In summer: shorts, linen, sandals.
In winter
In winter: knits, jeans, sneakers or boots.
Details that make the difference
- Casual clothes look expensive when the fabrics are good: quality knits, heavier cotton, real leather.
- One structured piece (a blazer, a coat, a leather bag) instantly lifts an outfit a level.
- White sneakers must actually be white – dirty ones drag the whole outfit down.
- Jean length: at or just above the ankle with open shoes, slightly longer with ankle boots.
About casual
Everyday comfortable clothes: jeans, tees, sneakers – clean and right for the place. Casual dress only became widely accepted in the second half of the 20th century, as jeans and T-shirts moved from workwear and underwear to everyday clothing.
Other codes for women
Frequently asked
01Casual: can women wear trousers?
Yes – elegant trousers or a trouser suit are perfectly fine.
02Casual: are jeans OK?
Yes – dark, clean, unripped jeans fit this code.
03Casual: are sneakers OK?
Yes – clean, minimalist leather or suede sneakers work.
04Does 'casual' on an invitation mean sportswear is fine?
Not quite – relaxed but tidy: jeans and clean sneakers yes, a tracksuit no.