Style TipsA suit is not the only way to be elegant, there are some alternatives that you can use to elevate the formality.

By Paloma Gonzalez

What do you wear if you need to be a little more formal than usual? Can you dress formal without wearing a suit? There are times when jeans and sneakers just aren't acceptable, but that doesn't mean wearing a traditional suit is the only option.

Suits aren't going anywhere and in fact it's widely known to be a powerful weapon that, if worn right, can make you look more attractive, sophisticated and mysterious, but dress codes have been loosening up. for a few years now and there are already more alternatives that you can take into account when you don't want to wear one, and it's all thanks to the boom in the Smart Casual style.

We're not in the '50s anymore where men always wore a suit to the office (Don Draper looks great, but I'm sure he wouldn't have said no if he was allowed to wear a different look), so it's time to think outside the box. the box and start taking calculated risks.

Putting on a suit is very easy and it is an option that does not fail, but you can get creative playing with the types of jackets, pants and shirts, eliminating the tie, changing the shoes for tennis or even choosing an unexpected combination to stand out in the right way. , and without being kicked out of the event or the office for being poorly dressed.

What can you do to dress formal without wearing a suit?

Add a sport blazer

The Italians call it a "separate suit"—it's all about pairing your pants with a different-colored sport coat, creating an Ivy League-influenced look that can ditch the tie and swap the shoes for loafers for a little more comfort.

This look has many forms and can be more casual or more formal by playing with the materials and length of the pants, the style of the shirt and the accessories you decide to wear.

Think of a vest

You don't have to completely eliminate the suit, but you can take a different version by adding a Harry Styles-style vest, which is also one of the trends of the moment. The big plus is that there are so many options, from button down vests, to knitted ones, to V-neck cricket vests that are that 1920s style worn for sport.

Change the shirt for a polo or sweater

There are suits that have a more sporty style, and you can take advantage of that to give the look a twist, changing the classic button-down shirt for a perfectly well-fitting polo shirt (and preferably in a light fabric, which looks more elegant) or changing for a turtleneck or crew neck sweater.

If the situation calls for it, you can even change for a tshirt, and you can combine the three options with a pair of perfectly clean and well-cared-for leather tennis shoes, which are already a hallmark of Smart Casual.

Sweater instead of jacket

A cardigan or one of those sweaters that can pass for a jacket. This is the best way to combine formal and casual without too much hassle, it's a look that has been worn for many, many years and while it may not be the best for a wedding, it can certainly be a great option for the office.

You can even wear a crew or V-neck sweater over your shirt, with a pair of chinos and some loafers, ditching the hat or jackets altogether.

Chinos + linen

Don't want to wear the typical suit pants? Try a linen version that's cooler or a pair of chinos, which can be made more or less formal with a few simple adjustments to the clothes you wear.

You can even wear chinos with a linen shirt, or a guayabera, for daytime or beach weddings.