Jeremy Hackett - The Mr Classic Blog

I am of the opinion that no single term has done more to confuse how we should dress than ‘smart / casual’. What on earth does it mean? If you were invited to a drinks and dinner function and told to dress ‘smart / casual’, what would you wear? Do you lean to the smart side or to the casual?

These things were so much simpler when there was a dress code, as ‘smart / casual’ invariably ends up with half the guests turning up in suits and ties, and the other half in jeans and polo shirts.

For the record, if you receive this dress code instruction, wearing some sort of blazer with a smart shirt worn open-neck with a pair of jeans would be acceptable to most people (though not, perhaps, at the Ritz).

Hackett is proud to offer a range of styles, taking you all the way from ‘smart’ to ‘casual’, as and when required. Why not mix and match to get a whole new look?

I was recently called upon to cite the practical and aesthetic advantages of both the adjustable waist band and common-or-garden belt loops on trousers. Having experienced people struggling with this choice in the past, I feel I can help make things a little clearer if you are faced with the same problem.

Side adjusters on suits are generally considered a style for more traditionally cut trousers and are mostly seen on bespoke suits or with trousers that require brace buttons - the idea being that if you do not wear braces then you can buckle the adjusters.

Belt loops give a more contemporary look to a suit and are much more popular in the rest of the world. Personally, I prefer side adjusters as i think they give a cleaner line.


If it’s the belt loop system you’ve plumped for though, Hackett stocks an extensive range of belts and braces to help you finish the look.