How To Dress Casual As A Grown Man (Stop Dressing Like A Teenager)

Summary

In this video, Courtney Ryan addresses the common query of dressing casually as an adult. She emphasizes the importance of simplicity, suggesting a focus on basic, versatile pieces that can be interchanged to create various outfits. Courtney advises against busy logos and graphic tees, advocating for solid ones to project a mature look. She stresses the need to find a personal uniform that suits one's lifestyle and body type, ensuring comfort and style. Perfecting the fit of clothes, especially denim, is crucial, as it significantly impacts the overall appearance. Courtney also recommends upgrading shoes to enhance the maturity of an outfit, suggesting leather sneakers or loafers over canvas ones. Lastly, she discusses the impact of outerwear on an outfit's maturity, suggesting darker washes and different textures for a more polished look.

Takeaways

• 😀 Dressing casually as an adult is about finding a balance between comfort and maturity, without needing to wear a suit every day.
• 👕 Focus on simplicity by investing in basic, versatile pieces that can be easily mixed and matched to create various outfits.
• 🔄 Prioritize the quality and fit of your clothes over trends, ensuring they are appropriate for your lifestyle and body type.
• 👖 Invest time in finding the perfect pair of jeans that fit well and suit your body type, as they form the base of many casual outfits.
• 👟 Upgrade your footwear to more mature options like leather sneakers or loafers to avoid a juvenile appearance.
• 🧥 Consider upgrading your outerwear to more sophisticated choices that can elevate your casual look and reflect maturity.
• 👔 Develop a personal uniform by identifying key pieces that work well for your lifestyle and can be easily interchanged.
• 💼 Perfect the fit of your clothes, as proper fit enhances the overall look and makes a significant difference in your appearance.
• 🧳 Avoid overly distressed or ripped denim, as well as 'hey dudes' shoes, which can make you look less polished and more juvenile.
• 🌟 Emphasize the importance of a capsule wardrobe with classic, interchangeable pieces to build versatility and save money in the long run.

Q & A

What is the main topic of Courtney Ryan's video?

The main topic of Courtney Ryan's video is how to dress casually as an adult, focusing on transitioning into adult casual fashion without looking juvenile.

Why is it important to keep clothing simple according to Courtney?

Courtney emphasizes keeping clothing simple because it increases versatility and allows for more outfit combinations, which is beneficial as one gets older and wants to build a mature wardrobe.

What is Courtney's stance on loud logos and graphic t-shirts?

Courtney advises against wearing loud logos or graphic t-shirts with corny sayings, recommending instead a more simplified and mature approach to casual dressing.

What does Courtney suggest as a replacement for busy graphic t-shirts?

Courtney suggests opting for solid, logo-free t-shirts as a more mature and versatile alternative to busy graphic t-shirts.

What does Courtney mean by 'finding your uniform'?

By 'finding your uniform,' Courtney refers to identifying a set of clothing items that suit one's lifestyle, body type, and personal style, making it easier to create outfits that are both comfortable and stylish.

Why is the fit of clothing so important according to Courtney?

Courtney stresses that the fit of clothing is crucial because properly fitting clothes not only look better but also enhance one's appearance, contributing to a more polished and mature look.

What are Courtney's recommendations for choosing the right pair of denim?

Courtney recommends a dark wash, durable denim without distressing or rips, and suggests trying different cuts and brands to find one that suits one's body type and personal style.

How can shoes impact the overall look of a casual outfit, as per Courtney?

Courtney explains that shoes can significantly impact the overall look of a casual outfit, with certain styles like 'hey dudes' aging one or making them look juvenile, while others like loafers can elevate the outfit.

What is Courtney's advice on upgrading one's outerwear to look more mature?

Courtney advises upgrading outerwear by choosing jackets with different colors, fabrics, or textures that give off a more mature vibe, such as a tan jacket over a lightwash denim one.

What is the significance of having a capsule wardrobe according to Courtney?

Having a capsule wardrobe is significant because it focuses on building a collection of basic, classic, and interchangeable pieces that offer versatility and help in creating numerous outfit combinations, ultimately making dressing easier and more cost-effective.

How can viewers stay connected with Courtney for more fashion advice?

Viewers can stay connected with Courtney for more fashion advice by subscribing to her channel, giving the video a thumbs up, and following her on Instagram at Courtney Christine Ryan.

Outlines

00:00

👋 Introduction to Casual Dressing for Adults

Courtney Ryan introduces the video by addressing a common question she receives about casual dressing as an adult. She emphasizes that many people live lifestyles where casual dressing is the norm, even if some have to dress up for work. The goal is to show how to dress casually without looking like a teenager, providing tips on dressing simply yet stylishly. Courtney explains that casual outfits can still look polished and refined and promises to share both general tips and more detailed advice with examples.

05:02

🧑‍🎨 Keep It Simple and Versatile

Courtney emphasizes the importance of simplicity in a casual wardrobe, advising viewers to focus on basic pieces that can be easily mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. She discusses avoiding loud logos and graphic t-shirts, recommending classic, logo-free garments for a more mature and versatile look. Simplicity in dressing allows for more flexibility and the ability to create outfits that work together seamlessly. Courtney also suggests opting for solid, logo-free hoodies and t-shirts that can be layered for a more mature, polished appearance.

10:03

👕 Find Your Uniform

Courtney advises finding a ‘uniform’—an outfit formula that works well for your lifestyle, location, and body type. By identifying go-to outfits that can be easily recreated and adapted for different seasons, dressing becomes simpler. She gives an example of a winter uniform with jeans, boots, and a sweater, and how small changes like swapping jackets can create different looks. She encourages men to develop a wardrobe around these dependable combinations to avoid overcomplicating their daily dressing routine.

✂️ Perfect the Fit

Courtney stresses the importance of clothing fit, especially for casual outfits. A well-fitting pair of denim is essential and can act as the foundation of casual attire. She explains that dark wash jeans, preferably without distressing or rips, are more suitable for mature casual looks. Courtney encourages viewers to spend time trying different styles and cuts of jeans to find the best fit for their body type, as the right fit can significantly elevate their overall appearance.

👟 Upgrade Your Shoes

Courtney highlights how the right shoes can elevate a casual outfit, noting that some shoe choices can make you look too young or too old. She advises swapping canvas sneakers for leather sneakers for a more polished look and suggests avoiding overly casual shoes like ‘hey dudes,’ which she believes age the wearer. Instead, she recommends loafers or boots, particularly for older men, as they add a refined touch to casual outfits. She also mentions Thursday boots as an affordable and stylish option.

🧥 Upgrade Your Outerwear

Courtney discusses the impact of upgrading outerwear, suggesting that changes in color, fabric, and texture can make an outfit appear more mature. She gives an example of how her husband's tan jacket looks more elevated than a light-wash denim jacket. Simple swaps like these can transform a youthful appearance into a more refined, adult look. Outerwear is the finishing touch that completes an outfit, and selecting the right jacket can significantly affect the overall vibe.

🎯 Final Thoughts: Capsule Wardrobe and Versatility

Courtney wraps up the video by reiterating the importance of building a capsule wardrobe focused on basics and classic pieces. These staples provide versatility, allowing for multiple outfit combinations and saving money in the long run. Dressing casually as an adult doesn’t mean wearing suits daily, but it’s about making simple, intentional wardrobe choices that reflect maturity and style. She encourages viewers to like the video, subscribe, and follow her on Instagram for more content.

Keywords

💡Casual Dressing

Casual dressing refers to a style of dressing that is relaxed and comfortable, typically worn in informal settings. In the video, Courtney emphasizes how to dress casually as an adult without looking juvenile. She suggests focusing on simplicity and avoiding overly trendy or logo-laden clothing to achieve a mature casual look.

💡Versatility

Versatility in fashion means having pieces that can be easily mixed and matched to create multiple outfits. Courtney mentions that simplifying one's wardrobe by choosing classic and basic items increases versatility, allowing for more outfit combinations and reducing the need for constant purchases.

💡Interchangeability

Interchangeability in clothing refers to the ability to switch out certain pieces in an outfit without losing the overall style coherence. The video highlights the importance of having a wardrobe where items can be easily interchanged to create different looks, which is key to dressing casually as an adult.

💡Uniform

In the context of the video, a 'uniform' refers to a set of clothing items that form a consistent and recognizable style for the individual. Courtney advises finding a personal uniform based on one's lifestyle, preferences, and body type to simplify the dressing process and ensure a consistent style.

💡Perfect Fit

Perfect fit in fashion means that clothing is tailored or chosen to suit one's body shape perfectly. Courtney stresses the importance of getting the fit right, as it significantly impacts the overall appearance and comfort. She specifically mentions denim as a crucial base piece where the fit can greatly affect the maturity of one's casual look.

💡Denim

Denim is a popular fabric used for making jeans and jackets, often associated with casual wear. In the video, Courtney discusses the importance of choosing the right pair of denim for a mature casual look, suggesting a dark wash and avoiding distressing or rips for a more polished appearance.

💡Shoe Upgrade

A shoe upgrade implies replacing lower-quality or less stylish shoes with ones that enhance the overall outfit. Courtney points out that shoes can significantly affect the perception of one's style, suggesting swapping canvas sneakers for leather ones or avoiding 'hey dudes' in favor of loafers to project a more mature image.

💡Outerwear

Outerwear refers to clothing worn over other garments for warmth or protection, such as jackets and coats. The video emphasizes upgrading outerwear to elevate the maturity of a casual outfit. Courtney suggests choosing jackets with different colors or textures, like a tan jacket over a lightwash denim one, to achieve a more sophisticated look.

💡Capsule Wardrobe

A capsule wardrobe is a collection of essential, versatile, and high-quality clothing items that can be mixed and matched to create various outfits. Courtney promotes the idea of a capsule wardrobe as a way to simplify dressing and enhance style without the need for excessive shopping or trendy pieces.

💡Mature Look

A mature look in fashion refers to an appearance that is sophisticated, polished, and age-appropriate. Throughout the video, Courtney provides tips on how to achieve a mature look when dressing casually, such as opting for solid-colored t-shirts, avoiding overly distressed denim, and choosing classic footwear over trendy but juvenile styles.

Highlights

Courtney Ryan discusses how to dress casually as an adult, addressing a common fashion question.

Emphasizes the importance of dressing casually without looking like you're still in high school.

Advises on how to look put-together and great in casual outfits without needing to wear a suit every day.

Suggests focusing on having all the basics to build versatile outfits.

Advocates for simplicity in clothing to increase versatility and interchangeability of wardrobe pieces.

Recommends wearing hoodies without logos for a more mature and simplified look.

Encourages finding a personal uniform based on lifestyle, personal style, and appropriateness for the environment.

Stresses the importance of perfecting the fit of clothes for a better appearance.

Recommends choosing a dark wash, durable denim as the base for casual outfits.

Advises against distressing or rips in denim for a more mature look.

Suggests upgrading shoes to elevate an outfit from juvenile to distinguished.

Recommends leather sneakers or loafers as stylish and mature alternatives to canvas sneakers.

Discourages 'hey dudes' shoes, suggesting loafers as a more sophisticated choice.

Advises upgrading outerwear to make a casual outfit look more mature and polished.

Provides examples of how changing the color and texture of a jacket can significantly alter an outfit's appearance.

Concludes by reinforcing the idea that dressing like an adult doesn't mean wearing a suit every day and that simple swaps can make a significant difference.

Encourages building a capsule wardrobe with classic, interchangeable pieces for versatility and ease.

Transcripts

hi everyone welcome back to my channel

if you're new here I'm Courtney Ryan and

today I'm going to be showing you how to

dress casually as an adult this is

probably one of the most asked questions

I get from you guys about style or

fashion because this is how we're

dressing most of the time right most of

us are living a life style where

generally speaking we can dress a little

bit more on the Casual side we don't

have to dress up every single day I know

that some of you do maybe you're a guy

who has to wear a suit every day and

this will apply to your weekend dressing

only um but I think this is still

something that's really helpful to know

especially as you get older I think when

we're talking about casual fashion there

are definitely some different levels to

this but I think it will be really

helpful for you guys to get some tips on

how to transition into dressing casually

as an adult so that we don't look like

we're still in high school we don't look

like a little boy or like a teenager and

we start dressing like a gentleman you

do not need to wear a suit every day or

dress fancy to look nice you can rock a

casual outfit and still look really put

together and really great so I'm going

to teach you exactly how to do it and

again this is really not that serious

you can wear what you want at the end of

the day but this is for the guys who

want a little bit of help with their

style you can dress casual and

comfortable while still looking great

and I'm going to show you how by first

covering some general tips to follow and

then giving more detailed advice at the

end and showing you guys some examples

okay the first piece of advice I have

for you is to keep it simple focus on

having all of the basics that will allow

you to build more outfits you know when

you were younger when you were a

teenager following Trends you probably

had more oneoff pieces that maybe you

couldn't wear together but I think as

you get older it's important to make

sure that you have all of the basics so

that you have a base for all of your

outfits and in terms of keeping it

simple you all know by now how I feel

about loud logos or graphic t-shirts

with corny sayings on them so I'll keep

my explanation to a minimum here when

you simplify you diversify versatility

is an added bonus when you keep things

relatively simple and stick to the

classics or the basics I think something

to keep in mind here is

interchangeability you know again the

simpler things are the more you're going

to be able to Interchange them and get

more outfits out of it and wear them

together if you like hoodies you can

still absolutely wear one just go for

one without a logo that's going to be

more simplified and more able to be

layered with other things and paired

with other things and it's just going to

give off more of a mature look you know

instead of a busy graphic t-shirt go for

a solid one there are some really easy

swaps here you can make with those

staple pieces in your wardrobe that are

going to allow you to Still Rock the

same style just in a more mature way and

really just understand that when you

keep things a little bit more on the

simple side you're going to be able to

get more out of your wardrobe which

leads me into my next Point here which

is to find your uniform this is going to

depend on what you do for a living what

your personal style is and where you are

in the world now my personal uniform

kind of changes with the seasons as I'm

in Ohio but I generally know the pieces

that I need to build an outfit that's

going to work for my everyday lifestyle

you know you really don't need to

overthink it or complicate things find

what you like to wear find what's

appropriate for your lifestyle again

keep time and place in mind and also

what works the best for your body type

knowing what you like and developing a

uniform around that will help you find

what your style is and you'll be able to

dress in a way that best represents you

so again this might change depending on

the season but find outfit combinations

that are really easy to recreate and

interchange with other things in your

closet say in the winter time you really

like to wear denim with a pair of boots

and a sweater and then a cool jacket to

throw on you could have a couple

different jackets that you interchange

and create a bunch of different outfits

with the same base layer you're just

creating a totally different look with

the jacket that you choose to pair with

it or maybe when we get rid of that we

want to think about different tops that

we can wear so you get a couple

different sweaters that you can wear

with your jeans and your boots and

that's a really easy uniform for you an

outfit combination that works for your

everyday lifestyle and all you have to

do is swap out the sweater so it's

really easy it helps you not overthink

things and it helps you really wear what

you like and what's comfortable this is

going to make it so much easier for you

to put outfits together and ensure that

you aren't complicating things or making

them more difficult for yourself than

than it needs to be my next tip which is

always a piece of advice I give in every

single fashion video that I do because

it is so important is perfect the fit

again as I always say but I want to

reiterate here fit is the most important

thing about your clothing your clothes

will look better and you will look

better if your clothes fit you properly

getting more into the details here when

I think about a casual outfit for a man

one of the very first pieces of clothing

that I think of is a pair of denim and

really here I want to talk about the

importance of nail the base which is the

denim this is essentially going to be

the Workhorse of your casual outfits I

believe that every grown man needs a

tried and true pair of denim my personal

recommendation would be a dark wash

durable denim I personally prefer

Salvage up to you though with a cut that

suits your body type if you have smaller

legs you might want to go for a Slimmer

cut if your legs are average or maybe

slightly above average a straight leg

might suit you better you don't want

them to be too tight but you also don't

want them to be too loose so play around

with the fit here and find what works

the best for you and your build

personally this is really going to

depend on you and your body type and the

way you like your clothes to fit it can

be really difficult to find the perfect

pair of denim and I hesitate to even say

perfect because I don't know if it

exists but something that really works

for you I would highly recommend

spending the time to try different

things on try on different cuts try on

different brands and styles to figure

out one that works for you because if

you nail the base here this is going to

make your life easier in the long run

and for all of you who care about my

personal opinion which I'm assuming is a

good amount of you considering you

clicked on my video would be no

distressing or rips I think distressing

and rips just tend to look pretty

Juvenile and less put together and less

polished if you're wanting to dress

casual as an adult you're wanting to

look more mature and put together I

would highly recommend going for a pair

of denim without any distressing or rips

and really would encourage a dark wash

pair I think dark wash just looks so

much better it's easy to dress up or

down unlike a medium or light wash and

absolutely no denim with the weird lines

that look look like fish

gills that's some high school stuff

we're not doing that anymore my next tip

would be a shoe upgrade because shoes

pack a big punch as silly as it sounds

shoes can really make or break an outfit

and this could be the thing that is

making you give off frat bro versus

distinguished gentleman who knows how to

dress casually which I would choose that

one again this one is going to depend on

where you live and what your style is

but I do think there are a lot of shoes

from men out there that either give off

a very juvenile appearance or a look

that's just too

so again I'll give you some examples

here of some easy swaps that you can

make so instead of a canvas sneaker that

can tend to look a little bit juvenile I

would go for a leather sneaker instead I

also feel the need to say this because

this pair of shoes is plaguing men's

fashion at the moment and that is hey

dudes these are aging you like you

cannot even imagine I think these are

I'm I'm hesitating to say it but I think

these are the ugliest shoes on the

market now and I I really try to be

graceful and respectful when I talk

about things I understand something

could just not be my style or my taste

and that's fine but hey dudes are making

you look like you gave up on your life

hey dudes are right up there with the

shoes that are called chos or Chocos I'm

not sure they're some really ugly

strappy sandal or a pair of Crocs okay

so instead of hey dudes that are aging

you like crazy go for a loafer and even

if you're an older gentleman watching

you can get a lovely pair of loafers

it's going to make you look so much more

wonderful than a pair of hey dudes are

again I say this because I have to think

if you're clicking on my video you're

coming here for my advice whether you

listen to me or not is up to you but I

just feel the need to say it there are a

lot of shoes out there that are a little

bit harder to pull off or they're either

making you look way younger than you are

or way older than you are um so there

are some easy ways to give yourself a

bit of a refresh and shoe upgrade that

are going to make you look appropriate

for your age at a minimum here I would

recommend having a pair of nice sneakers

again that's going to depend on you and

your personal style you can choose what

you want I personally like the look of a

leather sneaker I think these look

really nice with a casual outfit and

then something more elevated like a

leather loafer that you could pair with

a nicer casual outfit like a trouser and

a polo um or a pair of denim and a

button- down if you live somewhere with

Seasons I'd also recommend having a pair

of boots for the fall and the winter

time specifically a boot on the more

affordable side that I would recommend

that's still really good quality for the

price that you're getting would be

Thursday boots I love the brand I've

never worked with them I'm not

associated with them um and I think this

is a really great place to to start if

you're getting yourself a first pair of

boots but also if you want something

that's going to give you the bang for

your buck and also be really great

quality and look nice Thursday boots is

a really great place to start if you

want suggestions let me know down in the

comments and I would be more than happy

to help my husband is a bit of a boot

connoisseur he is obsessed with boots

it's one of his many hobbies that he has

um and so I know a thing or two about

boots so I could help you down in the

comments and my next tip would be to

upgrade your outer wear simply changing

up the color the fabric or texture of a

jacket can elevate it and make it come

across way more mature and like you are

actually dressing like a grown man again

there are some really easy swaps that

you can make with outer wear to just

give yourself a more mature look I think

there are some jackets that give off a

more juvenile vibe say something like a

lightwash ripped or distressed denim

jacket this is just going to look a lot

more youthful than say a jacket that's a

similar style but maybe it's a tan color

and I want to show you this example of a

jacket that my husband actually has I

snapped this photo myself really quickly

of him um but it's a jacket that has

similar detailing to what a denim jacket

would have but it looks a lot more

elevated and more mature than this

lightwash denim jacket would look so

even though the style is similar it just

gives off a totally different look

because of the color and the fabric

choice so I think this is a really clear

example of how the color and the texture

can pack a-p punch and make such a big

difference when you're choosing

outerwear and the reason why I recommend

updating your outerwear if you live live

in a climate that you know requires you

to wear outerwear is because this is

kind of the finishing touch on your

outfit it really completes an outfit and

can give your outfit a completely

different look depending on what you

choose again prime example here of the

light wash jacket versus the more

elevated one that my husband is wearing

in this photo my point of this video is

to show you that dressing like an adult

doesn't need to mean wearing a suit

every day there are a lot of really

simple swaps that you can make that will

give you a more appropriate look for

your age and contribute to you looking

more elevated even in your most casual

outfit fits and I hope this video is

just another prime example that really

having a capsule wardrobe focusing on

building the basics having the Classics

having those interchangeable pieces that

really give you the most versatility out

of your clothing is going to help you in

the long run it's also going to save you

a ton of money you're going to get more

bang for your buck out of it because

you're going to have all these different

outfit combinations the staple pieces

that I always recommend are going to

give you more versatility and allow you

to build so many more outfits and make

your life easier in the process so guys

that's all I have for this this video if

you liked it or found it helpful be sure

to give it a thumbs up and subscribe to

my channel to be in the loop for when I

release new content if you haven't

already be sure to follow me over on

Instagram at Courtney Christine Ryan I

love connecting with all of you guys

over on there as well I would love to

hear from you guys down in the comments

and also let me know what other fashion

videos you would want to see from me and

topics you want me to discuss in the

future as always thank you all so much

for watching and I will see you all next

time