Decoding Menswear Dress Codes In 2022

Streetwear savants rejoice! It’s the all-encompassing, forever ambiguous ‘casual’ dress code. Classic Levi’s denim, well-cut chinos or on-trend cargo pants are all an option here, as are button-up shirts with bold prints.

Cardigans, sweater vests and polo shirts are great layering options for winter, but we’d advise against hoodies and tracksuit pants – you don’t want to find yourself in the sartorial hinterlands at a social event. People are still – subconsciously or not – tying these looks to Australia’s interminable lockdowns, so it’s time to elevate the casual look – just a little! Try out a new silver chain and finish with a clean pair of classic sneakers like Nike Air Max 90s or adidas Superstars.

Ready to embrace your inner Dadcore? 

The dad shoe phenomenon is still stomping all over the style stakes in 2022, so teaming a nice pair of grey New Balance sneakers with denim jeans and a sports jacket is a fait accompli for the smart casual code.

Alternatively, a pair of chinos and a button-up shirt is a bulletproof option, as is a singlet/blazer combo (à la Harry Styles) or a sweater vest – a garm lovingly embraced in men’s fashion of late.

This is the look you can really have fun accessorising. Add some flair with printed silk neck ties and stack your rings. Finish the look with some designer sunglasses (think Prada or Gucci) and a throwback analogue watch.

Just make sure your button-ups are crisp, and you’re not pulling up with holes in your jeans (despite the aesthetics, you’re not wearing Levi’s that middle-aged men mow their lawn in). Bring in a formal element with a belt by R.M. Williams.

Start with a freshly ironed collared shirt and polished Oxford dress shoes. Make sure your button-up or polo shirt is leaning on the formal side (save the wild prints for summertime barbeques and music festivals), and consider tucking it into a pair of crisp khakis. 

In terms of your hairstyle and beard, it’s always best to give everything a trim before the event – nothing nukes your look more than an unkempt mane! Leave the sneakers and tees at home, and bring a blazer in case it gets cold.

Start with a new formal shirt here.

It’s time to go all-out, gents. Weddings, formals or high-stakes poker games with a Bond villain will often specify ‘Black Tie’ dress codes, so it’s important to always keep something ready in the wardrobe.

Once literally requiring guests to dress in a black bowtie and dinner jacket, the ‘Black Tie’ dress code has broadened significantly in recent years, although the fundamental philosophy remains: Look damn dapper, gentlemen. A black tuxedo jacket with matching trousers nails the brief, but adding in extra frills like cufflinks, men’s rings or a vest will be sure to tilt necks to physio-inducing angles.

Remember, the suit and tie don’t necessarily have to be black – just make sure the tie’s not a clip-on!