I often hear that you want to know how to make casual outfits stylish. Today I’m sharing how to do that, plus sharing pieces for updated, casual outfits that will make casual style effortless!
How to Make Casual Outfits Stylish
The first step for how to make casual outfits look good is to have updated and intentional pieces. It’s super hard to look good in things that are old and tired, so make sure your pieces are updated and intentional! You can’t expect to look good in the free t-shirt you got that’s too big and boxy for you. If you want to look stylish in jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers, then start with stylish and updated jeans, sweatshirts, and sneakers. I’ll share a few pieces today that will make it super easy for you!
Most of these pieces are from either Nordstrom or Quince. Both stores carry casual clothes that look stylish and polished. Also, both stores have really convenient shipping and return policies, offering free shipping and free return shipping on all orders. Nordstrom has an unstated return window, meaning you can basically return it at anytime(!!). Quince has a 365 day return window.
If you’re not familiar with Quince, it has been especially popular lately. Quince is known for having great quality items made of luxury fabrics like cashmere and silk, but for a fraction of the price. Even if you’re not into luxury fabrics, Quince has some great staples and a really clean and simple aesthetic that makes being stylish effortless. That’s why I’m featuring them today! (In case you’re wondering, no, this isn’t a sponsored post!)
Buying casual staples like jeans and sweatshirts from places like Nordstrom and Quince helps you instantly look good in casual clothes. Here are a few pieces to create updated casual outfits!
SIZING: I’m 5’6″ and usually S/M or 6 in clothes and 8.5 to 9 in shoes.
7 Pieces for Updated Casual Outfits
1. Straight Leg Jeans from Quince
First up are these jeans from Quince. I recently told you about them in my post “14 Outfits with Medium Wash Jeans“ and strongly recommend them! They’re sturdy and supportive, which I especially love for days I feel like a blob. 😂 But they are stretchy, so you can wear them comfortably. (I recently walked 3 miles in them, haha!) They give you a tailored and polished look, even in casual outfits. These jeans come in several washes, HERE. I wear size 28.
2. Stylish Sweatshirt
Second is a stylish sweatshirt. Remember, when figuring out how to make casual outfits stylish, you have to start with stylish pieces! This sweatshirt is also from Quince. It is fairly thick and keeps you pretty warm. It holds structure really well, which makes you look polished even though you’re in a sweatshirt. Wear this to your kids’ soccer or volleyball games, and you’ll look super casual but very stylish and pulled together! Find the sweatshirt HERE in several colors. I’m wearing size S.
3. Puffer Vest
You know I’m loving vests right now! Throw on a fresh one to pull together updated casual outfits easily. This exact one is unavailable, but you can find a similar one HERE. It’s lightweight and NOT bulky.
It’s versatile and works easily with jeans like I’m doing here and with athleisure, like I showed in 7 Athleisure Outfits for Winter You Can Copy.
4. Stylish Lifestyle Sneakers
The MOST IMPORTANT THING for how to make casual outfits look good: You NEED a pair of stylish lifestyle sneakers. Not to be mistaken with athletic sneakers! LIFESTYLE SNEAKERS. Make sure they have a low, slim profile, like the ones I’m wearing above, preferably with a white base if it’s your main pair. White pops against outfits and helps elongate your leg line.
I LOVE how this green pair adds a super fresh splash of color to outfits. It gives outfits a much more interesting twist. Find a similar pair HERE.
Shop Stylish Lifestyle Sneakers
5. Comfortable (Soft and Stretchy) Wide Leg Jeans
Another pair of jeans that is great for casual outfits is this pair of wide leg jeans from Wit & Wisdom. The are sooooooooooooo comfortable! They’re VERY SOFT and very STRETCHY, and they have elastic in the waistband for extra comfort!
These are trouser jeans, so they actually look GREAT dressed up with a blouse and booties. But you can definitely dress them down with a relaxed sweater and sneakers or a tee and sneakers like I’m sharing here, too! Find these jeans HERE. I’m wearing size 6, but I recommend you also trying a size down. A Style Club member, Angie, who has a straighter figure rather than curvy hips and a narrow waist like I do, said she sized down in them.
When you have EXTREMELY COMFORTABLE jeans in your closet, it’s soooo easy to wear casual outfits that also look good!
If this pair doesn’t fit you well, another option is a pair from KUT From the Kloth HERE. These are super duper soft and stretchy, also! I size down to a 4 in these. The rise is slightly lower than the Wit & Wisdom pair, so check the measurements of the rises listed for both pairs and see which one is best for you.
Shop Comfortable Wide Leg Jeans
6. Relaxed Sweater
You can very easily pull together updated casual outfits when you have a few relaxed sweaters as they’re alternatives to sweatshirts. You can pair them with sneakers and comfortable jeans for really casual outfits. (See how important those lifestyle sneakers are?) And you can dress them up with boots and flats.
Here’s a relaxed sweater that is great quality from Quince (bottom image)! This one is cropped, which means it works really well with both straight leg and wide leg jeans. I love how it looks tailored and polished but relaxed at the same time. This comes in 3 colorways, HERE. I’m wearing size S.
BTW, these straight leg jeans are the same pair from Quince that I showed earlier in this post in the medium wash. This is the dark wash pair, and it can be dressed down and up so easily! Find it HERE. I’m wearing size 28 in the 28″ inseam.
7. Puffer Jacket
Top of all of your casual outfits with the right puffer jacket! Of course, the type of jacket you’ll need depends on your climate. This jacket is one of my go-to jackets right now. It’s water-resistant, it has a hood, and the pockets and hood are lined with fleece. It’s puffy and warm! I especially love how soft and flexible it is to wear even though it’s puffy! Comes in several colors, HERE. I’m wearing size M so that it fits comfortably over bulky sweaters.
Remember, if you’ve wondered how to make casual outfits stylish, it starts with having casual pieces that are stylish and updated. These pieces will help you create updated casual outfits effortlessly! If you have any gaps in your wardrobe or need to update your casual pieces, check out some of these options.
Want ideas for ATHLEISURE outfits as well? Check out my recent post 7 Athleisure Outfits for Winter! It includes FLEECE LINED sporty pants that will keep you COZY and WARM this winter!
