Does casual have to mean sloppy?

There is never a good time to be sloppy. Even when building a tree house in the country or planting trees to save the world from environmental deterioration.

While a shirt, tie and dark trousers for work are pretty much uniform in any corporate environment, sliding in to work in a ratty, collarless tee with baggy, high-waisted, acid-washed jeans for casual Friday just won't cut it. And if you think a polo tee and a pair of baggy chinos is an upgrade, think again.

It's hard to define "the perfect casual wardrobe", unlike office-ready garb, but a rule of thumb is to build a different colour palette from your normal (often blue or white shirts with grey or navy trousers). Invest in a pair of straight-cut indigo jeans or slim-cut chinos, and a denim shirt that sits well on the shoulders and end just below your belt. If you're feeling adventurous, maybe try a plaid shirt with a pair of salmon-pink tailored shorts.

Then slowly add on other items: Maybe a white long-sleeved Henley and a fitted navy cardigan. If you've been working out, a V-necked tee can show off your efforts (just make sure it isn't cut too low; TMI...).

As for footwear, leave your performance sneakers for the gym or track. Instead, pick a pair of suede loafers or boat shoes. Alternatively, go old school with Converse high-tops or Adidas Originals.

For evenings, pick a casual light-weight unstructured jacket that you can wear with your khakis. Mix things up a little instead of your usual tie, with a bold bow tie, perhaps. For the budget conscious, Muji has a wide variety of options from work shirts to accessories to jeans. It even stocks a good selection of jackets as well as underwear and socks.

Just like Rome, a gentleman's wardrobe is not built in a single day. Style guru Glenn O'Brien suggests: "Go out this weekend and try on 20 kinds of jeans and see how they suit you. Next weekend, try a dozen types of khakis. Don't ask me to explain. Just do it."