Answers to your smart casual questions, how to build a backyard office, the oldest living organism, and more…

Cooler weather is on the horizon, even if Austin hasn't gotten the memo yet. And each year, as we shift from summer to fall and from the outdoors to the office, we get asked the same question: What does smart casual even mean? To us, smart casual means slightly more elevated than a T-shirt and jeans, but not quite as formal as a suit and tie. But that still leaves a lot of gray area. So we passed the question along to two people who think about this for a living: Nick, our design director, and Mike, one of the designers behind Flint and Tinder, Proof, and Wills. They answer this question, and countless others, in our newest episode of Ask Huckberry. And Gear Lab mainstay Ben O'Meara is there to moderate, of course.

According to Nick, everyone needs an Oxford. And that’s true, but when you start layering, the Oxford’s thick basket-weave and heavier weight can make it hard to tuck under lightweight sweaters or one of our heritage-inspired blazers. So he suggests poplin instead. Our Poplin Draftsman Shirt is a lighter-weight, all-cotton version of Flint and Tinder’s flagship Oxford shirt. It boasts the same buttondown collar but it breathes easier—perfect if you’re layering or somewhere hot and letting it stand on its own.

When was the last time you spent the day in a pair of dress shoes and didn’t think to yourself, “Damn, my feet hurt.” Switching into a well-built pair of boots from LUCA won’t have you itching to get out of ‘em at the day’s end. The new Moc Toe Chukka Lug Sole Boot is handcrafted by artisans in Portugal using suede from one of Europe's top tanneries and a custom Lactae Hevea natural rubber outsole that’s mixed with wood shavings. The process adds visual interest, but also makes the flexible outsole more durable. As such, these chukkas are comfortable and quick to break in yet super long-lasting.

The obvious answer is “yes,” but some offices respond differently to denim than they do steam-pressed chinos or dress pants. But black denim is more office-friendly than you might think. So our designers say sub in our Stretch Selvedge Denim in the Black Rinsed wash, and you’ll be good to go. They look and feel like jeans but are a little bit dressier, which makes it easy to wear them with a Poplin buttondown or a T-shirt underneath a blazer.

Clothes shape how people think and act—and, according to a 2012 study, perform. The theory’s called “enclothed cognition,” and while the study put participants in lab coats, it made enough of a case, in our minds at least, to wear a blazer to work. Around here, Relwen’s Flyweight Flex Blazer is a popular pick. It’s an unstructured, wrinkle-resistant option built with the perfect amount of stretch and a full set of fully-functional pockets—including a game pocket on the back as a nod to the style’s sporting roots.

Let’s be clear: Smart casual doesn’t mean painfully serious. You can still have a little fun. And as Ben put it, “All that matters is if you like it.” So why not wear a Western belt? New York-based brand Knickerbocker makes a slim, hand-finished bridle leather one that’s just down the middle enough to feel at home in even the most monotonous offices. Its edges aren’t too jagged, and at first glance, it doesn’t scream “cowboy”—but it’s enough to show off a bit of your personal style.

Cut from a blend of superfine merino wool and soft cotton with a subtle roll neck and ribbed cuffs, our new Wills Lightweight Cotton-Merino Crewneck Sweater is one of the lightest (and most refined) knits we’ve ever made. It’s the perfect upgrade to any smart casual setup. “It’s a classic sweater that can easily be worn dressed up,” Ben says. And Mike agrees: “Wear it with our selvedge denim or our chinos and a pair of loafers, and you’ve got yourself a look.”

Diversions:

See You Out There

Scenes from The Land of Enchantment. Stay tuned for more.
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