Office to Out: The Men's Day-to-Night Style Guide

A man can go from the office to dinner by wearing a tailored blazer, a good shirt, well-cut trousers and one swap at the end of the day. The blazers, shirts, trousers and bags here are chosen for a long day, with a clean look at nine and an easy swap by dinner. The idea is one outfit that does two jobs.

Blazers from Etro, Ted Baker and Vince are cut for both work and evening. Soft shoulders and a slightly shorter length make them easier to wear with a polo or a knit. Choose a mid-grey or navy.

Dress shirts and polo knits from Ted Baker, Rails and Frame are the layer that changes with the clock. Button a shirt to the collar for the day, then open it or swap to a polo knit at night. Keep the colors quiet.

Trousers from Vince, A.P.C. and Helmut Lang should stretch a little, hold a crease and look fresh at nine at night. Wool blends do this best. A dark tone hides a day of wear.

The day-to-night idea fails when the outfit is too formal for dinner or too casual for the meeting. We would not wear a tie to a bar.

A good day-to-night wardrobe depends on logistics as much as clothes. Keep a clean shirt, a better pair of shoes or a pocket square in your bag or desk, and let the swap take two minutes. The man who is ready at six o'clock looks better than the one who planned all week.

If you take one thing away: carry the evening swap with you, whether that is a pocket square, a different shoe or a lighter jacket.