6 Effortless Outfits That Make You Look Put Together

If your approach to getting dressed has typically been a bit black and white (i.e., there are polished looks and casual looks, and never the twain shall meet), we'd like to formally welcome you into the much more exciting gray area. As you've likely noticed, we're living in a time where celebs style their track pants with heels—a time where the best-dressed women at any party are almost always the ones rocking sneakers beneath their formal dresses. We'll admit that this way of dressing can be a bit intimidating at first, though, so we asked Viktoria Dahlberg and Jourdan Sloane, two pros at the polished-meets-casual vibe, to show us how it's done. They're sharing all of their styling tips, along with six must-copy outfits from Theory (available at Bloomingdale's) that make it all so easy to pull off.

Viktoria Dahlberg

"Comfortable clothes that look amazing are my staple," Dahlberg tells us, which pretty much sums up the entire idea behind looking casual yet put together. It's as simple as wearing tailored pieces in soft fabrics, like these cropped linen trousers and this breezy tank. Some may call it cheating; we call it genius.

Not really in the mood to piece together two separate garments? Not a problem. We're out here singing praises for Dahlberg's easy dress-and-booties combo. It's the ultimate outfit for fooling people into thinking you meant to dress up.

Although Dahlberg says her style has remained steady for years, we agree with her—classic is never boring. See the proof here in her sleek black jumpsuit and white leather sneakers (both closet staples in their own right). When paired together, though, they offer that super-chic vibe we've come to expect from this NYC girl.

Jourdan Sloane

Sloane's version of "polished casual" involves striking that perfect balance between conservative and edgy. Here she tones down her white over-the-knee boots with a T-shirt–style shift dress. We're also really into the way her on-trend chain belt cinches in just the right way, providing extra shape and movement.

For those truly off-duty days, no one ever said you had to look sloppy. Keep things casual à la Sloane with a tied-up tee, slouchy pants, and sneakers so comfortable you won't regret running errands on the complete opposite side of town. End up needing to head straight off to dinner? Just throw on a sweater and you'll be good to go.

The best piece of advice Sloan has ever received? "Never dress for an occasion, trend, or person," she tells us. Now that we've pinned this quote to our Pinterest boards, we'll be re-creating the look for ourselves. Key styling advice: "The sporty track pants paired with the more feminine maxi cardigan creates a nice balance," she notes.