Oi. You. Yes, you. It’s time to let you in on a little secret.

Ready? You don’t need to wear a suit. Well, rarely, at least. Contrary to popular belief, you can turn yourself out smartly for most occasions without the hassle of trussing yourself up in tailoring.

It’s a knee jerk reaction: we hear the word ‘formal’ and instantly reach for the dinner jacket, but women don’t have to follow quite such strict codes and, in the 21st century, why should men?

Here, we’ll show you five fail-safe combos that make use of commanding colors, silhouette-enhancing knits and relaxed tailoring to prove you can look sharp without defaulting to a two-piece.

Roll Neck + Slim Trousers

Theories on the roll neck’s recent comeback abound. Like a Kanye West album, they were buzzed about for ages in the press – yet rarely spotted – and then, boom, suddenly they’re everywhere. Also like Kanye, everyone’s talking about them, falling into the for or against camps. But while a certain record about some guy called Pablo has faded from memory not long after launch, roll necks have quickly cemented their status as a modern menswear staple.

A fine-gauge version will create a much sleeker silhouette than a crew neck jumper, something that – despite the roll neck’s comparable comfort – says you made the effort.

Try one in black, navy, burgundy or charcoal, add a pair of slim wool trousers and finish with a pair of brogues and you’ve tapped into the unofficial men’s work uniform of 2016.

(Related: The FashionBeans guide to wearing the roll neck)

Charles Tyrwhitt AW15

Knitted Blazer + Shirt

As you might have guessed, high-quality knitwear is your ultimate wingman when it comes to dressing smart without suiting up. Chunky merino, cashmere or cotton shawl collar cardigans and knit blazers help give your body shape and definition that T-shirts can’t, but they’re just as easy to wear.