Business casual is always evolving, and because of that, it is not uncommon for a man to respond to an event invite asking for a definition of what attire is required. For years jeans were taboo, but as denim has evolved to be accepted in professional settings so has the confusion on what kind of jeans are appropriate. So yes you can wear jeans... so long as it's the right pair of jeans.
Now let's start where most guys get it wrong, with the jeans. If you are going to attempt to dress up jeans you need to start with a pair of nice jeans. The pair you picked up at the local warehouse store last summer while shopping for the 48-count of hamburger patties is not going to work. Business Casual and Smart Causal are a no dad-jeans zone. Just for clarity, the dividing line between Business and Smart Casual is generally a tie.
White denim jeans paired with a camel blazer or dark denim and tweed sportscoat are both great combinations that can be made to work for a classy/casual vibe. The key is finding colors and textures that work together, this means you are likely not going to be able to just grab any old suit jacket to which the matching pants no longer fit and throwing on the jeans you wear on the weekend.
The jeans themselves should be a more fitted leg, they don't need to be skinny jeans, but what is key is the break. The correct pant break is a much-debated topic, the break is where the bottom of your pantleg rests in relation to your ankle. While it is often a personal style choice, to dress up denim it is best to not go with a full break where you have fabric pooling at your ankle. I personally prefer a slight break, where the pant leg ends just at the top of the shoe, give you a tailored look. This can be hard depending on your inseam since most jeans are not to be hemmed. So try different brands and fits until you find a pair that works for your body type and personal style.
Now there is one other way that denim is widely accepted as business attire and that will usually depend on where you live. In places like my new home state of Texas, boot cut jeans, a pair of Lucchese boots, and suede western style blazer are common. But that look might not work for you in San Francisco or New York.
You don't have to go to a bespoke denim shop like 3X1 and drop $1,200 on custom tailored selvedge denim jeans, most mainstream brands will have something that will work for you. The Levi's 511 sells for around $100, while large retailers like Target offers Goodfellow & Co jeans for around $30. Yes, there is a difference, the better quality jeans do last longer and can be worn for years, but if you want to experiment with some new looks and fit jump in at the lower price point and see what suits you. I mostly wear Bullet Blues Jeans, a small USA brand that is cut and sewn in Los Angeles.
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