Be smart when you are casual; retail therapy/fashion Laura Davis guides us through the minefield between relaxed style and downright sloppy.

Byline: Laura Davis

LET'S hear a cheer for men who never let sportswear near their persons except when sweating it out in the gym or running around the park.

These clothing-conscious chaps prove that it is perfectly possible for a man to dress casually without a shell suit to be seen within 100 paces.

To be fair, it's much easier for women to relax their look without turning into a PE teacher, but with all the recent additions to Liverpool's menswear offerings there's no excuse for sloppiness.

Hot pants are also a definite no go area - extra short tight shorts went out with Bjorn Borg - so go for a knee-length pair or some cropped trousers paired with sandals (and no socks ).

A short-sleeved shirt with a pair of jeans or nicely cut casual trousers is a simple way of looking cool in the summer months.

Wear a light-coloured jacket over the top if you're heading out to a bar and don't forget your sunglasses.

notes

Moder: Dan Phillips, of Absolute Models (0151 707 0505 or www. absolutemodelmanagement.co.uk)

Photographer: Eddie Barford

CAPTION(S):

Black 'rock' T-shirt pounds 20 from French Connection (020 7036 7200)' Green pique poloshirt, pounds 21.99 for a pack of two, from Next (0845 600 7000)' Chalk DKNY jacket, pounds 245, Ongaem stripe knit polo, pounds 90, Flemings supatuf jeans, pounds 65, Hudson Inca text Samoa shoes, pounds 59' Red Herring khaki shoulder bag, pounds 15, from Debenhams (08445 61 61 61)' Dior Gold Aviator sunglasses, pounds 185, from John Lewis (0845 6049 049)' Floral shirt, pounds 22, from Bur ton (www. burton.co.uk)' Combat shorts, pounds 14, by Alpha Industries (0208 782 5900)' Blue Harbour Hawaiian Girl flip flops, pounds 5, from Marks and Spencer (0845 302 1234)