[Closed] Office Smart Casual - What does it mean?

It means - go to Reiss and buy something.

Start with suit but no tie and then copy what you see after that

Generally a shirt and trousers with some smartish shoes. Varies a little office to office, but you won't go far wrong with that.

Not suit trousers, but not jeans either.
Shirt tucked in.

I'd say shirt, trousers and shoes, maybe a jumper. No T-shirts, jeans and trainers and not a suit or tie. You can always take a jacket and tie just in case they have a funny definition of casual

Start with suit

surely thats significantly higher up the chain than "smart casual"?

shoes, dark jeans (with a belt, obvs), smart shirt

surely thats significantly higher up the chain than “smart casual”?

I can look pretty scruffy in a suit, to be fair.

And you'll see I said only on the first day while you see what it really means

Chinos I reckon rather than suit trousers

Cords, cornflower blue shirt, tweed jacket and loafers. As is you were just about to catch a flight.

Some smart casuals, pictured yesterday...

But if it were me, I'd probably wear my nice Carharrt jeans and Chelsea boots with a flannel or denim shirt. Maybe a turtleneck jumper if you want to go full "new media".

Shirt with some sort of collar, trousers that aren't suit trousers, smart shoes or boots. You can wear the same 5 shirts and 1 pair of trousers for years and nobody will care.

Unless you are female, then quite literally whatever you want that sits in between wedding wear and night club wear, but everyone else will judge you on a daily basis

It's easier to start too dressy and row back, than to rock up in jeans and trainers and realise you've made a mistake.

With that brief, I'd go shirt, chinos, smart shoes and maybe a blazer / sports jacket which you can easily remove or swap for a jumper when you discover you're a bit overdressed.

P.S. I know you're joking but smart-casual doesn't mean scruffy.

Another vote for shirt, trousers, shoes. No denim, no trainers, no sports wear, no shorts.

Have you got a contact there you can ask if really concerned?

Start with suit but no tie and then copy what you see after that

is good advice. You can ditch the jacket straight away if no-one else is wearing one and always better to start too smart than too casual.

Smart Casual covers a massive range depending on the workplace but generally a shirt or polo shirt rather than a t shirt. No big logos or branding. Probably not trainers, though in some places it might be ok. Maybe not jeans.

But on the other hand, I wore jeans most of the time (with a smart shirt, and sometimes a jacket).

This look would pass in a lot of modern offices - jeans, jacket, crew neck jumper

With that brief, I’d go shirt, chinos, smart shoes and maybe a blazer / sports jacket which you can easily remove or swap for a jumper when you discover you’re a bit overdressed.

My office is supposed to be smart casual. You'd be laughed out of the place if you arrived looking like an 80s US tennis club member, as described. 😀

So, what does that actually mean?

Badly dressed.  Think Clarkson  🙂

Start with suit but no tie

depends, do you look like:
Daniel Craig's Bond
a footballer at a press conference
80s Miami detective
schoolboy who has lost his tie

when you do this?

First day, if you're unsure, I'd go with suit trousers, shirt, no tie. Then you can see what every one else is wearing and go from there.

80s Miami detective

Please do this.

Men - shirt, trousers, no tie.

Women - wear what you want, no different to a night out or a day at the beach.

(or is that just my experience....?)

But if it were me, I’d probably wear my nice Carharrt jeans and Chelsea boots with a flannel or denim shirt. Maybe a turtleneck jumper if you want to go full “new media”.

This highlights the tensions here well. My office dresscode is nominally smart casual but that would be seen as full casual and probably send the wrong signals.

Several posters have commented there is more flexibility for female colleagues, so just wear a dress?

So, what does that actually mean?

Don't have to wear a suit, but not jeans and a tee. Mostly I think @matt_outandabout pretty much covers it. Chinos, oxford shirt, jumper as required, shoes that don't need a polish to be acceptable (suede for instance) .

But if it were me, I’d probably wear my nice Carharrt jeans

Urgh!

with a flannel or denim shirt. 

Double Urgh!

Jeans with a denim shirt 😅

I'm so glad our office doesn't have this nonsense. Some years ago a new employee turned up in a full suit on his first day, but it was mid-summer so everyone else was in tee/shorts/trainers or sandals.

In our latest "Ask Me Anything" with the department's senior management was on Zoom and our director was wearing a corporate issue polo shirt with red checked PJ trousers. Cracking combo for home working!

You’d be laughed out of the place if you arrived looking like an 80s US tennis club member

Or just go big and complete the look with a visor and racket? Fabulous.

I just meant wear a non-matching jacket I.e. not a suit jacket.

Ah yes, I am currently sat in an office that uses those exact words (you're not joining an insurance firm are you?!).

Start with suit but no tie and then copy what you see after that

.
This is sound advise, first day or 2 a suit and no tie will be over dressed but will not look out of place whilst you work out the lie of the land.

The default in our office is smart, leather shoes, chino's (not suit trousers) and a shirt. Some smart knitwear on top is fine in the colder months. Very few wear jackets. We'd not get away with polo shirts or any kind of trainers.

But if it were me, I’d probably wear my nice Carharrt jeans and Chelsea boots with a flannel or denim shirt. Maybe a turtleneck jumper if you want to go full “new media”.

I'd get away with this on dress down Friday (that a whole other can of worms...) but this is not smart enough for normal week wear.

What fasthaggis posted is pretty much what I wear in the summer.

In an engineering consultancy I can still be the smartest person in the room. 😂

We have a smart casual office, which is basically collared shirts, or company polo's, chino's & suede or similar shoes. Jumpers/fleeces are all fine. The only people who turn up in suits at our place are auditors & people who didn't check for interviews.

Friday is a total free for all.

Big German corporate machine, for reference.

Forgot to say congratulations on the new job, by the way

Definitely red trousers

In my old work some kids turned up in joggie bottoms and tops and tried to argue that as the trousers and top matched they were in a suit and therefore complying with the company dress code. This didn't go well for them although the dress code was changed to make it explicit that sportswear was not acceptable.

navy shirt, black jeans, distressed brown DM 8 eyelet

If I was their employer I'd be earmarking them for management. Initiative, attention to detail, and the strength to act on their convictions.

hmm probably leave the Trackie bottoms at home 🙂

With that brief, I’d go

With that brief I'd ask for clarification. "Smart casual" is absolutely meaningless. It could be a tieless suit, or a pair of jeans without holes in.

Have you been watching Succession?

Go for the full son-of-a-media-mogul look by accessorising. Simply replace the tie with a baseball cap and a pair of Air Jordan’s…

I can't put into words how many of them i want to stab.... Tom though, i want to stab him the most...

No.... Roman.... errrrm no... Tom.... ummmmmm

Shirt with a collar, shoes not trainers, dark jeans or trousers with nice belt, jacket optional.

I can’t put into words how many of them i want to stab

It’s the eternal dilemma, isn’t it?

I swing between hating Roman then actually finding his malevolence quite amusing

Tom, on the other hand…

Smat Casual - Think of an Architect or a History Teacher and go for something a bit smarter than that.

My office is smart casual. Generally, this is shirt/smart polo, smart trousers and smart shoes, but you can get away with smart jeans, shirt and shoes with a nice belt. Currently sat typing this in Rapha Jeans and belt (natch), shirt and blue suede shoes.

i've just had to redo my wardrobe for the first time in many a year, as im either suit, or hoodies - nto a lot in between.

So, there was a discussion in the office, and we agreed -

Collar (not a lumber jack shir either)
Chino type trousers (not moleskins you weirdo or jeans)
Shoes / chelsea boot type thing, at a push those relaly smart loafer type things
maybe a jumper if it's cold (not with darth vadar you child)

I had a very important meeting last week abroad, and we all agreed smart casual as we didnt want to appear usual stuffy brits, so all the senior team decided a last minute shopping trip was needed - cue M&S..

Plus fpurs to show of those shapely calves, go flouncy silk on the top half. Knock em dead

With that brief I’d ask for clarification. “Smart casual” is absolutely meaningless. It could be a tieless suit, or a pair of jeans without holes in.

"Oh sorry, you don't know how to dress? Don't bother about that starting date, ummmm, we've reconsidered. Sotto voce Bob, We'd better contact that other candidate"

But if it were me, I’d probably wear my nice Carharrt jeans and Chelsea boots with a flannel or denim shirt.

Jeans and a denim shirt? Are you a member of B*Witched?

Smart casual is a cop out as a dress code. Casual to me is bothering to actually dress. Could be anything from shorts and t-shirt to jeans and shirt. Smart is a level of dress I don’t have much experience with. I’d just go for jumper or shirt with trousers and boots or shoes. Polo shirts are the devil and don’t belong on any self respecting persons torso.

“Oh sorry, you don’t know how to dress? Don’t bother about that starting date, ummmm, we’ve reconsidered. Sotto voce Bob, We’d better contact that other candidate”

That being the case I'd consider it a lucky escape.

Oh dear oh dear - we at this again?

some basic rules:
never wear a  collared / dress shirt without a tie.  Its just wrong.  Never wear a suit without a tie unless its a linen suit and you have a black t shirt on ( the miami vice look).  Your other alternative is the turtle neck under the suit.  Never wear jeans over 25 yr old.  If you are younger then 501s red label are the only acceptable

Office smart casual is a trap - run away!  No such thing exists

Office casual would be dress trousers or chinos at a pinch.  Black shoes well polished( brown are for the country)  Polo shirt or plain single colour t shirt.  Band t shirts are banned once you finish education

. Plain nice jumper in winter - no patterns or logos.  Bright colours acceptable

Some basic rules:
never wear a collared / dress shirt without a tie. Its just wrong. Never wear a suit without a tie unless its a linen suit and you have a black t shirt on ( the miami vice look). Your other alternative is the turtle neck under the suit. Never wear jeans over 25 yr old. If you are younger then 501s red label are the only acceptable

Okay Boomer.

Office casual has NEVER been dress trousers and a t-shirt.

At least I can get dressed by myself snowflake millennial 🙂

Yes, thread complete! TJ has posted with my granddads sartorial advice. 😀

some basic rules:
never wear a collared / dress shirt without a tie. Its just wrong. Never wear a suit without a tie unless its a linen suit and you have a black t shirt on ( the miami vice look). Your other alternative is the turtle neck under the suit. Never wear jeans over 25 yr old. If you are younger then 501s red label are the only acceptable

Office smart casual is a trap – run away! No such thing exists

Office casual would be

dress trousers or chinos at a pinch. Black shoes well polished( brown are for the country) Polo shirt or plain single colour t shirt. Band t shirts are banned once you finish education

. Plain nice jumper in winter – no patterns or logos. Bright colours acceptable

I refer the right honourable gentleman to the answer I gave before 🙂

Oh - and tuck yer ruddy shirt in FFS!  You will catch your death of cold like that.

Smat Casual – Think of an Architect or a History Teacher and go for something a bit smarter than that.

That's a bit harsh....
Admittedly tomorrow I'm thinking of corduroy farm pants, a white t-shirt, and a Breton jumper.
I did wear a black shirt, battle dress waistcoat and a moleskin jacket today...
🤔

I cant figure out if TJ is satire or sartorial advice.

Ask for a description of what they deem as smart casual as its fairly broad.

HR may have a list of what is and isnt acceptable, i know the company i work for does.

We have a smart casual dress code, which at the sruffiest end is trainers, jeans (No ripped jeans), t-shirt (no big logos).

Mostly people wear smartish jeans or trousers, with shoes/boots, and either a t-shirt or shirt with a jumper in the winter. Lots of hoodies around the office aswell.

Think its a good shout for smart trousers, shirt and jacket and see when you get there. Better to be the smartest person in the room rather than the poorest dressed.

I cant figure out if TJ is satire or sartorial advice

Some basic rules? I've just got one - don't read his posts 😆

I went for a job interview at somewhere you may have heard of: Wiggle
I wore my best, 'I'm a bit edgy' tonic Ben Sherman suit, you know, sports company, bit trendy.. was interviewed by guys in shorts and t-shirts, one actually a (ahem) Star Trek t-shirt.
Thankfully I didn't get (or need) the job. Hate nerds. 😛

I cant figure out if TJ is satire or sartorial advice.

a bit from column a and a bit from column B

Men of the demographic on here are almost universally poorly dressed

Never wear a suit without a tie unless its a linen suit and you have a black t shirt on ( the miami vice look). Your other alternative is the turtle neck under the suit. Never wear jeans over 25 yr old. If you are younger then 501s red label are the only acceptable

I'm trying to work out which old book this was copied and pasted from. The stuff about the jeans suggests maybe 1970s, but then it references Miami Vice which didn't start until 1984...

Anyway, if that's how TJ looks on Dress Down Fridays, I'm going to start angling for an invite to his Xmas party....

blue suede shoes

You are Elvis Presley and I claim my £5.

As a millennial I don’t find smart casual too difficult. In the office, or meeting those in the medical device sector.

Spoke “sharps” chinos on the bottom, jeans on DDFriday. Brown leather shoes or boots almost everyday.

Ironed shirt up top (Lewin extra slim fit to show off my cyclists figure) v-neck plain coloured jumper over the top in winter. Fridays are plain t-shirts, maybe a more casual shirt (lumberjack- is that code for casual check??).

Meetings/ trade shows get a jacket rather than jumper. Mostly blazer type linen in summer, light tweed type (no leather patches!) in winter.

I'm wearing brown cords - #edgy

jeans on DDFriday

Questions I've been too afraid to ask for some time. I don't work in a corporate office, but:

Is dress down Friday ubiquitous in all offices across the land, or does it require a batsignal from the higher-ups?
Is it expected?
Do people look forward to it (I think I'd worry more about having to choose clothes rather than pick whatever's clean from my work wardrobe)?
What happens if you forget to dress down on a Friday?
Do people actually use 'DDFriday'?

Men of the demographic on here are almost universally poorly dressed

Oi, I resemble that comment.

Chinos and a polo probably. Can't go wrong with a jumper too. Whatever trainers Kanye is selling.

Ripped direct off our Intranet

Acceptable: Business Suits, Tailored trousers and jackets, Shirts with a collar, smart separates, tops / blouses, smart religious dress

Unacceptable:
Combat style trousers, leggings, shorts, denim skirts or jeans, very short skirts, sweatshirts, tee shirts or shirts without collars,
Cropped, off the shoulder, see through or exceptionally low tops or tops with shoe string straps
Sportswear
Flip flops, trainers of any kind, heavy duty outdoor boots.

never wear a collared / dress shirt without a tie. Its just wrong. Never wear a suit without a tie unless its a linen suit and you have a black t shirt on ( the miami vice look). Your other alternative is the turtle neck under the suit. Never wear jeans over 25 yr old. If you are younger then 501s red label are the only acceptable

Did you fall asleep in 1970 and wake up now?

My office is smart casual and varies from a suit without the tie if seeing customers to smart jeans and a smart shirt tucked in if not seeing customers. Friday is a free for all so generally t-shirts and jeans.

Ask for a description of what they deem as smart casual as its fairly broad.

I think that's actually the point. The clue is in the name really. I didn't think this would be such a hard question for some folks though.

Questions I’ve been too afraid to ask for some time. I don’t work in a corporate office, but:

Is dress down Friday ubiquitous in all offices across the land, or does it require a batsignal from the higher-ups?
Is it expected?
Do people look forward to it (I think I’d worry more about having to choose clothes rather than pick whatever’s clean from my work wardrobe)?
What happens if you forget to dress down on a Friday?
Do people actually use ‘DDFriday’?

You may be overthinking it, it's not really a big deal. When I am in the office I swap smart trousers for jeans and less formal shoes. It coincides with the canteen doing lot of fried stuff for breakfast and people a bit more relaxed as we don't tend to have customers visiting on a Friday. Nobody would bat an eyelid if you didn't dress down, I guess they would just assume you have a customer coming in.

"Stockholm business": Shoes of some sort, smart, dark jeans, shirt (no tie) and a jacket (of some sort). Wore that (salmon pink shirt, tweed jacket) to a podcast launch in the posh part of town and was right in the sweet spot between over-dressed and "new media".

A alternative would be to ditch the jacket and go for a smart jumper instead. If it is an American company, you could get away with tan chinos, light blue Oxford shirt and shoes (no tie)

As a millennial I don’t find smart casual too difficult. In the office, or meeting those in the medical device sector.

Spoke “sharps” chinos on the bottom, jeans on DDFriday. Brown leather shoes or boots almost everyday.

Ironed shirt up top (Lewin extra slim fit to show off my cyclists figure) v-neck plain coloured jumper over the top in winter. Fridays are plain t-shirts, maybe a more casual shirt (lumberjack- is that code for casual check??).

Meetings/ trade shows get a jacket rather than jumper. Mostly blazer type linen in summer, light tweed type (no leather patches!) in winter.

This is about as good a description as I've read here.

“Stockholm business”: Shoes of some sort, smart, dark jeans, shirt (no tie) and a jacket (of some sort). Wore that (salmon pink shirt, tweed jacket) to a podcast launch in the posh part of town and was right in the sweet spot between over-dressed and “new media”.

A alternative would be to ditch the jacket and go for a smart jumper instead. If it is an American company, you could get away with tan chinos, light blue Oxford shirt and shoes (no tie)

This is also bang on.

Ignore TJ, he's exceedingly knowledgeable about many things, but office dress is not one of them.

Jeans with a denim shirt 😅

And I've had several compliments on it.

I think what's emerged here is that it depends on business sector - so insurance, banking, etc. go with the more conservative advice - but digital, creative etc. my word is gospel.

Is dress down Friday ubiquitous in all offices across the land, or does it require a batsignal from the higher-ups?

We used to have DDF, where Mon-Thurs 'dress-up' was pants and a branded polo shirt. After we moved offices a couple of years ago we just sacked the entire notion off, people wear whatever they want.

Because ultimately, WGAF? Unless you're customer-facing - spoiler, most offices aren't - then wearing a bespoke suit / jeans and tee-shirt / Spider-Man outfit doesn't affect your ability to answer the phone or file accounts.

I used to work in a place that insisted everyone wore smart all the time. The only reason was _in case_ a customer visited and wanted to walk around the Tech department. I mean, FFS. I think that was the last time I wore a suit to work. I even gave up on chinos after my first summer in Stockholm because, even though I was at a bank, literally no one gave a shit what people in Tech wore.

I worked in a place that had a "dress for your day" policy. IE if you were meeting customers on site or going to their offices, then dress appropriately, if not then wear what you want. Seemed to work quite well.

For us it can range from a pair of chinos, brown leather boots or shoes and a shirt up to dress trousers, Oxford shoes and a blazer or sports jacket. Never a tie, it never gets that formal here even meeting clients. We're a chartered surveying practice.

Some days we will just wear a t shirt and smart jeans such as Levis.

I've also never known anyone care enough to question someone's clothing choice unless perhaps they tried to go to a client meeting with a t shirt on.