Smart casual

[NoCluse]

Can anyone help me crack this style please?
What are acceptable combos?

Challenge: I hate overly structured clothing and heels higher than 2.5". I love natural fabrics, comfort but also style. I am a size 14 pear.

I am hoping to look neat, professional but approachable. I normally shop at Joules and white stuff with a bit of Jigsaw sales thrown into it. But I feel frumpy and am not smart at combining and pulling my outfits off.

I work for a charity and have recently been promoted. My normal skinny denim / ballerina /sweater jumper will no longer do. I will be based in an office with some client facing activities. It's not in sales more a client support role.

[AnaViaSalamanca]

What about dresses? Fit and flare dresses with block heel shoes?

[ihavetogoshoppingnow]

I try and do one half smart one more casual? So smart work trousers or pencil skirts paired with a t shirt/jumper or a blouse and an oversized cardigan with some chunky heels. Or jeans/more casual skirt with a smarter shirt and smarter shoes.

[NoCluse]

Yes to dresses, however I always struggle to find the right kind of shoes to wear with them.

What do you think about these ankle boots?
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Elvina-Dawn/p/26130843
either colour?

Smart trousers is a bit of a challenge. I have two pairs of smart tight fitting navy blue trousers. Wide leg ones make my bottom part look overly heavy They are skinny really but the fabric is lovely and thick Can I wear them with shirts and blouses that are not tucked in? Or is having your shirt or blouses hanging over hiding your bottom too casual?

[NoCluse]

Hopeful bump for the evening S&B crowd

[Bananajam]

Those boots are gorgeous, I'd wear them for work (NHS secretary) with a dress - I wear that look a lot. I'm a size 12/14.

[NoCluse]

What colour would you for Bananajam?

[ToftheB]

I like those boots - both colours are nice, but I think the taupe would go better with black trousers/tights.

[CountFosco]

Boots are lovely, I'd buy both colours (if I didn't already have several pairs of ankle boots already) but realistically it would depend what colours you typically wear.

I'd upgrade your denim skinnies to ankle skimming trousers (Boden Richmonds or Gap bi-stretch are regularly recommended on here). Then see which of your Joules/White stuff tops look good and get rid of those that look faded or have twee patterns (or more realistically relegate to the weekend). Buy some thin knit jumpers (UNIQLO merino is good but comes up small). You just need a few tweaks really, I'm guessing you don't want to look too corporate.

[NoCluse]

The Boden Richmonds look nice but I suspect I am too wide of hip for them. I will take a lookt at Boden workwear though, haven't bought anything from Boden since pregnant with dc1.

What's the sizing of the Gap bi-stretch ones like?


www.fatface.com/footwear/womens-footwear/lytham-leather-ankle-boots/929838.html?dwvar_929838_color=tan&cgid=footwear-women Are these too casual?

[MikeUniformMike]

The clark's boots are much nicer than the fatface boots.

[NC4now]

The Clarks boots are lovely. I tend to wear a fair bit of black when I’m doing smart casual for work.
I go for dresses and cardigans, soft-ish pencil skirts and jumpers, skinny black jeans and blouses, that kind of thing.

[NC4now]

Oh, and pinafores!

[Bananajam]

I'd go for the tan colour but I do struggle sometimes to wear black trousers/jeans with tan boots, navy works well though. I have dark navy tights to wear with dresses as they're less harsh I feel than black too.

[flugelhorn3]

Uniqlo merino wool jumpers in neutral colours - you can wear them as a top with a pencil skirt or chinos (even black jeans) and smart, good quality shoes or boots. I always feel put together with mine on. I think the trick is nothing too fussy and eveything good quality and in good condition.

[flugelhorn3]

H&M used to do good chinos. They don't look like much off but they look good on.

[Bananajam]

I'd go for brogues or ballerina flats with ankle length trousers! Definitely the Clarks boots over the Fat Face ones.

[NoCluse]

Bananajam I like Brogues and own a pair of black ones from Clarks, so comfy. Would you ever wear brogues with dresses?

The navy Clarks ankle boots linked to adobe, what sort of colours and garments would you combine them with?

I'll look at Uniqlo but never got lucky there.


Thank you, all your posts are useful feedback.

[MikeUniformMike]

Brogues are fine with dresses but need opaque tights.
I wouldn't get navy boots unless you wear a lot of navy.

[Judydreamsofhorses]

This is probably not one help, but I’m a lecturer and possibly on the casual side of smart/casual, which I get away with as I teach a creative subject. Typical work outfits for me in autumn/winter rotate around variations of:

Fitted crew-neck jumper, short-ish a-line skirt, flat Chelsea boots (always with 100 denier opaque tights)

As above, but skinny-rib polo-neck

Wide leg, cropped trousers, slightly cropped fitted jumper (sitting on the waist band, otherwise a longer top makes a triangle shape!), brogues or black Stan Smiths. I wear crocheted or fishnet tights underneath at this time of year to avoid the ankle gap.

Black skinny jeans, blouse, possibly crew-neck jumper over blouse depending on temperature, flat Chelsea boots again, or flat biker boots

Black skinny jeans may be okay depending on what you wear with them? I think a smart blouse can elevate them if the rest of you is also nicely put together - eg, I always wear red lipstick, shoes polished, and everything ironed, which I know is a big no on MN! Also, re Uniqlo, try men’s jumpers in a smaller size - men’s small is about a 10/12.

[NoCluse]

Judydreamsofhorses your style sounds lovely, casual and smart. I agree that looking groomed with good hair, tidy finger nails ( I never colour mine ) and light make up can bring it all together.

And definitely smartish shoes. I have been living in my Converse and need to get used to the idea of smart 'gown up' shoes.

I do love my Clarks Brouges though, how about these

Patent www.clarks.co.uk/c/Hamble-Oak/p/20350649

Blue www.clarks.co.uk/c/Netley-Rose/p/26130937



www.houseoffraser.co.uk/shoes-and-boots/barbour-sarah-low-double-buckle-ankle-boots/d819046.pd?ef_id=WYQliAAABeThwDav:20180122172035:s#269921964&_$ja=tsid:96381%7Ccid:954947258%7Cagid:46879617549%7Ctid:pla-371900537922%7Ccrid:226760809170%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:13876682465131538150%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:1o5%7Cmt:

Are the Barbour ones too casual?

[NoCluse]

and
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Taylor-Shine/p/26132917 maybe.

[Bananajam]

I have a couple of the drop waist dresses from Next, cdn.next.co.uk/common/Items/Default/Default/Publications/XO2/shotview-315x472/9012/165-689s.jpg like this one. I hope that works!
They do have a similar one in the new catalogue but size down as they come up big. Fits the smart/casual dress code we have.

[Bananajam]

Yes, definitely brogues with dresses and skirts, I have a skirt from White Stuff, just above knee length, very slightly a line that works well too but boots get worn more in the winter because I have a good 10 minute walk in. They just seem slightly warmer!

[FlyingSoloFlyingFree]

Watching with interest. Judy another one who thinks your style sounds fab :)

[Lotsofsausage]

I’m a 14 pear too. I wear uniqlo easy care ankle trousers in black and navy (nice high elasticated waist) With a stripy top or a shirt (H&M divided have some nice natural ones and Oliver bonas geometric print
Shirts if you can afford them) with a smart cardi. I also wear uniqlo fine merino wool - cheap as chips. I also have some high waisted wide cropped trousers I got from H&M recently which look great with a smart fine knit jumper tucked in. On my feet I wear Clark’s hamble oak or Clark’s Chelsea boots with smart skinny jeans and a shirt.
Monki are cheap and also do smart high waisted trousers and shirts. Most importantly for me is to look well groomed - look after skin, hair and nails - nude polish and seche vite top coat lasts ages. Have fun!