What does Smart Casual mean to you?

[LadyVymes]

My DD (3) is receiving an award next week from her disability provider for her improvements in communication and I am stumped on what to wear. They say smart casual but to me that means smart jeans and a shirt. I tend to massively overdress as well so can anyone help me strike the right balance? I am 42 and size 16. I have a lot of Pinup Girl dresses but just don't know if they will be ok. I am very unsure of myself.

Smart casual is basically what you’d wear to most office jobs, day dresses or trousers and blouse... that sort of thing.

I think smart trousers or e.g. chinos and a nice shirt / blouse would be absolutely fine. or a nice day dress dress - DH I would say similar but a collared shirt not a T shirt - that is what smart casual says to me. Sometimes it means a Blazer or jacket but I agree with other posters - it is more - not shorts ripped jeans T shirt - just dress nicely for the occasion and for the weather.

So many congratulations to your daughter. Coincidentally a friend of mine ( works in the UK ) works with deaf children and she is from Australia but works with UK children.

Thank you for more clarification on what it means. I’m usually either loungewear/jeans or wedding fancy. Very little in between so it’s a head scratcher.

Not dressy but not scruffy either. Something casual that still looks smart.

It doesn't really matter what you wear as long as it isn't too formal or sportswear or loungewear. So something inbetween.

If you Google smart casual outfits for women, you'll get some ideas and pick what fits your personal style.

Go wedding fancy without the fascinator.

Maybe call the organisers and ask for clarification but I'm thinking it's much more smart than casual.
There was nothing casual about the Smart Casual do we went to and I spoke to someone else after it who also sad very little Casual about a Smart Casual do.

That's wonderful well done her ❤️ if you want to wear a dress then wear your dress

All it really means is don't turn up I a track suit. It honestly doesn't matter - just something which isn't casual and which you feel happy in. They are hardly going to turn you away at the door.

Congrats to your DD

Smart casual imo just means no sportswear, leggings, ripped jeans or trainers...jeans are fine if teamed with nice shoes, and a smart top.

Horribly frumpy and really difficult. I hate dress down days at work. I can do smart, I can do relaxed casual but smart casual is really hard.

Lately though I've gone with casual dresses and boots/flat sandals which is a bit better.

I think it often means, in practice, no jeans, no trainers but men don't need a suit and tie, women really dressed up.

You can wear jeans or anything, including dresses.

It's all about how you style the clothes and what they look like. You can dress jeans up or down.

I think smart casual means no jeans, or very dark non-faded jeans.

Smart casual to me is a top that hasnt got toothpaste or baby sick on it

For me it means not ripped jeans and not a suit but nearly anything in between. I’d probably wear one of my midi dresses.

@junglejane66

Smart casual to me is a top that hasnt got toothpaste or baby sick on it

I rarely have a top with no toothpaste on it.

My youngest always covers me in toothpaste.

Have you figure out yet what you are wearing?

For anyone particularly interested, I went with a black dress with nice detail in a slightly swing style. I felt quite comfortable and fit in ok with everyone else. Most everyone else were olde people who sponsored or have worked with the org for a very long time. Only the families of winners were my kind of age. Most importantly my dd had a lovely time and enjoyed all of the attention. This years winners are on the web page now. All of the young people have worked so hard and it was lovely to see them receive awards. www.novita.org.au/stories/2021-novita-achievement-award-winners/

I will possibly change my user name so not worried about possibly my SIL recognising me lol. No one else knows me and I’m not at all stressed about being recognised so please don’t worry about me or my dd as the service has all permission to use her image for publicity of the awards etc. (I have just woken from a nap and English is not a good post nap language).

Aww! I’m so glad your DD had a good time! And your dress looks great, OP.

Glad you had a good time, your dress looks perfect.

You all look lovely & DD looks very happy!

Congratulations oh her Achievement! It'll make such a huge difference to her life.

Thank you everyone. I was so stressed about what to wear and your info made it a lot easier for me.

Glad it helped. I remember feeling so underdressed and out of place when we got caught out by Smart Casual before.

I'm still trying to put into actual words what it means, dressy party wear but not formal business wear.

Gorgeous dress OP. I think you got it spot on.