Can I wear trainers for a 'smart/casual'/professional presentation?

[nnn99]

I have to give a presentation for my degree and we've been told to dress professionally. I will also start having placements in settings like schools and nurseries. It's a career change for me, I previously worked in an office in London and there was no such thing as office wear, we'd all wear trainers and jeans so there's nothing really suitable in my wardrobe.

I was thinking of wearing a smart black jumper with black jeans (they are a dark black rather than denim and look like black trousers), and my black and white Veja trainers (as I feel like they're quite a smart trainer?) Does that sound ok? I always struggle with footwear and basically live in my Nike Airforces and UGG boots in the winter.

There's no such thing as smart trainers, they are inherently casual. You need a pair of shoes or boots.

At my school, trainers are absolutely fine. Most staff wear them most of the time and, when they don't, it's their own choice rather than something that's dictated.

Personally, I think fully "smart" wear for a primary school is inappropriate dress for the job itself. You're constantly up and down, zooming around live marking, adapting to flexible and changing work spaces and tasks... it makes more sense to be in something comfortable.

Most secondary schools have very formal dress codes. You will probably get away with black jeans, but trainers will definitely be frowned upon.

The placements will be in primary schools and nurseries rather than secondary schools (it's not teaching but speech and language therapy), so there will be lots of sitting on the floor with under 5s trying to engage with them

I that case count your lucky stars, you are an “outsider” and you can wear what you want! 🙂

I wear trainers! I'm.a teacher! Noone cares. SMT wears them too.

I'd say the outfit you linked is casual rather than smart casual. Our office is pretty relaxed but generally no jeans, even smart ones and no trainers