About smart casual meaning no jeans?

[User543212345]

DH and I have been invited to the evening bash of a wedding tonight and the dress code is smart casual. I think this means he can't wear jeans and should wear trousers/shirt/jacket or suit/shirt but no tie. He thinks jeans/shirt/jacket are alright as he argues they're dark and therefore smart jeans.

Which one of us is being unreasonable?

[bigbluebus]

DH and I argue about the meaning of 'casual' all the time. He often goes to things for work where he dresses in jeans and I think he is taking 'casual' a bit too far (he's a chief exec).

I would be inclined to take the line that most of the day guests will still be wearing what they had on for the actual wedding which is likely to be very smart - although the men may have disgarded ties and jackets. On that basis I would 'make' my DH wear trousers and a shirt and he would put a blazer/jacket on if it was cold enough.

[limitedperiodonly]

I've worn jeans to a wedding reception, not the service, because they were lovely and went with my equally lovely top, shoes and bag. I know some other guests didn't agree but I didn't like their clothes either - the difference was I didn't make it obvious.

[diddl]

Is it formal or informal smart casual?

Jeans Ok for the latter but not the former.

[thebestfurchinchilla]

No jeans at a wedding. Need to blend with day guests. Fine at a normal party.

[green18]

Def not jeans at a wedding unless the whole thing is very casual and day guests are wearing denim. No need to wear a suit but def smart trousers with a shirt and maybe a blazer. Jeans can be worn any old time.

[JessieMcJessie]

I'd say dark jeans fine because you're not invited to the ceremony. Also if the wedding party are wearing boots with their kilts it sounds generally dressed down- not a morning suit type of occasion anyway (as you don't wear boots with the kilt equivalent of morning dress, you wear shiny shoes. )

[228agreenend]

Depends on the context. Smart casual for a barbecue, jeans are oKay. Smart casual for a wedding, jeans aren't suitable.

[ShootingStar75]

Smart/casual I always thought smart jeans were fine for it. Never heard of a dress code for a wedding, I wasn't fussed what anyone wore to mine, although I changed into jeans myself after the first dance (dress was sooo heavy!) so I'm probably not the best person to comment

[pearlylum]

It's the hosts who are being unreasonable.

Who issues a dress code for a wedding?

[MrsMook]

Dark jeans and shirt should be fine by that stage.

My friend attended a ceremony in jeans- he'd accidentally picked up his FiL's suit trousers which were significantly bigger in waist and length! We were 6 hours away from home in a very rural location, so no other options were avaliable. Fortunately it was quite an intimate low-key wedding so he got away with it.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es]

I agree Pearly.

[pearlylum]

It should be a privilege having friends and family attend your wedding.
Telling them what to wear is an outrage.
I'd be tempted to turn up in a giraffe costume.

[tibbawyrots]

pearly if I ever get married, you are definitely on the guest list!!

[pearlylum]

Ha ha , thanks tibba!

[GahBuggerit]

smart casual here = dark coloured jeans, shirt, not t shirt

dark jeans are fine for a non celeb / wanky wedding

[littlethingsthatbug]

Torn on this one! Wouldn't want him to feel odd one out to the ceremony and day guests who will probably be more formally dressed but I don't see a big issue with dark jeans i dont see how they are much diffrent to chinos apart from what they are made from the style and the look is not much diffrent. I wouldn't be bothered with dark jeans so long as they were plain if it was my wedding so long as people felt comfortable.

Partner had smart casual the other week at work he went in formal trousers (even though he found them extremely uncomfortable as he's put on weight) with a shirt and tie with shoes but not the jacket.

He got there and everyone else including the top boss was wearing dark plain jeans! With a shirt with no tie! He had taken his jeans to change into after the meeting but ended up changing before the meeting to match everyone else!

It's clear that smart casual is not that easy to judge!

[FishWithABicycle]

To me it would mean no blue jeans or ripped jeans but smart black jeans would be OK.

[bertsdinner]

To me, "smart casual" would include jeans and a non t shirt top.
My workplace has a "smart casual" dress code and jeans are not allowed, except on "dress down day".
We recently went to a Christening in Germany and the dress code was smart casual, no one wore jeans and I think I would have felt very out of place if I had.
The meaning of smart casual does seem to vary a lot.

[MauledbytheTigers]

Normally I'd think smart casual to include jeans, but not for a wedding. However for an evening do will be fine though I think.

I tend not to influence DPs dress wear since we went to an all day wedding reception (couple had had private ceremony during the week) and I'd told DP a suit would be appropriate... only for all other men to be in shirt and jeans including the groom. So what do I know.

[limitedperiodonly]

Chinos are an abomination.

[limitedperiodonly]

And worn with a blazer are a capital offence

[LikeDylanInTheMovies]

Chinos are an abomination.

This, a thousand times this. The only thing worse than a chino is a chino paired with formal black shoes or bright white trainers.

Middle aged American men are terrible for this. It is like casual shoes don't exist . I want to march them to a shoe shop and make them buy a pair of desert boots.

[FastWindow]

Whoever said upthread about issuing a dress code for a wedding is spot on.

You invite your guests. Not their wardrobe.

[228agreenend]

So what did DH wear, and did anyone turn up in jeans?

[londonrach]

Smart casual does include smart jeans (no rips, dark colour)