Aibu to ignore dress code at new job

[statetrooperstacey]

Start new job next week, large office, noticed at interview that everybody were VERY casually dressed , jeans etc , several men in baggy grey trackie bottoms. Official dress code has been sent to me and it says ‘ smart business casual , jeans and trainers are acceptable’
I don’t really do T-shirts jeans and trainers , more dresses tights and boots type outfits. Is this ok do you think? Will I look like a twat?!!!

Well neither! You're not really ignoring the dress code as your style counts as smart business casual more than grey joggers!

when I started my job last year, I was a bit worried: I either live in dog walking clothes or nice dresses with trainers / DMs. I stick with dresses for work and no one has batted an eyelid

Impossible to say without knowing anything about the office culture, only one way to find out

I'd read that and assume they're telling you to wear what you feel comfortable in.

If some of the staff wear jeans and T-shirts then presumably, they're not going to care what others are wearing?

Ignoring a dress code to dress scruffier - no way. Ignoring a dress code to dress smarter than absolutely necessary - of course. Will mark you out as stylish! I find dresses much more comfortable than jeans so I wear dresses to work when other wear jeans. It's fine.

(I don't mean outfits with jeans can't be stylish btw before I offend anyone! I just mean that you'd be seen stylish rather than "a twat"!!)

From what I could tell I’m a fair bit older than prob 70 % of the office staff, don’t want to draw any more attention to myself! It’s more ignoring the office culture I’m perhaps worried about. I mean I won’t be rocking up in pencil skirt shoulder padded power suits …..but a bit worried nonetheless !

As a rule dress up rather than down.

No one else is going to mind, and from how you describe it you aren’t going to stick out. Try it and you can adapt if you want.

Is that not because you were more dressed up than usual, though?

If you start somewhere new and stick to your own style nobody will bat an eyelid. If you dress smart 95% of the time then one day go in in joggers, everyone will start asking if you're ok.

A pencil skirt and smart top is not smart casual though; it’s smart.

OP it sounds fine what you want to wear.

I think dresses, tights and boots is fine. As you say, it’s hardly a power suit and stilettos.

If that’s your “normal” people will get used to it soon enough. It’s when you go in much smarter than usual as a one off that people ask questions, IME.

Personally I find jeans really uncomfortable so there is no way I could work in them for a whole day!

Just swap a jacket for a cardigan, smart shoes for trainers and no one will care about the dress/skirt.

Tracksuit bottoms at the office?

I could not take anyone in tracksuit bottoms seriously in the workplace unless I worked in a sports setting.

Our company is in tech so pretty casual as a rule but there is definitely a mix of styles - lots of jeans etc but some people do come in smarter - dressy trousers and blouse or sometimes shirts for some of the guys, and I've definitely seen girls in dresses. I honestly wouldn't worry too much.

It’s a generational thing. We had one young lad turn up for a job interview wearing a tracksuit. Our dress code is smart/casual unless you are a manager where it’s smart rather than casual.

It’s a generational thing.

No it's not.
I've seen people in their 50's turn up to professional interviews in their jeans and T-shirt and people in their late teens turn up to an interview at KFC in a full suit and tie.

I'm always the most dressed up at work and nobody cares
We are meant to be smart business but people push the boundaries a lot
I usually wear a dress or skirt/top with tights and quite conservative I guess

You'll be fine, I used to work in a similarly dressed company. While the men were generally jeans and t-shirts, the women tended to wear a much larger range of stuff, at varying levels of smartness. You won't look out of place at all.

I never dress "casual" unless I'm literally exercising.., casual to me is a dress with flat boots and a leather jacket..,

Sounds like you look fab op! I hate how scruffy some people look these days!

If it's a young workforce your clothing might be the least of your concerns regards fitting in. I must admit, the thing I miss most about factory work is the mix of men and women from school leavers to pensioners.
Of course they'll notice you're older but I don't think your dress will cause a stir. Tbh I'd say the majority of the staff are ignoring the dress code (unless grey sweat pants and T Shirt is now smart casual). I'd say dress down, and neutral if you want to blend into the background but nothing wrong with the odd quirky item if that's what you like.
I'd say if you see similar in Next that's probably smart casual

Sounds like you can wear what you want there @statetrooperstacey within reason.

I don't even own fugly stuff like that except maybe to sleep in. I charity shop but get dresses etc.

I think the dress code though underpins the ethos of the company. I interviewed a few years ago for a laser eye company in London. Very dressed down, receptionist had cut off denim shorts on.
Got the job and started, but it really wasn’t me, too informal and relaxed - for something that isn’t.

I'd turn up in clothes that met the communicated dress code on, certainly Day 1 and probably the first week or so, time to observe what the dress code really is rather than a) what was said and b) an interview when you see only a few people. Then adjust to suit.