AIBU to ask what would you class as smart casual please?

[Oldbird69]

Son is starting teacher training on Monday. It's an inset day, so there won't be any children in. He's been told to go smart casual, what does that include do you think?

https://letmegooglethat.com/

I expect the training provider has suggested smart casual. In every school I've worked at jeans have been fine on non pupil days.

I'm a teacher.

Smart jeans and a t shirt will be fine 🙂

I hope he has a great first day - it's an exciting journey!

No, wearing a suit makes you look like you're trying to look older, like a junior car salesman or estate agent. Kids can tell.

The world of work has changed a lot in the last decade, and even more so since Covid. Dress codes are far more flexible now.

I wouldn’t class t shirt, jeans and trainers as smart casual - that’s just casual.

Fashion changes fast. Casual, as many on Mumsnet will insist, is wearing your pyjamas on the school run! You can wear a smart T-shirt, smart jeans and smart trainers and be in smart casual wear.

Every element needs to be very clean, ironed if relevant, and create an impression that you're well put together. That's it!

DH tends to be 'smart casual' for work, he always wears shoes, smart jeans and a shirt (and a jumper on top if it's cold)

My DS is 2 years into a teaching role at sixth form college and I’ve never seen him go into an inset day in jeans (and he’s super casual out of school). He would wear chinos/heavy canvas trousers and an ironed shirt with dress shoes for an inset day. For a teaching day he wears shirt and jacket with either smart trousers or a full suit (the school is non uniform but pupils are expected to wear business dress if that makes a difference to expectations though)

Nice jeans (dark denim, not ripped) and a shirt. Whatever shoes.

In the military smart casual is chinos and a polo shirt. Can't go wrong with that

And shoes or dark leather trainers never white. Avoid oversized logos too (eg the large polo logo on some RL shirts)

Completely agree. Standing out by being overdressed and too keen in a suit as the young, inexperienced trainee just looks a bit naive. The last one we had came on her induction day in the tightest, shortest skirt suit and highest stilettos I'd ever seen and the kids wondered what the hell she was doing tottering around them barely able to stand upright or sit down.

It's better to blend in and look like you are in keeping with the other teaching staff and understand your role in the environment.

Trousers and a shirt. No tie.

Maybe at a push a smart polo shirt. Definitely no denim or trainers.

Smart jeans and a polo shirt seems fine.
Im a teacher. Don’t suggest he wears a suit. He will have to wear one on Wednesday onwards but you can spot a new teacher a mile off as they tend to overdress and stick out like a sore thumb on training days!

I would air on side of caution if was. my first day. T shirt and jeans just sounds casual to me.

I would go trousers/chinos and a polo shirt or shirt with short sleeves.

Jesus, he’s going to be in charge of children in a class room but needs his mummy to dress him 🤦‍♀️

Cut the apron strings OP

@Oldbird69
My son goes to a 6th Form with a 'smart casual' dress code & wears decent black/grey jeans or suit-style trousers with either a plain polo shirt/t.shirt or an open necked shirt with no tie. If 'proper' trousers then shoes, if jeans then smart, dark coloured trainers. Their rule is no hoodies, no large logos/slogans, no ripped jeans, no joggers, no scruffy trainers.
I work in a Primary School & our dress code is pretty much identical - most of our male teachers wear trousers & a shirt unless it's PE day! However, for INSET days, we're allowed to wear whatever we like - we've got 1 tomorrow & I can guarantee there'll be shorts & flip flops galore!! 😄

Scotland and there are a lot of chino wearers here worn with shirts and a tweed blazer when it’s chillier. I always think it’s a middle class uniform for middle aged men

Nobody is going to judge, let alone pull up, a student teacher picking the wrong side of smart casual on his first training day. This is the start of his learning journey!

I think school inset "smart casual" is not the same as what you might expect generally.

Jeans and trainers will be fine as long as clean, not crumpled or ripped.

Generally means no sportswear, shorts or anything with slogans.

I've never seen a teacher in smart trousers and shirt unless they are SLT or a newbie on their first day and unsure what the etiquette is.

Wear the best jeans and most boring t-shirts he has and he will be fine

Most men at my secondary school wear jeans tshirt trainers. Most women wear jeans t shirt top or summer dress sandals.

A few wear gym type clothes- athleisure- but i wouldn't unless i had to clean classroom do displays etc Some men wear shorts and some wear football tops but thats not smart casual.

To me it means clean and tidy and appropriate. No scruffy sports wear, beach wear, offensive, loud, dirty etc.

Look up business casual as that is easier to understand than smart casual!

He needs a decent haircut and a good shave, and that will make most anything else look smarter.
At my school, it will be shorts and flipflops tomorrow, but a few might wear cargo trousers or joggers. Probably not jeans as it will be too hot, but on a winter inset day they might wear them.
Secondary school is smarter than most primaries, so maybe something understated but not denim or tshirts.

I would say trousers not jeans or leggings and a nice shirt or good quality t shirt... blazer or smart cardigan.

Another teacher here. Secondary. Most staff, m or f, will be in jeans and either t shirt or shirt. Some of us will be in dresses because it's warm. I'll enjoy being able to wear trainers, because it makes getting round school so much easier.

Polo teeshirts with a collar are fine for smart casual with chinos.

I think a collar always implies smart casual.