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Dadsnet

Speak to new fathers on our Dads forum.

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Original poster

'Smart Casual'

45 replies

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 08:58

I hate this. i hate hate hate it. you're rather formal or casual - there is no in between.

I'm working a temporary contract and their dress is smart casual. you know, when they expect all the guys to wear naff golf shirts and pleated chinos everyday.

I don't do 'smart casual' so I had to rummage around in my father-in-law's wardrobe for golf shirts and cheesy slacks. he has plenty... he's 63.

does this get on anyone else's nerves?

I'm under the age of 50 and I don't have two stomach's (yet) so I just don't see the need to wear triple pleated slacks, which seem to be the main trouser of choice.

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Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 08:58

'either' even.

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Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 10:59

i should have posted in 'style' but this is a man thing.

those cheap golf shirts also rub my rather sensitive nipples

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MrsBadger · 06/09/2006 11:10

golf shirts not neccesary, nor pleat-front chinos- cotton Oxford and flat-front or western-cut chinos perfectly acceptable.

DH has this dilemma a lot when working on building sites in a non-builder capacity. He goes for what he (and Johnny Boden ) calls the 'architect look'.

Bozza · 06/09/2006 11:20

We have "business casual" at our work. Some of the men wear the clothes you describe - although I have to tell you there are plenty of expensive golf shirts around as well. Others carry on as they always have - ie shirt and tie, or maybe have to if they have a meeting to attend. Others just do business shirt but open necked. A lot of them look a bit of a mess.

HappyDaddy · 06/09/2006 11:48

I tend to just wear my usual suit but without the tie, I think it looks much better and doesn't show my horrible style.

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 13:01

problem is, i don't like any chino or golf shirt and I don't like the suit with no tie look (sorry HD).

I'm just a moaning little brat. I wear either a suit or ripped jeans and flip flops. I struggle with anything in between.

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drosophila · 06/09/2006 13:13

DP's company follows Smart casual and his understanding after talking to a few guys is that it is a smart trouser (could even be a suit trouser) with a smart shirt (like one you would normally wear with a suit) with NO tie or jacket.

In orther words ditch the Jacket and tie. he works for an American Company where I suspect this craze started. I wonder if it would be ok wearing a beautiful roll neck inside a suit or a trousers cut like jeans. Personally think there is nothing nicer than a lovely fine knit jumper on a guy with but that's me.

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 13:21

yeah but that no tie, smart trouser, unbuttoned shirt look looks shite. we'll all look like middle aged americans soon.

I know how to dress, i just don't like it. i would prefer a really nice full suit and tie or my t-shirt with a picture of darth vadar on it and a pair of ripped up jeans and some cheap flip flops.

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Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 13:24

constipated 50+ men on 'the board' govern what 20 something employees wear. that's the problem

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clerkKent · 06/09/2006 13:26

Its smart-casual here as well, but I usually wear a suit anyway. Keeps them guessing whether I am going to an interview...

I donl;t think I could recognise "pleat-front chinos- cotton Oxford and flat-front or western-cut chinos "

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 13:28

yeah, what are 'western cut'... chaps? lol

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meowmix · 06/09/2006 13:29

embrace your inner golfer. Hoist up that waistband and keep nipples safe from chafing under a waistband. You know it makes sense.

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 13:31

daddycool with chaps?

'howdy colleague-pokies, any you varmits seen my weekly presentation... and my prostitute?'

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aDAdOnMumsnet · 06/09/2006 13:37

Let's face it, men just get a raw deal on the clothes-front. They are so BORING. Try buying shorts that aren't khaki/beige/sand/vaguely greeny/blue with a large pocket on the side. I managed it but it's hard. Trousers - the same problem, boring colours, some terrible styles. Jeans are no prob, anything else is seriously dodgy. Chinos! Argghh. Cords? Argghhh.

Women have it easy, you could choose to wear a dress, skirt, trousers, shorts, culottes, leggings... Ok you might not want to with some of them, but the choice is there and in interesting colours or patterns too.

Perhaps I have an inner transvestite waiting to get out!

Flamesparrow · 06/09/2006 13:51

You could turn up in a smart casual dress and see what they say?

Its threads like these that make me pleased that DH is a maker - he just goes in in the ripped jeans and Darth Vader t-shirts, and he has "smart" ripped jeans and darth vader t-shirts for weekends!

Men do have a raw deal - I have started braving the world of Topman etc lately (DH wanting a new look & new clothes but can't be arsed to do it himself), and it is all the same stuff, but different colours

MrsBadger · 06/09/2006 13:59

pmsl at DaddyCool in chaps. Ride 'em, cowboy!

[ahem]
tutorial follows for ClerkKent:

these are pleat-front chinos and they're nasty. No-one under 50 looks good in them.

these are flat front chinos and are acceptable for 'business casual' and 'smart casual'.

this is an Oxford shirt - it has a button-down collar and hence looks much better without a tie than a regular business shirt.

'Western cut' refers to trousers that are cut like jeans but are not made of denim, like these .

Anything else I can help with?

aDAdOnMumsnet · 06/09/2006 14:22

boden sums up everything I hate about men's clothes!!

ok for kids though.

frumpygrumpy · 06/09/2006 14:26

I'm so with you DC. It should be formal suit and tie or not, no in-between, no sitting on the fence, no is he? isn't he?

Smart casual always makes men look like they are 7, going to a party and their mum licked down their coos lick .

Sorry I probably shouldn't be posting here, I'm totally female although my leg hair maybe qualifies me........

aDAdOnMumsnet · 06/09/2006 14:31

don't worry FG i posted on a pregnancy thread the other day - it was about goat's cheese though.

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 14:41

frumpy grumpy hit the nail on the head. it doesn't look good and it's half ass. you're either smart or you're casual. you can't be both.

the place i'm temping has a rather shocking smart casual dress norm as, like most companies these days, they've issued cheap golf shirts with the company logo on. the shirts are awful. they are really cheap, floppy collared navy blue golf shirts with a big turquoise stripe across the front... and some of them look like they've never been washed... but's that's another thread altogether!

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HappyDaddy · 06/09/2006 15:06

Oh God, save us from company logoed polo shirts, PLEASE!

Original poster

DaddyCool · 06/09/2006 15:25

they most def make my nipples hurt.

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aDAdOnMumsnet · 06/09/2006 15:45

i hate that stitched in logo over the nipple thing. That's torture!

Pan1 · 06/09/2006 15:46

DC isn't Daddy Cool for nothin'. Smart-casual is the oxymoron it presents as.

If one is to dress, one dresses properly, that is a sharp suit, nice shirt and a sympathetic tie. And the tie is done up, not hanging offa like you just couldn't be arsed....unless you are under 22, fabulously handsome with gelled, wild short hair.....(am over 22..hey ho!)

Bit prescriptive, but I know I am right!

And "Mr Boden" looks like he is cruising...

drosophila · 06/09/2006 20:24

If I were you guys I would push the boundaries a bit. Dress like you are going on the pull Smart but Sexy.

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