what does "smart casual dress "actually mean, any ideas would be greatly appreciated

[chopsfordinner]

My dh and myself have been invited to as the title says an award ceremony and dinner next saturday evening.The invite says dress is smart casual, but what does that mean exactly. I have a couple of dresses but does dh wear his suit, he has a pair of navy coloured and a pair of stone coloured chinos and the rest of his wardrobe comprises of jeans and combats. I dont really want to go and buy him anything new as he probably wouldnt wear it again.

I always take it to mean. "Not jeans, not suits".

Hi, thnaks for the quick response, are chinos ok or a bit naff.

Chinos with decent shirt and shoes is OK, if DH is comfortable in that get up?

Depends on DH style -- but if I were a man I would wear trousers; a button down shirt and a jacket without a tie.

Chinos are very in at the mo. all the teenage boys at my school wear them and my 20 yo brother just bought a pair.

If I was going smart casual I'd just wear a nice day dress.

Not jeans.
Dress that's not an evening dress.

Or evening trousers pencil skirt type thing. And top. Not glitter