Help me please! What is "smart casual" dress code?!

[PassAFist]

Gah! I am leaving from Canada to the UK tomorrow for a course that starts on Monday. Today I got an email saying the dress code is "smart casual". I don't know what this means!

I've already had to buy lots of new clothes because of recent weight loss, possibly I have got it wrong. I have relatively smart but casual tops and some loose fitting yoga-type bottoms. One pair of non-yoga-type trousers. Blundstone boots for shoes.

Do I need to go shopping either tonight or on Sunday when I get to the UK?

Thank you oh wise ones! I have been a work from home mum for the past 12 years, I have absolutely no clue...

Wrap dresses, jersey dresses, skirts and tops, smart trousers and tops.

Yoga bottoms... No, sorry.

And no to the shoes either. Sorry. Again.

I would just read this as they don't want scruffy jeans or trainers, or sportswear which I assume the yoga bottoms are? I don't really know what you mean by 'yoga bottoms'. If they are linen/cotton they might be OK. If they are track suit bottoms then no. What is the course?

Yoga bottoms are very casual. Smart casual trousers would be something like this and some heels or smart flats.

No jeans, no jersey on the bottom half, nothing too alternative. Normal office wear for your average professional who doesn't work in a v formal environment, if that helps? Skirt/smart trousers with plain jersey top, or a wrap dress with office appropriate shoes.

Not suits, but not jeans. Smarter than yoga pants though.

My work is "smart casual" and I wear Blundstone boots. I have been doing so for about 20 years.

recently i have been wearing -
Skinny chinos, patterned shirt and brogues
Cord dress long sleeved T and boots
Smart jeans www.boden.co.uk/en-GB/Womens-Trousers-Jeans/Jeans/WC113/Womens-Wideleg-Jeans.html?NavGroupID=19 and Breton top on Fridays!

(I do have clothes from places other than Boden, but they are pretty good at "smart casual" and easy for someone a long way from shops!)

Shit shit shit! I don't own any dresses or skirts and would feel very uncomfortable in anything like that. I don't own any heels. Literally, the only shoes I own are the blundys, some trainers and some crocs.

It is a canine hydrotherapy course. I figured I didn't have to get dressed up because I would be with dogs all day, and then in a wetsuit in the pool the rest of the time. It says the dress code is smart casual but then it says you need trainers or other non-slip shoes for moving between the classroom and the pool.

Shit. The only store in town that I can even afford is Walmart and I leave for the airport in the morning.

Are shops open on Sunday in England? They didn't used to be but maybe it is different now, I haven't been for a long time.

You know what - its all relative. My examples of "smart casual" are for a fairly liberal office, but in an old stuffy profession. For canine hydrotherapy - sounds a lot less formal, more hands on and that your wardrobe will be fine

Shops are ope3n 11-4ish on Sundays over here, in big shopping centres. Where is your course?

It's in Guildford. I arrive at Gatwick at 8:50 am on Sunday, overnight flight.

I've changed my mind after seeing what course it is. I thought it was going to be a business type thing. Maybe yoga pants and boots will be fine if you are going to be working with dogs all day.

Aaaah, no idea about shopping centres in guildford, but I think you'll be ok.

Shops do open now on Sundays too!

Smart-casual sounds a slightly strange dress-code for a hands-on course like that. I would think casual would actually be more appropriate - especially if you are expected to wear trainers or similar.

Don't worry. To me the clothes you have sound fine.
My husband works in an area were the dress code is meant to be smart, he says people turn up in shorts and t shirts.
I reckon you have enough stress at the moment without worrying about your clothes.

Not jeans and not boots as clumpy as that on the first day.

Last, apart casual think I went to all the blokes came in jeans as did some of the women. It is the most unhelpful dress code on the planet.

All you can do is hope your too smart not too scruffy.

Apart casual thing (stupid phone)

Smart

I think you'll be fine for a course like that. They just mean not jeans/trainers probably.

Really, really don't worry.

And have a great time!

And if I know doggy people (which I do) then you won't be the only one reading that info tonight going 'eh?'

There's a shopping centre in Guildford, if you just want some cheap pieces for the course only it might be worth visiting their Primark store or a supermarket like Asda (owned by Wal Mart) or Tesco.

The thing with wearing trainers between the classroom and the pool really threw me off, so I kind of shrugged off the smart casual thing when I first read the email this morning. Then I thought I had better double check, Googled, panicked....

I have gone through my wardrobe and thankfully found a couple of old pairs of trousers from a previous time when I weighed this much! I think they will have to do, they will just have to take me as I come. You can't drop that bombshell the day before my flight leaves! I might mooch around Primark on Sunday just in case though. :D

Thank you everyone.

The Friary shopping centre in Guildford has River Island, Primark, Mango, etc. The High Street has H&M, M&S, House of Fraser, Gap. Sainsbury's in Burpham has quite a few clothes if you can't face going to town.

If I were you, I would go to H&M first - they have loads of great basics and you can get worky-type stuff without spending too much cash.

I assume you are paying them for the course? Really wear what you like.