Dress code in office...

[Bluesheep8]

Hi, I'm due to start a new job and have been told that the dress code is smart casual. What does that mean to you? I'm thinking maybe knitted long sleeved dress, opaque tights, ballet pumps or when it's a bit warmer, 3/4 trousers and a top/shirt...what would you suggest fits this dress code for work? And what do you wear if this is the dress code in your office?

I’d wear chinos, loafers and a nice jumper probably.

Your suggestions sound perfect too.

Do you remember what people were wearing when you went in? I find smart casual can be interpreted differently

At my last job, the code was smart casual and we all pretty much lived in jeans. I would smart it up with nice boots and a pretty top. Sometimes. Most of the time, I was in hoodies and a t shirt and no one batted an eye lid!

I have several pairs of black pants & wear various tops & tunics (I personally dont like the look of me in blouses so dont wear button front anything). I think that the flowy-ish ness of the tunics hides a few lumps & bumps that I have - and then dress all of this up a bit with a smart jacket or poncho/wrap, nice jewellery & my sandals or boots to give me a bit of height.
I look smart but not corporate & it suits the office I work in & the clients we advise.

Thank you for your reply, I kind of wanted to check my thinking was right with it being a new job. Also, I can't wear heels of any kind as my commute involves a 20 minute walk.

To answer a pp, I haven't been into the office as it's a temp job....

Smart casual covers pretty much everything between jeans and suits.

If you like heels, just walk in flats and then change. That's what pretty much every woman I know does.

Your outfit idea sounds good op.

I’d also just bring heels and change at / just before I got to the office. If you actually want to wear heels that is. I hate wearing ballet flats for walking - they always get a bit wet if it’s been raining at all and go all smelly, (just me )?

Even if I was planning to wear ballet flats at work, (when I was working), I tended to wear something else for the commute.

Good idea dancedisaster, think I'll wear something more practical for the walk and take ballet flats in my bag.

And no it's not just you! I don't want part of their first impression of me to be "she's wearing 'eau du stinky wet ballet flats'!!"

I started a new job in a smart casual office recently.
They said : no trainers, no open toes, no denim, nothing with writing on.
There's a wide range of outfits so far, some people look more Hobbs-y and others are a lot more floral gypsy skirt-y. I think your outfit sounds absolutely fine.

I wear brogues, full length trousers, some sort of top. Sometimes t-shirt/blazer, sometimes a shirt or blouse, sometimes a jumper.

I am aware that brogues have not been cool for about six years now, and that even when they were, they were worn with cropped trousers. I don't care. I get cold feet and I will wear socks, dammit. Also, I quite like the 1930s lesbian librarian vibe.

I wear jersey dresses and boots or chinos and Bretons/t shirts and sometimes add a jersey blazer.

We also have no denim, no open toes, no backless shoes, no logos, no rips, no trainers.

I wear brogues a lot too.

Black "work" trousers, blouse and a cardi here. Your choices sound good.

Smart casual is the dress code of doom. It can cover just about anything!

It was smart casual at my last job and many people wore jeans, but dark coloured ones with smarter boots / shoes. Or outfits of the kind you suggest op (which sound ideal). Chinos also very much in evidence.

The younger member of staff who rocked up in a strapless maxi dress did raise a few eyebrows, though I don't know if anything was said . I'd probably avoid that look if I were you

Ha Ha, definitely not a look I could pull off anyway with my bingo wings you reminded me of a girl I once worked with in a v make dominated environment who once wore a halter neck maxi so low cut, you could practically see her nipples. No one knew quite where to look!

male dominated