SMART CASUAL - advice for dh please!

[LadyMacbeth]

OK, so IME smart cas for men involves:

Suit but no tie - black or white shirt / smart plain T shirt

Smart trousers with shirt/T-shirt

Smart dark jeans either shirt/T-shirt.

I think DH, being a v casual kinda guy, would prefer to go for the jeans option. But how OK is this??

Also, being summer, what kind of jacket should he wear? He's quite laid back and trendy, really doesn't do the rugger bugger/Boden man look, even though the party we're going to is full of 'em.

ALSO - more importantly - I have lovely dress which I'd like to wear but fear it may be a bit dressy. How dressy can a woman go in smart casual? Don't want to turn up looking too try-hard!

Your advice would be much appreciated. Off to have a shower but will be back...

THANKS!

jeans and suit jacket?
How dressy is your dress? I wear the same things to everything and dress em up in different ways....for example my very best fave dress I have worn to the supermarket (with some vivienne westwood pirate boots), to a wedding in Italy (with some pretty court shoes), to a party (silver shoes), for a wander about town (flat sandals) and also to a different wedding in this country (diff shoes again and a hat thing on my head). Women can usually wear what they fancy and get away with it.

This kind of look is so boring....nor one nor the other....

I would try Massimo Dutti- lovely casual wear not as ubiquitous as Boden or Hackett!

OK, thanks for your replies.

DulwichDolly - I know what you mean about boring style. It means dh will have to invest in a lightweight summer blazer that he'll hardly ever wear! I will check out Massimo. Thanks.

Ginger Monkey - am loving your style - esp the VW pirate boots!

why, thank you . I hate smart casual - it doesn't really mean anything, does it? Try ebay for a cheap blazer, you'll probably pick something up for less than in the shops. I would go for either a shirt (doesn't have to be tucked in) with a blazer/jacket over the top. Then if he is warm he can take the jacket off. And a pair of jeans. It's the shoes though - I hate the shoe and jeans look, remind me of clarkson.....if the jacket is really lightweight (linen) then a smart pair of sandals (not flip flops!!!) or some kind of smart shoe/trainer thing (camper do them dykwim?).
My DH wears smart casual (he'd throttle me for calling it that tho!) most of the time, he wears kickers on his feet(has far too many pairs in all sorts of colours, matches them up to his top half, bless! )

depends on the event as to what smart cas means TBH. If it's a party then the host should be more specific on the invite. We went to a wedding recently which was smart casual on the evening do and it was specified - smart denim fine (no rips or logos), shoes a definate (no trainers), shirts please.

Thanks all for your replies.

The do in question is a 65th birthday at a country house - lots of old boys etc.

My dress is just below the knee but it's kind of double layered - has a net under skirt so it's great for weddings and balls, but I feel just a little fancy for a birthday do. Instinctively I feel I should be wearing something like a Hobbs or Reiss dress with fitted cardi. Just that will involve time and money... ho humm...

Will have to sit DH sown tonight and tell him he'll ahve to dig his chinos out and invest in a smart blazer. Got a feeling he won't like it - he bought an expensive winter blazer not too long ago!

Thank you again!

try on your dress with a cardie and flats, it might toen it down enough

IMO DH doesn't need a blazer at all in this weather - sharp shirt and non-jean trous (not necc chinos) will be fine.

Great - thanks, hadn't thought of flats combination - will give it a whirl! And heartening to hear that even style guru Badger will allow her dh out without a blazer! Perhaps my dh won't need to get one after all...

Agree that there is no real need for a blazer. I know your problem as my dh does jeans and rugby shirt or smart suit but really nothing in between.

Chinos, shirt (possibly one that doesn't need tucking in), kickers or similar.

Your dress will look right if you feel right in it. If you are uncomfortable then don't wear it. Try it with the cardi/flats combo and see before you decide.

Just seen this in Tuesday's Times2

"Smart Casual: For women, dresses and skirts of varying lengths. For men, a suit with a black shirt without tie or mix a T-shirt with a designer suit. Also, dark-rinse jeans, jumpers, jackets and leather shoes. Wear jewellery."

Seems very broad to me! The picture is Brad Pitt in a light grey suit with a black T-shirt underneath and black shoes.