what do I wear for work??

[wingsnthat]

The dress code is smart-casual. What does that even mean?? I’m at a blank

I started this job over lockdown which was home based initially, but we’re back at the office soon. My old job was business attire - I’m used to being extremely smart at work and extremely casual outside of work!

What outfits would you wear to get the balance right?

The dress code is smart shoes only eg no trainers or heeled sandals, which would be my way of dressing an outfit down with the “casual”, I’m worried if I wear a dress it might be seen as “overdoing” it?

Would really appreciate your tips x

Do you have someone there you can ask?

If not, I would edge on slightly smarter, maybe skirt - not a jersey fabric but also not a super corporate one - with a fine knit top and heeled ankle boots. Holly Willoughby on this morning sort of style.

I would also probably pack an emergency change incase I felt really out of place. For the above outfit switching the fine knit to a t shirt would take it down a few notches.

I would hazard a guess that most people will be in jeans as you don't mention these being banned, and I think they are most peoples default choice, but I would worry about being too causal if I was the only one in them so would avoid if I wasn't sure other wore them.

Thank you so much for the help!!! That’s a good outfit plan actually.

Haha I better not bring an outfit change - I would probably end up bringing a suitcase worth!

I don’t have anyone to ask no, the guys are pretty much going to wear trousers and polo and there’s no women in my department!

Sorry I should have said that jeans, t shirts, hoodies, leggings etc are banned.

I think a dress would be fine, wear it with chunky heels or ankle boots, and a cardigan or a coatigan rather than a jacket.

You could also wear a formal blouse untucked with skinny jeans/trousers and some jewellery

Navy black or beige 7/8 trousers with loafers or closed toe wedges with blouse jumper on top.

Tbh even if you were "overdressed" don't think anyone would comment, better to be overdressed than be too casual until you learn what is right for your workplace.
In my workplace that means no jeans, no trainers, no hoodoes, no sportswear. So I think you could build yourself a nice capsule wardrobe - midi skirts with plain tops and then a smart blazer and a more casual jacket to mix up, a few smart trousers, one pair of flats, one pair of heels.

Also some nice shift dresses but ones that aren't too corporate.

I'd say it's business wear but not a full suit. So trousers or a skirt and a shirt or smart top, but not a suit jacket. Or a knee length dress. I always tend to go more formal at first and relax as I get used to somewhere.

I'd probably wear straight leg trousers, nice loafers or brogues, and a smart jumper or top and blazer, until I got the lie or the land.

That sounds similar to my pre-covid work dress code. Most days I wore a knee length dress, with opaque tights and either chelsea boots or loafers. In the summer sandals and bare legs or tan tights

The dresses were mainly from Hobbs/Jaeger/M&S/Boden, with a few supermarket and Primark items. A mix of wrap dresses, shirt dresses, shifts, etc. Occasionally I would wear a skirt or trousers with a top to mix things up. A suit for fancy meetings, jeans for dress down days. Cardigan for cold weather.

wonderful advice, thank you very much everyone!

I wear similar (but am allowed trainers which makes it easier as I sling on Superga with everything).

Yesterday I wore wide leg culottes with a Breton top and navy linen blazer. You could wear loafers with that. Or 7/8 black trousers with a loose blouse and brogues.

I have a wide ranging selection of wrap dresses and flats for a similar dress code.

Also skater or A like skirts with fitted T shirts.

My dress code is casual enough that I can wear black skinnies, usually with a shell top or loose blouse tucked into high waisted jeans.

I also think it's a shame you aren't allowed to wear trainers. One of my favourite ways to funk up/tone down a blazer and trousers is to wear it with trainers. But brogues and loafers, or nice ankle boots, are good substitutes.

Tbh I sneak in black jeans/black leather trainers but when I used to go to actual work my outfits were generally a variation on:

Cropped wide leg trousers/culottes with a tucked in t-shirt, Breton top, or fine-knit jumper
A-line short-ish skirt with opaque tights and either fine-knit jumper or polo neck
A-line short-ish dress with opaque tights, maybe a cardigan on top
Midi dresses - mainly with bare legs in warmer weather
Black cropped/ankle-grazer jeans (properly black so they looked like trousers really) with a tucked in blouse

Footwear-wise I wore chunky brogues, Chelsea boots, DM monkey boots, black leather Stan Smiths or black leather Vejas.

Now I work at my kitchen table and my work clothes are very sad!