What to wear for “smart casual” office

[ClaudiusTheGod]

I need lots of ideas please!! Went back to work in the City after lockdown and I haven’t a clue what to wear any more. It would be easier if suits were required, but dress code is smart casual. I aspire to the smarter end of that, to differentiate between work dressing and home clothes. Am 5’8, size 12.

Also - are there any UK Instagram accounts I could follow for tips?

Is denim allowed? Sometimes for smart casual denim is but usually only the type with no distressing or tears/rips.

If it is, my smart casual is skinny or barrel leg jeans with boots (whistles lace ups or something like that), and a blouse or shirt. I have a few tops from baujken which are very work-appropriate and look smart, as well as blouses from banana republic and Maje, and a few cashmere sweaters which I tuck in.

If a no for jeans then you could go with barrel leg trousers, or needle cord, or wool mix cigarette pants…?

I had black skinny jeans (it was two years ago!), proper black black not black denim, which I wore with a blouse and cardigan. And loafers or ankle books. Sounds awful. I hope it wasn’t.

Boots!

Thanks for the ideas both. Yes smart denim is allowed.

That’s good smart denim is allowed :-)

My smart jeans are Levi’s mile high in a variety of washes, all very office friendly, and whistles barrel leg jeans

I have a few pair of these boots in different colours. Very jeans friendly, smart and decently comfortable. I found the laces too long at first but now I cross them behind the ankle before tying into a tiny neat knot!

www.whistles.com/product/156561.html?ranMID=24794&ranEAID=pfxNKSnglIM&ranSiteID=pfxNKSnglIM-TvxBOw2iIKCNXXnf6buugg&utm_source=LS&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=RedBrain

I’d go for dresses or smartish tops and trousers

I’d wear chinos, cashmere jumper and brogues.

I've found that post lockdown our City (law) office has become quite a bit more relaxed. Most women either wear interesting dresses but with casual trainers or flat boots, or smart tight jeans with heeled boots. I wear jeans or occasionally cropped trousers, with heeled boots, and team it either with a slightly more casual shirt, or a thin, baggy sweater tucked in loosely with a dangly necklace.

So something like this is fine.

Nice dress from someqher like Jogsaw, Monsoon or LL Bennett. Like a blue ir patterned knee length dress in Modal or lycotell etc

I wear very dark skinny jeans - navy or black
Ironed shirt
Black or navy ankle boots
Occasionally knee boots, casual- ish above knee skirt topped with cardigan type jacket and white v neck good quality t-shirt underneath

I tend to wear a combination of cigarette trousers/chinos in a dark colour paired with either a patterned silk blouse or thin knit jumper/cardigan for the days I work in the office. Can be paired with either boots or flats, weather depending.

Also, shirt dresses with a belt and thick black tights/boots.

Tube skirt with shirt and jumper, black jeans with shirt, brogues, boots. Not light blue denim and no trainers.

I wear dark skinny jeggings with a pair of boots and a jumper or blouse, and invested in some really smart cashmere knitwear from Woolovers.

I've got loads from Mint Velvet and White Stuff recently.

I wear dresses with ankle boots, coated jean style with a shirt or blouse and a long line cardigan. Jumper style dresses and boots are being added now as the temps drop.

Have you seen ‘call my agent’ on Netflix? Smart casual I would say is nailed by Andrea Martel, one of the characters- all fitted blazers, jeans boots and smart tops x

I've heard it explained as 50% smart 50% casual. So if wearing (non faded) jeans, have smart shoes and a blazer or blouse. Or with a dress wear flat shoes or boots rather than heels.

Wow, loads of ideas! Thank you everyone. This is so helpful.

@Chezrone

Have you seen ‘call my agent’ on Netflix? Smart casual I would say is nailed by Andrea Martel, one of the characters- all fitted blazers, jeans boots and smart tops x

Yep, she always looks smart. Herve, on the other hand... 😁

@NotMeNoNo

I've heard it explained as 50% smart 50% casual. So if wearing (non faded) jeans, have smart shoes and a blazer or blouse. Or with a dress wear flat shoes or boots rather than heels.

This is great advice!

I'd check about the jeans though, in many places I've worked smart casual means no denim as it's considered only casual. If not then in winter I'd go for non baggy jumper dresses, skinny trousers with a nice jumper or blouse and cardi, dark coloured skirts with a roll/turtle neck, pinafore dresses or shirt dresses. Also knee or ankle boots that aren't too chunky.

My office is smart casual.

I wouldn’t personally wear jeans - we don’t wear jeans in my office unless it’s Friday (which is properly casual).

I tend to wear looser trousers with a slim fit, fine knit jumper tucked in - I have a few pairs of trousers from Sézane. I wear them with smart plain trainers.

www.sezane.com/en/product/lukas-trousers/black#size-6

Or I wear patterned slim trousers with a fine knit polo tucked in (the Jigsaw Silk Cotton ones are lovely). Again I have these from Sézane:
www.sezane.com/en/product/clara-trousers/ecru-black#size-4 With loafers or trainers.

I'm a fan of Call My Agent, (hence my username). Definitely watch some of that for ideas from Andrea.