“Smart Casual” conundrum

[LostInTheLaw]

I’m going to dinner in London in a reasonably posh restaurant in a couple of weeks with a group of soon to be new legal colleagues.

I’m told the dress code is smart casual. I don’t really know what that means. My wardrobe is either suits for client meetings or Seasalt type dresses plus tights for when I’m in the office/WFH.

I’m looking for ideas really on what to wear to dinner? I’m 5’5, size 24, curvy, dark hair, very pale skin, short hair. I’ve got some black kitten heels and after that I’ve drawn a blank. Money is tight so nothing more than £100.

Has anyone got any ideas? I am probably the least stylish person you’ll come across so you probably need to bear that in mind too!

Seasalt too casual IMO unless one of the more structured fabrics such as fine cord

The Next one is far nicer than the Closet London one and fits the requirements too- which the Closet doesn't.

I don't like the Closet one. To my eyes it looks like a pre Covid office dress which some one found hanging in the back of their wardrobe and thought they have to get to the wear out of it.

I'm a solicitor. I see plenty of the Next style dress, very rarely that Closet style.

Agreed re Seasalt Dress.

Find some nice suit pants or dark jeans in your wardrobe (or dark formal skirt and opaque dark tights) and add a crisp linen well ironind shirt. and fun jewellery.
Focus on make up and grooming, an up do hair and comfortable dark shoes.
For warmth wear a silk pashmina, light woollen cardigan or a light or bright or mid buff coloured blazer.
Spot light smart, natural fibres and your face.
Your hand bag should not be your usual work one but something that lifts your mood.

Get the Next dress OP it's lovely! That dress with some black boots, is perfect smart casual attire!

I think the advice about grooming is great advice, as is what a pp said about choosing one tailored/fitted item and then casual for the rest.

For me, I’d just try to be true to my own sense of style and what I feel attractive in. Personally, that means I always dress down a lot, while for others, it would mean being quite dressy. Smart casual covers a large spectrum, so you can’t go wrong from a dress code point of view.

If you have great suits you like and are modern enough in cut you could do suit, t-shirt or knit (you want that to be casual) and trainers or clumpy boots.

but you say you’re folksy, so you might well be happier in the dress you linked which absolutely fits the brief.

I always assumed smart-casual meant a step up from jeans, trainers and hoody. So not 'smart' but not scruffy!

No suggestions for specific clothes, but something I read and find a good starting point for smart casual, is to think about a combination of top, bottoms and shoes that you think is a smart outfit, then swap one of those items for something more casual.

I think you're right. It's what we wear to the office when it's not formal. So jeans are fine, with a preference for dark colours maybe, not holes, no tracksuits. Discreet trainers also OK, but not big obvious ones.
Everyone here is talking about a more formal dress code, but this always happens on MN. Someone says they're going for a pub lunch and they'll get recommendations for a long winter dress or something.

If you look at the brief, OP is going to an upmarket restaurant in the evening with a group of soon to be colleagues.

I would be going more smart than casual and erring on the side of classic rather than folksy or jeans and trainers.

I have bought the Next dress but I think I’d probably better be smarter than not first time on meeting. They can come to understand the true horror of my lack of style on a longer acquaintance!

I’m going to go smart, wide leg grey trousers with loafers and a black polo neck. Which I’m hoping will hide at least one of my many chins.

Crikey but I hate the vagaries of clothes and if you’ve done the right thing. I had a very chaotic and volatile childhood with a mother who was too busy at Greenham Common protesting to pass on anything grooming guidance wise. So I’m always a bit at sea.

@LostInTheLaw sounds perfect 👌. Good luck and hope it goes well.

Thank you 😊

I think your outfit sounds perfect, whenever I'm in doubt in winter, a black polo neck is always a good option. I've actually got a black knitted co ord, midi skirt and roll neck set, which is so useful.

I went to a London hotel last night for dinner and then down in to their jazz club - there were people in every kind of outfit, jeans, smart trousers, leather skirts, knitted dresses, little black dresses, so anything goes!

That seems a good solution OP!

At least you have an interesting back story! That would make for an intriguing thread if you haven’t done one already…

Editing as forgot to say hope they are a great group and it all goes smoothly

hate the vagaries of clothes and if you’ve done the right thing. I had a very chaotic and volatile childhood with a mother who was too busy at Greenham Common protesting to pass on anything grooming guidance wise

I too hate the complexity of clothes and was probably the only girl in the school who enjoyed wearing school uniform.

My mother and older sister were endlessly interested in fashion and style. They knew what looked good but were unable to pass on the information in any way that made sense to me, so I, too, was left none the wiser.

It has absolutely been worth while for me to invest in some help with my wardrobe. Now I have a relatively small set of clothes which make getting dressed perfectly simple and that comfortable feeling that I have the right outfit for any occasion. The help that is available has been a revelation for me, especially finding someone ready to start from where I am now. Armed with the knowledge of the colour palette and shapes that suit me, shopping becomes easy. I spend less on clothes and have many fewer, but better quality outfits. I never have to source a new outfit for a new occasion because I have a great coordinated set of clothes.

Can't recommend some help more highly.

Op I'd probably wear one of your tailored suits but with a smart plain white t shirt underneath it. Some nice necklace/s and earrings. Good blow dry and tidy make up. I'd get my brows shaped and tinted first. And make sure your nails are tidy. Voila!
Enjoy xx