What is office smart casual nowadays?

[BlondeyLocks]

I’ve got a job after a decade of rearing children!
It’s a civil servant role, mostly admin based so a lot of sitting down. Tonight I pulled out my old suits and nothing fits, plus it’s all very ‘corporate’/dated.
I asked my boss the dress code who said he wore tailored shorts and a polo shirt last summer which I’m not sure is particularly helpful to me, as a 5 foot 2, 42 year old woman!
I have a constant bloated tummy and also a ring of fat around my waist/back/hips/bum which I don’t feel at all comfortable about at a size 10/12, but my waist is fairly narrow and top half is size 8/10.
I have strappy stiletto pointed court shoes in navy but that’s about it for work, unless converse trainers or Fairfax & favour boots work now?!
I start Monday, 3 days a week.
Please help me!

Congratulations on your new job. Most people in offices don't wear the corporate suit and heels look these days. There are exceptions to that (I'm guessing law firms and City finance are still quite formal) but most civil servants I meet are wearing more relaxed but still smart clothes.
How about a smartish dress with boots? Or maybe wear a dress with some shoes and a blazer on the first day until you get an idea of what other people are wearing? Hobbs often has good jersey or knitted dresses in the sale.

I wear lots of dresses, boots and a jacket most days, saving my suits for formal meetings. Cos, Hobbs, Hush etc.

Depends where you are based too? Whitehall might be smarter than the regions.
Normal wear in my office is "librarian" wear, with even less smart on home days.

I think the tailored shorts and polo is quite helpful. He's telling you nothing super business like or smart.

I'd wear some wide leg trousers, with a jumper and smarter trainers but that's just me. Others may think differently.

Congratulations on your job!

I’m a civil servant and wear smart casual for work (although I work in a technical role, mostly male dominated and they all wear hoodies so it’s an ‘anything goes’ office - definitely worth starting and getting a sense of what everyone else wears before you invest in any new work clothes!).

I wear similar clothes out of work to in work, so I’d start from what you enjoy wearing at home/what suits/what shapes work for you and see if can smarten it up/adjust it/buy smarter versions of things.

I usually wear wide leg trousers and a neater top, with trainers, or jeans with a shirt and boots. I’ll wear knitwear but something like a smart/fitted cashmere jumper or similar rather than anything too chunky.

Attached pictures of what I’d wear for smart casual. I really like Me and Em for trousers and then often base my outfit around that.

Dark jeans (not skinny’s) with a smart top/jumper and loafers/smart trainers seems to be a go to look in my work.

Wide leg trousers, dresses and boots, blazers are also popular.

Have you got an outfit you could put together for your first week whilst you get a sense for how things look when you get there?

Jersey dress, tights and boots on first day and observe what the others are wearing!

Yes!

dress and flat shoes.

This is my work uniform anyway. Can't go wrong. I be work in outer London and it's fairly casual dress. I'd look silly with stilettos

Trousers and a plain jumper if you like trousers, casual dress if you prefer dresses. Hold off on jeans until you know what other people are wearing (but if boss hasn't mentioned jeans as an option then they're maybe not OK.)
At a pinch this will tide you over for a day.
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/tuc143089401 (obviously wouldn't suit everyone but it caught my eye for a fiver)

What would you wear out for lunch with friends?

But definitely not strappy stilettos. I'd wear flat ankle boots or "fashion" trainers, eg

Definitely not stilettos and a suit!

what the others said, wide leg trousers and a Smartish jumper, jersey dress tights and boots. Fashion trainers are fine in my world.

Congrats on the job! Could you get to the office to hang out nearby and see what people who come out of it are wearing? (Obviously this works better in central London than an isolated industrial estate...)

Otherwise I would say you'll be fine in a plain dress, tights and ankle boots. Or wide leg trousers, blouse and flats. No high heels, and definitely not strappy stilettos. Avoid jeans and trainers until you see what others are wearing.

Oh and when I say blouse I mean like a fashiony blouse, not something you'd wear under a suit. Smart jumper would also be fine.

Unless you're working somewhere very smart, fashion trainers and dark wash jeans will probably be ok... but best to check first.

The civil service has always been very much the causal end of smart causal. I used to work with people in football strips, t shirts and jeans as well as full suits. Wear what you are comfortable in, don't spend much money on clothes until you've been in for a week and see what everyone else is wearing.

It varies by workplace. Ours has dropped the dress code completely since covid and hybrid working.

Most days atm I wear a midi dress, black tights and DM Chelsea boots. Others wear similar, or trousers and a covered-up top or blouse with trainers. I don’t generally see jeans or joggers in the office but lots of people wear relaxed/soft trouser styles. Generally people have less skin on show than they would have 10 years ago, less formal clothes, less/no makeup, and flat shoes. Whitehall.

Our smart casual is quite strict so no denim or trainers
I tend to wear
Skirt, top, cardigan/blazer
Dresses, jersey type mostly
Wide leg trousers with top or blouse
On my feet loafers, Mary Jane type shoes or ankle boots

You have my sympathies, my tummy fluctuates and is often bloated at the moment so i like to wear things without waists. I like to wear cotton dresses, cardigans with DM face up boots or solovair shoes most days, with tights or socks. Sometimes if my stomach is ok i wear cord trousers with a casual top and jumper or cardigan and the shoes. I do have fashion trainers, and some of my colleagues do wear them at work, but I think they're to casual for my role.

I mostly wear wide leg trousers with flatform smart trainers or loafers and a smartish nice top, t shirt or sometimes a blouse. Might wear a midi dress with trainers or boots. I don’t wear jeans.

Ok gosh! Glad I asked! I am so out of the loop!!

I live in Cornwall and rather rural…

I mostly wear dark skinny jeans (stretchy & soft) with a cashmere fitted jumper or cardigan (all from white company) or if at a school event/lunch I’d wear a dress like these-

https://www.hush-uk.com/georgia-tea-dress-petal-ditsy---navy-green/006545-4096-10.html?fo_c=1586&fo_k=e5dbdf79084ca4ec416fee6e8155ebfa&fo_s=gplauk&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI-YWCg_WYhAMVKZpQBh2l-g3oEAQYBiABEgKEYfD_BwE

https://www.frenchconnection.com/products/billi-recycled-hallie-midi-dress?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI7c7KpfWYhAMVlIZQBh2uVgDHEAQYJCABEgK7hfD_BwE

These are my boots-aren’t they a bit clunky for work? I only have the old dainty scallop white converse as trainers. What’s a smart trainer now?

https://www.fairfaxandfavor.com/products/the-sheepskin-boudica-black?variant=34703389917256&currency=GBP&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=17226653481&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8pmo4_WYhAMV6olQBh0yhAuJEAQYBSABEgL1UPD_BwE

https://www.danielfootwear.com/saryel-p132513

I’ve found similar to these in my wardrobe but not worn yet as thought they looked silly with my boots. Could these be used?
https://www.marksandspencer.com/jersey-wide-leg-trousers-with-stretch/p/clp60506499?color=DARKKHAKI#intid=pid_pg1pip32g2r6c1

Thanks all so much!

Anything goes in our office which I think is nice because people can be themselves and dress how they want to reflect themselves. It feels like post pandemic its more about what you do than what you are wearing to do it in. Disclaimer: I work in the public sector not a City law firm.

I'd say anything really smart like high heeled shoes and matching suits looks over the top these days in a lot of places. I think it's heels in particular and a lot of people don't even like wearing them in the first place - bit as I say of you do anything goes. Also it may depend what the day looks like, eg if I'm interviewing I'd dial up the smartness.

As a kind of average, I'd say some trousers that aren't obviously jeans (not lighter/washed/whiskered) and then maybe a simple jumper or top depending how cold it is in there. A blazer makes any outfit a bit smarter but they tend to be more oversized/loose/nonchalant. I bet you can get away with trainers and maybe even the Converse (though that would be far too cold for me at this time of year).

The boots are absolutely fine, perfect. Probably half the women there will be wearing something similar.

Dresses are both fine. The jersey trousers are probably a bit too floppy and casual for a first day, though I think they'd probably be fine and will be ok with your boots. Trousers in the same shape but a slightly heavier fabric would be good.

I'd go for wide leg trousers and a cashmere sweater in the same colour, then brogues or adidas samba type trainers. Maybe a blazer and a big scarf to get there. Good luck!