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!

I work for a public body and am just off to work in a knee length cord shirt dress, and bronze Clarks lace up shoes.

I dug out a formal-ish work dress yesterday (face to face with new client) and absolutely everybody commented on it “ooo look at boop in her posh frock” 😂 and lots Of compliments but it did really make me realise how casual things are now.

Im usually in the jersey dress and boots / wide leg trousers and jumper Brigade.

I work in Finance and went to the office this week in hoodie, jeans and Vans. Most people were dressed similar.

My winter uniform at work is smart trainers, wide legged trousers and a polo neck.

I wear trousers (indigo denim, wide leg wool or cords), cardigan or a tank/vest and a shirt. I’m known at work for my love of patterns and I usually have a Liberty print shirt under my cardis or a colourful scarf/twilly. Dr Martens boots. I would say I’m one of the more formally dressed people at work, on an average day I see a lot of fleece, including terry sweatpants, around me.

@WashableVelvet would these be ok for Whitehall admin role? Or is it too casual?

https://www2.next.co.uk/g29253s3/996782#996782

It sounds like a good idea to add a blazer over a dress and see what everyone else is wearing.

They’d be fine @Rummikub but probably with a smartish top so that they don’t look like pyjamas!

That’s exactly what my dd said 😂😂 it’s for her first job. Thank you.

I wear wide leg trousers, jumpers and trainers into the office when I go (civil service) or jumper dresses and trainers/boots.

I’m a public sector professional, neither junior nor senior. In my office we tend to go for either cigarette trousers or wide legs with chunky Chelsea boots or clean and smartish leather trainers. In autumn/winter I wear a uniqlo fine merino jumper (I have 5 ) and in spring/summer a casual oxford type shirt. Sometimes I will wear a blazer, but with tshirt and trainers to soften it a bit.

We can wear jeans, but IMVHO office smart casual means you can only wear one of jeans and trainers at a time, and I’m wedded to my Stan Smiths. Although I’d not wear either jeans or trainers on the first day until I’d had the chance to clock what others were doing.

We aren't allowed to wear jeans or trainers at my office. I'm a dress person, so I wear knitted dresses and boots in the winter, and cotton or viscose dresses in the summer. Dresses are easy, nothing to match up!

My office is super casual but I'm not a fan of dressing down too much so I tend to go for any of the following;

Wide leg trousers with slim fitting, fine knit jumper or cardigan. Brogues or smart trainers on feet.
Dress with blazer, cardigan etc depending on weather. Boots in winter, converse brogues or ballet flats in summer.
If I wear jeans generally I'd wear with smart trainers, shirt / blouse and jersey blazer.

I wish I could wear these relaxed trousers and baggy jumpers and look good. I look frumpy and dumpy. I need to wear quite fitted jersey dresses but wear with converse or boots and tights to look more casual.

OP, those M&S trousers you linked to are the most comfortable trousers in the world! I have them in two colours and tend to wear them with a nice jumper and black gazelles. They are very bad with boots, though, it just feels very wrong to me somehow!

I work in a similar environment. I wear Boden/Hush/Next/H&M/Hobbs/Arket/Jigsaw dresses and boots, smartish black jeans or slim trousers with a shirt/tank/jumper and sometimes blazer, smart trainers, smart boots and lots of chinos with fitted jumpers and shirts. The pleated midi skirt adn shirt/jumper is a good option too> Jumpsuits and midi/maxi drresses and trainers all work. I only get a suit out if I am formally interviewing/interviewed or for official representation.

Its much more relaxed these days, although that is also scary without the uniform of suits; you have to think more to be honest. Day 1: I suggest you perhaps try a comfortable midi dress and boots or boxfresh trainers?

just observe everyone. I do sometimes rebel and wear a suit just to put the wind up everyone! Most days: soft blazer, dress, soft blazer, chinos/slim trousers. Every day: trainers, boots, or a flat loafer. I have a long commute so always a Seasalt parka or in warm weather, a light trench.

and the ultimate every day pant - the marks and spencer wide leg side stripe pants. they are cheap, comfortable, flattering in 3 leg lengths and work with a T, a Jumper, a tank, a blazer and shirt, or with a silky top and a jacket. I love them.

GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FIRST DAY XX

Marks and Spencer have some fab loafers save your F and F boots for the weekends.
M and s also stock a good selection of comfortable trousers in navy grey or black from £17
Select comfortable easy to wear classics that don't need ironing!

Our dress code is smart casual - no leggings, no strappy tops, etc. I wear pretty much anything apart from shorts, pyjamas and short sleeved t shirts. Being able to wear jeans and trainers is great, as is wearing a jumper when it's cold. Your dresses, etc look fine.

Smart jeans and a cashmere jumper in my business.

The smartest outfit I’d wear would be trousers, blouse, blazer and leather shoes (brogues or loafers). The most casual would be jeans, tshirt/jumper and fashion trainers. Usually I mix it up so I have one or two items from each end to land somewhere in the middle.

I couldn't wear cashmere in our office. I'd boil to death.

Same here. I'd never wear a jumper to work. I'm too sweaty for that!

I love this outfit. Smart/casual and looks comfy.

I wear lots of dresses, knee length shift type. I have got a few from white stuff that are navy. Nice tights and Chelsea boots. I find sitting down in trousers makes me bloat.....45. - anything tight round my tummy gets worse over the day!

<sniffs Linda Snell-ly> yes I’d love to look that funky too. @LyndaSnellsSniff