What to wear to first day of work ('smart casual' office in London)

[ucunfair]

It's my first day of work on Monday and I'll be going into the office in central London. HR said the office is 'smart casual', although a quick look on the company Instagram shows people wearing blue jeans, tshirts and trainers in the office.

I was thinking of wearing dark, dark black jeans, a black blouse and some smart trainers (maybe my Vejas or are they a bit naff now?)

I'm going shopping tomorrow so can pick something else up if needed

I'm in my 20s, and will be working in the City

You keep on saying you're wearing jeans... because your last boss did. Read your own thread.

City of London, definitely do smarter for now. Your age makes no difference, I see smarter 20 somethings in the City all the time.

Definitely definitely not jeans and trainers. What sector? But regardless, not on your first day.

For all you know your new boss may prefer smarter work wear and hate the fact that a lot of people are more casual.

I work in the City, it's rare to see jeans and trainers outside of a Friday.

No I haven't? All I've said was in the OP I was thinking of wearing black jeans, and then I gave a follow up comment giving more context about my industry, after a previous poster asked what industry I worked in, through describing what people at my last company (in the same industry) would wear, as well as what employees are shown wearing on my new company's Instagram.

I'm a marketing director in the finance sector - not based in the city but all my clients are!

I very, very rarely wear jeans - I could, but I don't, as the industry is still very corporate, and I feel more comfortable in wide leg trousers, 7/8 trousers etc.

I do generally wear trainers though. Wore heels to an event for the first time in months last week and was highly impressed that I managed all night in them!

I don’t work in your sector OP but in the office I feel comfortable with one casual element with the rest at the smarter end. I wear wide leg indigo jeans with a non chunky flat boot with a shirt / top and slightly oversized blazer. If I wear trainers I pair them with tailored trousers. I would never do jeans and trainers. But these are my made up rules so feel free to ignore them.

Not jeans on a first day!

This

I work in the City, in a corporate environment and wear jeans and high-tops everytime I’m in the office. However, @ucunfair on my first day (dress code is also smart casual) I played it safe and went for 3/4 Gap trousers, and sandals (it was summer).

Your outfit sounds fine OP but I would err on the side of slightly smarter on first day. Better to feel slightly overdressed than to feel underdressed in a new job.
City is smarter than other parts of London. Do you have something like black trousers and loafers or brogues?

I do think your opinion of smart casual is very much an age thing, and it's your boss's opinion that counts so their age too.

It's also much easier for men:
Business smart = suit and black shoes
Business casual = as above without jacket and/or tie, maybe add a vneck or blazet, black shoes
Smart casual = chinos and less formal shirt or structured casual top, brown shoes
Casual = jeans and trainers or as above with tshirt

If you are determined to go at the more casual end then I'd do jeans OR trainers.

For most more mature people both jeans and trainers are firmly casual. But marketing is it's own special beast, when I worked in marketing who you were wearing was far more important than what.

I’d hate to arrive on Day One to find that I’m the only one in jeans/trainers! You never get a second chance to make a first impression