First day office wear

[Lavendar01]

First day at council office job. Dont want to spend money if I can get away with what I have at home.

I was thinking of smart casual look: wearing black wide leg jeans with ribbed top and blazer, with white sneakers?

Would that be okay?

Smart casual workwear wouldn’t extend to jeans and trainers IMO, at least not until you’ve been into the office at least once and confirmed that’s what other people are wearing.

I think I would dress smarter for the first day, see what everyone else is wearing and then adjust. If it's hot and you need to take the blazer off will you still look smart? Or would a different top be better? And the white trainers, are they like shiny white, or a bit scruffy? If they are scruffy I would try find some shoes.

Working for the council went far more casual after Covid. I would think black jeans and a t-shirt would be fine .I used to work with the public and always thought I was relatable to the public as most of them wear jeans and a top.

Sorry I meant to add I didn't ever have a work set of clothes, I wore what was in my wardrobe. I love clothes and our managers tended to wear the same with the addition of a jacket if they knew they were meeting someone important .I used to leave a jacket at work just in case the odd MP was visiting although that is another story. Once the MP came in and thought there was a crowd for her, the building held a pantry of discounted food and the crowd were there for that. She wasn't a good MP at the time so I explained why the crowd was there. I think she resigned shortly after that.

Whilst my brain rejects the idea of trainers being smart I think most people would think clean leather sneakers are fine.

I'm public sector and smart casual is very definitely just casual now - jeans, tshirt, trainers - whatever you'd wear to go out in public.

Your outfit sounds fine. At most switch trainers for loafers or similar.

Thanks all

I've never worn loafers, what type would go, leather with or without tassles, swede etc

Thanks 😊

Not sure about loafers but I work for a council. In summer I wear a dress with sandals. The sandals are pushing it but Iv been around for long enough to get away with it. I would also wear pumps. Not trainers. In winter I wear a skirt, boots, top, cardigan. Or smart trousers with boots and a top cardigan. It went more casual after covid but I still wouldn’t wear trainers as a daily thing. The IT department all wear jeans and trainers tbh but I wouldn’t!

No to jeans no to trainers until you’ve got the measure of the place. Wide leg trousers and shoes.

I've been checking out loafers and there are a few different kinds. I'm trying to pick between penny and horsebit styles.

Which type would you choose from the ones below (I'm not picking between these specific shoes, just using them as examples)?

Penny loafers
https://www.marksandspencer.com/leather-slip-on-flat-loafers/p/clp60715956#intid=pidpg1pip48g2r17c2%7CprodflagsrptsQP67

Horsebit loafers
www.marksandspencer.com/leather-hardware-slip-on-heeled-loafers/p/clp23081239?color=CHOCOLATE#intid=pid_pg1pip10g2r1c1%7Cprodflag_Just%20Arrived

Don’t wear jeans for your first day. It might be that smart casual extends to jeans, but not the first week or two.
Definitely not a ribbed top and jeans either.
Nice trousers, a blouse and flats would be a better safe, appropriate but not overly formal option.

I work for the council & absolutely no to jeans & possibly yes to trainers but depends what type.

Spezials, sambas etc yes so long as they are clean and tidy. No to New balance, nike etc.

Id go with wide leg trousers, top with blazer or smart cardigan over & flat shoes/pumps/spezials.

Once youve been there a while you will be better able to work out what you can wear.

I have adidas grand court, are they okay with to wear with ankel graze trouser and blazer?

Or would wide leg trouser look better?

Sorry I have absolutely no work attire fashion sense ...pls help 🫣

I wouldn’t do trainers or jeans. Dress smarter to start with.

Thanks everyone

Please could you help decide which loafers 😊

I like the brown better but either would be fine- I can’t really see much difference between them.

Trainers are standard office wear now but I’d wear something smarter for your first day if possible. What did you wear to the interview or was it online?

Loafers are ugly. The adidas trainers were fine.
suede trainers look nice too.

I think smart casual usually extends to jeans these days.(no.rips) However, for the first week I would play it safe and buy some flat shoes and a pair of wide leg black trousers whilst you suss out what others are wearing. Either of those loafers look fine.

I wouldn't spend too much because the trainers and jeans might be fine, and you might be able to switch to those if everyone else is wearing similar.

I used this chatGPT plugin so I could get chatGPT to use my actual clothes for outfit ideas etc. It really helped me
www.modebase.co

I've worked in two different departments at my local council and we absolutely couldn't wear white trainers or jeans. I do see people floating round the building in jeans and trainers so it really depends on the department.

First day id just get a cheap pair of black shoes from new look or primark so you can scope out everyone else's work wear. No point spending alot and going in and trainers/jeans are fine and they're never worn again.

Agree with PPs saying dont wear jeans and trainers on the first day but they might be ok once your in the door and can see what others are wearing.

I’ve worked for councils for 20 + years and dress has gone more casual. This outfit choice with loafers should work perfect on your first day. Once your in the door and can see if others are wearing trainers those ones you have should be fine.

Potentially the dress code will vary depending on the department you work in.

I work on a floor where we have people super smart suits etc to others who come in dressed down in jeans as they are doing more physical work it really depends on the service you work for and type of work you will be doing.

I wear a variety from scruffy to super smart depending on what I’ve got planned for the day when going in.

Good luck on your first day.

Sound grand but maybe not jeans on first day .
M&S do great jersey pull on wide leg trousers ( sound urgh) but trust me suit every body type ! 90% of my workplace have a pair !
They look smart but so comfortable like wearing your pyjamas .
Navy black or brown £20 ish
Trainers tee & blazer would go perfectly
Then test the water with your jeans the second week
(Think you’ll like the M&S ones more though!)

We have to crawl on the floor and lug your computers around, that's why we wear robust clothing.

I have those M&S trousers for a hobby I do that requires smart trousers and they are the dog's bollocks. Heavy, nice drape, look good, comfortable as joggers.

OP they come from the Trouser Bar so you don't have to prowl all around the shop looking for them.