wtf do I wear for "smart but casual" training course?

[mololoko]

help!

I am going on a 2 day management training course next week. Smart but Casual dresscode. bleaugh.

I wear smart-ish dresses, tights and heels for work and am very casual (think denim skirts and fairtrade hippy stuff, fly boots or flip flops) at home.

I am short and rounded of tummy so I don't "do" jeans. Reasonable legs though.

I haven't got a clue what to wear! WWYW?

wear smartish

better to be over than underdressed

Go to Gap. Stand in Gap. Look around. Go home and try and reassemble the look from your wardrobe.

"Smart casual" at work is hated by all. It provokes anxiety. Gap was created to assuage that.

I suppose the blokes (and it's mostly blokes) will wear jeans and a shirt.

am tempted to wear usual workwear as I agree too smart is better than too scruffy. but I might feel stupid in heels and it's too warm for my usual option of opaque tights and boots.

I might go and have a mooch around Gap. Haven't been there for about a decade.

mololoko, dont count on the blokes being in jeans - where i work (admittedly v conservative as it's the City), the men always wear chinos and polo shirt or plain blue shirt (no tie).

think it is better to err on the side of smart than casual, as it is a work thingy after all.

do you have any trousers that are non-jeans?

or a casual skirt and wedges?

or maybe get some crop trousers in Gap, you will be able to wear them afterwards and there is a 30% off voucher doing the rounds at the moment

casual skirt and wedges might work with a plain top and cardi and some nice chunky jewellery? or crop trousers and pumps? if i wear a skirt, what do I do about my legs? dig out the fake tan I suppose...

it's so much easier for men.

I wouldn't go for crop trousers or a skirt, I would try not to look too obviously summery, and my suggestion would be something along the lines of linen trousers, nice t shirt or shirt whichever you prefer, with a fashionable shape cardigan or jacket, plus jewellery which you feel is really you.
The reason for not crop trousers or skirts is you may find yourself sitting in front of everyone else doing a presentation or some weird leadership type activity and not want people staring at your legs (men) or wondering why on earth you are wearing x y z (women). You can tell I have been on a lot of courses ....

Smart casual is like dress down Friday. No jeans...men should wear shirt, no tie, "chino" type trousers. More variety for women, so smartish trousers (not bottom half of suit), or skirt, with shirt/jumper/cardi. Personally, I would do smartish black trousers (bootcut/wide leg) with simple one colour fine knit jumper and then a scarf or beads to jazz it up.
Hope that helps.

ooh, good advice here, thank you. am now veering towards linen trousers and ballet pumps. i might look out for some kind of cardi-cum-jacket.

am slightly worried they may get us to do some "activities". great