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Original poster

Work experience "smart casual" dress code

15 replies

MrsAvocet · 22/01/2023 13:16

DS (17, year 12) is doing some work experience with a local engineering company at half term and he's been informed that the dress code is smart casual. He's a fairly typical teenage boy I guess in that his day to day wear is band t shirts and jeans, or sportswear, and as he has a uniform at school he doesn't have any of the type of clothes that those with a "businesswear" school dress code have. He does have one smart suit that he bought for prom last year but that's a bit OTT really - plus it was expensive and I don't want it ruining! So I'm going to have to buy some clothes specifically for the week. I don't want to spend any more than I have to really, as chances are it's going to get little or no use again, but I want him to make a reasonable impression. Anyone got any suggestions on the sort of things he should be wearing? Would his school trousers do with a smartish shirt? And would smart casual typically include a tie? My DH works in a very informal environment and does wear jeans and t shirts apart from some meetings when he has to wear a suit, so he is being singularly useless when it comes to advice, and my former work always had a uniform so I'm not really sure what the norm is.

OP posts:
exLtEveDallas · 22/01/2023 13:31

We say smart casual for our WE kids. It basically means trousers and shoes (not trainers) and a collared shirt for men and a blouse or equivalent for women. Jumpers and cardigans fine, but not hoodies. No ties required.

MollyMunster · 22/01/2023 13:33

School trousers with a shirt will be fine. Just not jeans, t-shirts etc

FawnFrenchieMum · 22/01/2023 13:36

I would say jeans are fine for smart casual with a polo / shirt. To me it means no tracksuit bottoms / hoodies. Smart trainers but not sports trainers.

Personally, I’d email the company and ask what men usually wear for the role.

Oblomov22 · 22/01/2023 13:38

School trousers and a shirt is fine.

mintbiscuit · 22/01/2023 13:41

Would play it safe for day 1/2 then assess if jeans are acceptable

Ted27 · 22/01/2023 13:44

most of the young men in my office wear polo shirts and trousers, no jeans or track suits.
they all look very well turned out, My son got a couple of polo tops from River Island for interviews and looked very smart

reluctantbrit · 25/01/2023 18:04

My office says black jeans (no holes, not wash out, not ripped) are fine with a button down shirt and jumper plus no trainers.

Chinos are ok as well but I haven't found a male teen yet wearing them.

pizzaHeart · 25/01/2023 18:16

I agree that dark plain jeans without holes should be fine but it’s better to check, he actually might have other questions about lunch, breaks, usage of mobile phone etc.
DD did work experience twice and one place said no jeans specifically and the other that jeans were fine, she did the same role in both places but nevertheless they had different expectations.

Original poster
MrsAvocet · 25/01/2023 18:39

Thanks all. I think I will send him in his school trousers and a smart shirt on day 1 and he can see what others are wearing and wear something different on the next day if need be.
He's had an online induction and is happy with everything else, he just assumed that I would magically know exactly what they meant by smart casual so he didn't bother asking for more details!

OP posts:
Johnnysgirl · 25/01/2023 18:41

FawnFrenchieMum · 22/01/2023 13:36

I would say jeans are fine for smart casual with a polo / shirt. To me it means no tracksuit bottoms / hoodies. Smart trainers but not sports trainers.

Personally, I’d email the company and ask what men usually wear for the role.

What on earth are smart trainers??

Bigweekend · 25/01/2023 18:54

Is it hands on engineering or desk based?

I'd be really reluctant to buy anything specially and I don't think that would be expected.

If it's office based, school trousers and smartish shirts. Hands on, clean not tatty jeans or the combats they all seem to wear now with either plain or inoffensive band tshirts.

In reality no one cares what the WE kid wears.

SenecaFallsRedux · 25/01/2023 18:58

What on earth are smart trainers??

Trainers are very much in fashion these days, even for smart casual. I'm in the US so it might be different in the UK, but in my workplace, it means clean, usually darker and not obviously used everyday for running or cleaning out the garage.

IntentionalError · 25/01/2023 19:00

Trousers (not jeans), shoes (not trainers) and a shirt with a collar, either a button-up shirt or a plain polo, and he should be fine.

SpentDandelion · 25/01/2023 19:02

Tesco F&F do some good casual wear, black jeans, chinos, jumpers with smart collars, at a reasonable price. My 17 yr old wears it for his part time job, it's comfortable and looks good.

FawnFrenchieMum · 25/01/2023 19:11

SenecaFallsRedux · 25/01/2023 18:58

What on earth are smart trainers??

Trainers are very much in fashion these days, even for smart casual. I'm in the US so it might be different in the UK, but in my workplace, it means clean, usually darker and not obviously used everyday for running or cleaning out the garage.

Yes exactly!

Something like these …

Im guessing it very much depends on industry but the last two I’ve worked in would be fine with these.

Work experience "smart casual" dress code
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