'Smart Casual' dress code on management course
'Smart Casual' dress code on management course
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Discussion

deanogtv

Original Poster:

761 posts

251 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
I’ve been asked to attend a residential management course next week for 4 days in Oxford. The invite has stipulated ‘smart casual’ but no jeans and collarless t-shirts. Now I’m keen to make a good impression on the directors that are attending but rocking up dressed like something from a hugo boss advert my give the wrong impression also and don’t want to be the tw4t in the black roll neck. Would other professionals on here read this as a suit and shirt without the tie or would a smart shirt with chino style trousers be too casual. Would a collared polo shirt be a complete no no also??

Any pointers would help

Petrus1983

11,300 posts

193 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
I'd suggest chinos, shirt and possibly a jacket depending on weather - but without a tie.

ETA - polo shirts (Lacoste style) work well with chinos too, so you could always pack both and quickly spy what other people are wearing and dress appropriately.

Edited by Petrus1983 on Wednesday 14th May 09:23

craigjm

21,692 posts

231 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
trousers, shirt, shoes simple

Pooky67

577 posts

190 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
As it's a four day course, better to start too smart then get more casual once you've sussed out what others are wearing. Fashionable suit and shirt, without a tie for me one day one.

Matt UK

18,084 posts

231 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
craigjm said:
trousers, shirt, shoes simple
Agreed.

If warmer, a smart collared t shirt (ie polo shirt) or if cooler add a jacket / smart jumper over the shirt.

Gargamel

16,415 posts

292 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Mustard Chords, Classic Tattersall shirt and a red jumper FTW

rhinochopig

17,932 posts

229 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Mustard Chords, Classic Tattersall shirt and a red jumper FTW
Prefer Farben Chords myself wink

Matt UK

18,084 posts

231 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
Mustard Chords, Classic Tattersall shirt and a red jumper FTW
Add blue shoes and a scarf for that final 'this guy is one to watch' flourish!

Hoofy

80,170 posts

313 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Basically, dress like your dad.

Podie

46,649 posts

306 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
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deanogtv

Original Poster:

761 posts

251 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
good advice guys

I'll hold off busting out the cravat on the first day then and watch the crow carefully

ChasW

2,163 posts

233 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
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If you are wearing plain trousers and leather shoes make sure that your trousers are not shinier than your shoes!

wiggy001

7,404 posts

302 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Professional suit with trainers yes

deanogtv

Original Poster:

761 posts

251 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
wiggy001 said:
Professional suit with trainers yes
gangster

Foliage

3,861 posts

153 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Smart Shoes (plain black or brown, clean)
Socks (either coloured to match your shoes or trouser, ie no white socks)
Trousers (chinos or cords, black, blue, grey or earthy colours)
Shirt (always wear a shirt, plain or stripped no logos, not a 'casual' shirt)
Jumper (dependant on temperature obviously, plain or stripped, v neck or round neck, again no logos, a good well fitting jumper can make you look remarkably smart)
Sports Jacket or Blazer (dependant on temperature again, these are like a suit jacket but usually made of a more 'casual' material like linen, twill, tweed, herringbone, getting the right size is important)

Important points to note - make sure your clothes fit correctly, wrong fit makes you look scruffy. Its always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

shakotan

10,862 posts

227 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
rhinochopig said:
Gargamel said:
Mustard Chords, Classic Tattersall shirt and a red jumper FTW
Prefer Farben Chords myself wink
B Minor or C Sharp, gents?

stuart-b

3,651 posts

257 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Petrus1983 said:
I'd suggest chinos, shirt and possibly a jacket depending on weather - but without a tie.

ETA - polo shirts (Lacoste style) work well with chinos too, so you could always pack both and quickly spy what other people are wearing and dress appropriately.

Edited by Petrus1983 on Wednesday 14th May 09:23
Perfect, Chino's are great smart casual - with a nice shirt and blazer



Or if no Chino's, nice jeans,


Good luck! biggrin

MoleVision

999 posts

242 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Though if you have turn ups on your jeans they will give you nametag with "pillock" written on it.

tbh.. on any smart casual course you will see smart people on the 1st day but 1 person will be less smart. This person sets the standard for the 2nd say which most people will adjust to, but another person will go even more casual than the others on 2nd day.. and this sets the standard for the 3rd day and this pattern follows day by day until the last day when it'll be trainers, scruffy jeans (though still no teun ups), t-shirt and a hoodie, there may even be an idiot in a beanie!

Edited by MoleVision on Wednesday 14th May 19:58

iguana

7,366 posts

291 months

Wednesday 14th May 2014
quotequote all
Mankini, but with a tie just to be safe. ; )

Gargamel

16,415 posts

292 months

Thursday 15th May 2014
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shakotan said:
B Minor or C Sharp, gents?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Harvie-Hudson-Jermyn-Street-Mustard-Brown-Chords-trousers-36-L-/321147861028

Always Sharp wink