Smart/casual clothing ideas for work

[michael_JCWS]

I’m starting a new job where the dress code is smart casual. I’ve worked in smart environments ( suit, tie ) and casual ( jeans polo shirt) what’s peoples definitions of smart casual?

Any shopping recommendations( I don’t enjoy shopping particularly) I just want to go online and buy an outfit or two.

Cheers

Michael

[E63eeeeee...]

If you're not brave enough to ask, try to find out what the other people wear before shopping, so if you can, find an excuse to pop into the office before you start, or failing that I'd go for shirt and trousers for day one and take it from there. I don't think anyone actually knows what smart casual means, other than that it's somewhere between suits'n'ties and ripped jeans.

[zetec]

Chinos and polo shirts

[zb]

I'd go with chinos and a shirt (gingham check or similar), until you get the lie of the land. Then all bets are off.

[Inspire]

zb said:

I'd go with chinos and a shirt (gingham check or similar), until you get the lie of the land. Then all bets are off.

Me too, although I would add some smart shoes (not trainers!) If in any doubt, dress conservatively.

[Quattr04.]

M&S autograph range,

Chinos or casual trousers, a patterned polo or shirt, or a nice jacket

It’s basically anything that isn’t a big branded t shirt and shorts or a suit, jeans are usually ok

[bitchstewie]

I'd just see what the reality is the first couple of days in the office and go from there.

For me I'd take that to be chinos and a polo or a sweater or a hoodie but some places might take it to mean something completely different.

[Blown2CV]

there isn't really a lot of flexibility for men. Chinos, shirt, shoes.

[POIDH]

Blown2CV said:

there isn't really a lot of flexibility for men. Chinos, shirt, shoes.

This really.
And get started before you invest in a wardrobe...
Footwear is a big one for me - a good boot or shoe can smarten up all sorts.
I've just been promoted so have had to invest in a jacket, dust down my suit, smarten up those shoes and chinos...
I buy a lot from M&S Autograph or Next Signature - I know they fit, last well, reasonable cost, and Vinted is FULL of thier stuff brand new for buttons...

[Sheets Tabuer]

Google finance bro.

[Mark Turmell]

Where I’m contracting at the moment they have a smart casual policy, so I wear decent navy or black jeans, polo, hoody, sketchers, trainers and never had an issue.

But they don’t like scruffy jeans with holes, football t shirts, gym wear.

Ask before you start, on my first day I wore chinos, Oxford shirt, shoes and soon realised I was overdressed.

Better to go smarter and dress down once you’ve read the room so to speak.

[Blown2CV]

POIDH said:

Blown2CV said:

there isn't really a lot of flexibility for men. Chinos, shirt, shoes.

This really.
And get started before you invest in a wardrobe...
Footwear is a big one for me - a good boot or shoe can smarten up all sorts.
I've just been promoted so have had to invest in a jacket, dust down my suit, smarten up those shoes and chinos...
I buy a lot from M&S Autograph or Next Signature - I know they fit, last well, reasonable cost, and Vinted is FULL of thier stuff brand new for buttons...

agree.

I usually go shirts thomas pink, chinos mr marvis, shoes i have one set of Lanx and one thomas bird at the mo. I do have a couple of blazers, summer sort of linen thing and a nice one from hackett.