Smart Casual
 

[Closed] Smart Casual

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I have to attend a work do later this week and have been told that the evening meal has a dress code of "Smart Casual" and that the men need to wear jackets.

Smart I can do.

(Very) casual I can also do.

It would appear I need a smartish jacket that I can wear with jeans (chinos will not be featuring in my ensemble no matter what) and won;t make it look as though I've taken fashion advice from the wardrobe department at Top Gear.

To this end I've decided to ask a bunch of mountain bikers what I should wear 😯 so....any suggestions?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:24 am
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remove a tie, jacket matches trousers

better to be smarter than casual


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:25 am
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Dark jeans, white shirt, a suit jacket and some smart shoes


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:26 am
 br
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Pinstripe jacket with jeans?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:26 am
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Wear this "Smart I can do."

Remove tie and swap trousers for your best jeans.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:27 am
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not answering the question, but is just me who hears the words "sports jacket" and thinks of goretex and zips instead of tweedy stuff?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:28 am
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smart casual and jeans?

jeans is casual


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:30 am
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[img] [/img]
[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:30 am
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Chinos are spot on for such a remit, you Philistine 🙂


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:31 am
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Only 7 posts before a picture of AP and JC 😀 I had bet with myself it would happen before we hit double figures 8)

As I will need to purchase said garment and chinos havent featured in my wardrobe since the mid 1980s I'd like to limit additional clothes shopping to 1 item if at all possible 😉

but is just me who hears the words "sports jacket" and thinks of goretex and zips instead of tweedy stuff?

No, me too


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:36 am
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Board shorts, wifebeater vest and a tie?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:38 am
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Use a tie as a belt-substitute on your jeans.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:40 am
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As above, just wear a suit with no tie. If everyone is more casual, take your jacket off, if they're smart you can keep it on. All bases covered.

It helps if you've got a suit/shirt combo that isn't overly business like (ie not black/dark grey). I've got a nice navy one that covers pretty much everything from weekend family celebrations to work stuff.

IMO "smart casual" was made up to protect events from people turning in tracksuit bottoms covered in paint and a 1993 Sweatershop jumper. Or girls dressing like they were turning tricks before they arrived.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:42 am
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"smart casual" is a oxymoron, "smart casual with a jacket" doesn't even exist in my world. It sounds to me like the new office wear look of suit without tie.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:44 am
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As I will need to purchase said garment and chinos havent featured in my wardrobe since the mid 1980s I'd like to limit additional clothes shopping to 1 item if at all possible

Do you own a suit? Easy to remove tie.
Chinos are not something you should ever wear in public, jeans and a jacket can be pulled off if you get it right...


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:45 am
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JC isn't smart casual, he's 'yob casual'.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:46 am
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"Smart Casual" and that the men need to wear jackets.
their logical failure not yours 🙂

both bits of suit, smart shoes, tie can be worn or removed and put into a pocket, everyone else will play it safe


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:46 am
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Its a minefield. Just don't go.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:48 am
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I have to attend a work do later this week

And I'm out.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:49 am
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Stevet1 - Member
I have to attend a work do later this week

And I'm out.

LOL your colleagues thank you it's easier to talk about you if you don't show 🙂


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:51 am
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Chinos are not something you should ever wear in public

Heartily agree with this ^

Looks as though it's going to have to be suit without a tie, either that or I'll go the full Francis Rossi double denim 😉


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:52 am
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Just make sure the shirt is really billowy and puffs out like a muffin top over your trousers.
shoes should be a bit pointy with scuffed toes. jacket should fit badly.
you will probably fit right in if the other people going if they are your average U.K.males.

italian firm/clients/colleagues?
try looking at a few style blogs/pinterest/GQ/Esquire and find a look that you think you would be comfortable with and match it.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:52 am
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italian firm/clients/colleagues?

Scottish based firm....

People from all over the UK


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:55 am
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Tweed jacket with jeans.
[img][URL= http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/sputnik_photos/Screen%20Shot%202015-05-18%20at%2011.52.30_zpstbw4jl87.pn g" target="_blank">http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff215/sputnik_photos/Screen%20Shot%202015-05-18%20at%2011.52.30_zpstbw4jl87.pn g"/> [/IMG][/URL][/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 10:59 am
 dazh
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t-shirt with 'smart casual' written on it?

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:03 am
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Scottish based firm

Follow the local traditional smart casual with jacket dress code...

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:05 am
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Sounds like they want you to go "business casual"...

[img] [/img]

If I have to wear a jacket I'd not count it as being [i]casual[/i].

What do you normally wear to work?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:05 am
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Personally I think a suit-jacket worn with jeans looks daft.
I'd wear chinos, shirt and a smart jacket (not a suit jacket)...
As you won't wear chinos, wear jeans...


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:09 am
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LOL@ Rab C...

'I tell you this boy *thumps newspaper in hand* I'm not wearing no chinos for no po-faced work bamsted'


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:14 am
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[img] [/img]
Well someone had to do it.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:16 am
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Scottish based firm....

Edinburgh?

[img] /revision/latest?cb=20121031114423[/img]

or Glasgow?

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:20 am
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[img] [/img]
From a 3 yr old STW thread on Smart Casual:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/smart-casual


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:20 am
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full suit but no tie ... If it's good enough for the leaders of our
country !


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:22 am
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There is only one place to go at a time like this:

http://thechapmagazine.co.uk/


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:24 am
 Gunz
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Having sat through several lectures on correct attire for various occassions at Dartmouth Naval College, I'm going to wade in here. Sports jacket with light blue jeans doesn't cut it, dark blue or light brown, possibly. I have never given in to the chinos so I know where you're coming from but I am partial to very thin corduroy (primarily because they can be chucked in a suitcase and iron themselves at your destination).
Failing any of this you really can't fail with a pair of bright red moleskins (leave the Regimental tie at home).


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:27 am
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[img] [/img]
I'll be ****ed if I ever dress in loafers, a "sport" jacket or "slacks". I'd sooner just wear a suit.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:27 am
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suburbanreuben - Edinburgh


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:30 am
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Me* - yesterday

*ok, not actually me. Older, fatter and lot more ugly, but this is my 'smart casual' which I'll randomly wear to work or the pub just because I can.

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:37 am
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[img] [/img]

Do you have to have the funny stains as well? Looks like she poured tea down her skirt....


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:39 am
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[i]and won;t make it look as though I've taken fashion advice from the wardrobe department at Top Gear.[/i]

Shoes: Not trainers.
Trousers: Dark Blue Jeans (if you've nothing else), or other similar, chinos, cords, etc
Shirt, not polo, not tee shirt
pullover or Jacket

Simple.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 11:43 am
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The problem with "Smart Casual" as a dress code is hardly anyone, and most particularly the person stipulating it, actually knows what it means. Lots of people will give suggestions as to what is smart and what is casual on the basis of what they perceive the words to mean - not the clothes you'd wear for a job interview and not the clothes you'd wear doing DIY so something in-between. They take it as casual compared to the work environment. But the Smart Casual dress code is part of system of formal dress code that starts with uniforms for state occasions then down through white tie and black tie towards 'Smart Casual' - Its part of system of dress for the establishment and Smart Casual means dressing like the landed gentry dress when they're not at the State Opening of the Houses of Parliament (or dressing the way I find my neighbour when he's passed out drunk on the bonnet of his car around teatime on a friday). If you bought your own furniture you're unlikely to have the blazer and needle cords in your wardrobe. The thing is - half the time the person stipulating 'Smart Casual' doesn't own those clothes either.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:04 pm
 Jamz
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Forget jeans and chinos! What you need is a pair of lightweight cords (maybe heavyweight if the weather up there is as bad as they say?).

I'm thinking along the lines of nice deep green for the cords, maybe with a medium/darker grey tweed or herringbone jacket and a pastel coloured shirt, maybe lilac or pink?

I'd probably go for black leather brogues, or nice Chelsea type boot, something that's been worn in a bit, not too polished. Black belt to match.

Finally, a silk cravat to finish, golden/burn orange sort of colour? Perhaps with a bit of colour that matches your eyes...


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:06 pm
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[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:12 pm
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[url= http://lookatmy****ingredtrousers.blogspot.co.uk ]some style tips[/url]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:23 pm
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some style tips

he's not kept that site up to date.

very funny though.....


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:29 pm
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I wouldn't go to a work do that was smart casual just in case I became drunk in the presence of some **** wearing jeans and a jacket


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:35 pm
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There are some quite nice jackets around that can easily go with jeans or other casual wear. Quite tempted myself except than I never need one.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:36 pm
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what are 'monk strapped shoes'?
I hope it has nothing to do with harry, maybe related to the the Da Vinci code?


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 12:59 pm
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Tailored single-breasted suit with nice patterned shirt and no tie. Or swap the trousers for some well-fitting DARK jeans. Shoes should always be smart. Brown is an option.

Chinos, blazer and polo shirt for our American friends. None of which should have any close-fitting attributes 😉


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 1:06 pm
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There are some quite nice jackets around that can easily go with jeans or other casual wear

The Chap has a list of approved designs for the modern Gentleman:

http://thechapmagazine.co.uk/the-chap-recommends/recommended-outer-clothing/


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 1:07 pm
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Smart. dark, non-frayed and not baggy jeans. Chino#s also good but given you've ruled them out I'll ignore.
Shoes. But not too formal shoes, brown brogues are perfect.
Shirt. If you have the physique, a well cut white shirt works, if not a patterned shirt that doesn't look like a work shirt that you've forgotten the tie for.
Jacket. Dark blue, light tweed, maybe even a bit of colour. But as with the shirt, out's important it doesn't just look like you forgot to put your suit trousers on.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 1:14 pm
 core
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Dark, tidy, jeans.

Shirt, preferably oxford style/button down collar.

Jacket - tweed/navy .

Brown leather shoes - belt to match.


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 1:20 pm
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I introduce... The Onesie Suit! 😯

[img] [/img]


 
Posted : 18/05/2015 1:22 pm
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Posted : 18/05/2015 2:44 pm