Define: Smart Casual

[Le_Petit_Lapin]

As long as you don't look like a goth/tramp/chav/going to a funeral/going to a dinner party you've got it about right.

Some will frown on jeans, some won't.

 

[DanTheMan]

Smart casual to me is:

Shoes
Nice pair of jeans/trousers
Anything but a t-shirt

Never had a problem dressing like that.

 

[BigglesPiP]

T-shirt, shorts/jeans, trainers/sandles.

That's how it's laid out in Hursley.

 

[crunchee]

Jeans (no rips), nice roll up sleeve shirt (no tie) or smart jumper and shoes (Smart trainers also acceptable).

*No baseball caps
*No tracksuit bottoms
*No knives

Are you sure? i heard places with these sort of requirements can be pretty rough

 

[Solari]

Hrm I think I'd better get out shopping and get some new gear in this case. I don't fancy going in work style trousers and shirt, I'll go looking for some chinos and shirt/jumper as posted earlier on - that looks smart

'tis for afternoon tea at the Landmark Hotel by the way.

 

[Jono8]

Smart jeans
casual shirt
smart trainers or shoes.

Basically, don't wear a suit but don't come in jogging bottoms and a manky hoody.

 

[Muban]

Jeans no matter how smart are not 'smart casual'. If you are comfortable wearing them and want to thats fine, but they aren't smart casual. Neither are trainers, even 'smart' ones

 

[Sic]

Dressing appropriately for an important occasion, whether it's a job interview, wedding, or funeral for example, conveys respect for the situation and the people involved. It sets the impression that you are taking it seriously, respectful of those present and that you have judged the situation correctly.

Fair enough. I just don't think a job interview carries the weight of a funeral or a wedding. I would expect to wear what I'd wear for the job I was doing. It's worked well for me so far, except for a couple of places and I didn't want them anyway, after the interview.

 

[Nitefly]

I really find that sort of thing funny. I went for a job interview recently and, as I said, I'm not one for dressing smart. I scrub up; trousers, dark trainers, shirt, smart jumper, but they seem to get them hump over something - maybe because I'm not wearing a suit. What difference does it make as to whether you're good at the job or not?!

Because making an obvious effort to impress shows:

a) You really want the job.

b) You are prepared to work hard or put effort into achieving your goals.

Therefore dressing otherwise shows:

a) You don't really want the job.

b) You arn't prepared to work hard or put effort into achieving your goals.

Like it or not, that is how many employers will view things.

For me, smart casual requires shoes and a shirt. The legware is more debatable and dependant on individual items.

 

[Von Luck]

..

 

[Mr^B]

Smart casual means NO jeans, no matter how smart they are, they are still jeans.

It's chinos or cords really.
Shirt (not a polo type shirt).
Shoes (not trainers or hiking boots or any of that rubbish)

However, this is strictly from an "interview dress code" sense of the term - and for any job I always go in a suit, if it's required or not (but that's the code of the city dontcherknow!)

 

[DB_SamX]

If in doubt, always go overdressed. Always. People might comment on it, but at least, it'll be positive, and you can always remove the extra jacket/tie.

 

[Sic]

Because making an obvious effort to impress shows:

a) You really want the job.

b) You are prepared to work hard or put effort into achieving your goals.

Therefore dressing otherwise shows:

a) You don't really want the job.

b) You arn't prepared to work hard or put effort into achieving your goals.

See, that isn't what would show that to me. If someone showed up in a suit and was utterly hopeless, you wouldn't think "hmmm, he did wear a suit, he must really want the job - let's give it to him", versus someone who showed up in a polo shirt, trousers and smart trainers and answered every question flawlessly, spoke confidently and knew what they were talking about.

I'm not expecting anyone to adopt my view on this, but it doesn't mean I'm wrong. In my opinion, I look really wrong when I'm buttoned-down. It doesn't fit my image, it looks forced and it isn't me. Like I said, I wouldn't want to work in a place where the way I look had that much of an effect on my chances of getting a job, so I guess it works out OK.

For the record, I've been told by several past employers and even some that didn't offer me jobs in the end that I make an excellent first impression and interview very well - so I guess I have my audience down.

 

[Gackt]

Dark Jeans, Dark shoes (no trainers), a dark shirt (with a tshirt underneath if it's cold), a belt, and well-groomed = win. It's what I plan on doing when I go on interviews for crap places of work. So I look like I'm worthy of the job, but not clearly overqualified, lol.