What is Smart Casual Dress Code? A Guide for All Genders

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Figuring out what to wear to work can be tricky. Wearing a hoodie or sweatshirt might seem too casual, but donning may look so rigid. How about the combination of both? This is what we call “smart casual”. To put simply, Vogue describes it as a relaxed outfit that still feels formal.

Now, how to actually pull off that look? This article will help you understand the nuances of smart casual, how it differs from business casual, and provide some tips on donning this dress code.

What is Smart Casual?

As mentioned earlier, smart casual refers to a dress code that strikes a balance between formality and comfort. In other words, it’s more polished than casual wear but not as rigid as formal attire. And this is basically the goal of smart casual: a comfy, professional look, but not too formal.

Forbes stated that smart casuals have been around longer than people could imagine. Its first emergence was in 1924. Their popularity grew along with the rise of Silicon Valley, and during the pandemic as well, when people used Zoom to communicate.

Although the pandemic is over, smart casuals still stick around and even become one of the most standard ways of dressing in today’s workplace. Regardless, what are exactly classified as smart casuals?

For men, smart casuals might mean an outfit combining a knit polo shirt, a good jacket, a pair of dark, well-fitting jeans, and leather sneakers. Whereas for women, you may want to choose a sleek blouse paired with an unstructured jacket, trousers, and modern loafer.

When it comes to smart casuals, Forbes suggested you to avoid the following:

- Loud prints and patterns

- Ripped jeans

- Revealing clothing

- Flashy accessories

- Suit and tie

- Hoodies

- Sweatshirts

- Crocs or flip flops

- Athletic wearing

Furthermore, to pull off this look, the most important thing is hygiene and tidiness. Avoid coming to work with an unshowered look. Take a shower and be sure to keep your appearance neat and tidy.

What’s the Difference between Smart Casual and Business Casual?

There is a common misconception that smart casual and business casual are one and the same. However, there are certain distinctions between the two.

Citing from Forbes, business casual exhibits a more formal and conservative style. This mode of dress is prevalent in large meetings and is typically worn by those working in the financial sector.

How do you dress in business casual? For men, it means that you will put on a collared shirt with a suit as the outer. You may want to choose a good loafer for your shoes.

As for women, an outfit consisting of a sweater over a knee-length skirt or slacks with a low heel or a dressy flat can be a great option.

Now, you can easily transform a business casual attire into a smart casual. For example, for men, you can just ditch the suit and wear dark chinos or jeans instead. Swap the loafer with a pair of Chelsea boots.

For women, keep the sweater and skirt. Change the sweater with something for a modern look, like a white button shirt with a longer hem.

So, next time you’re wondering what to wear, remember that smart casual gives you the freedom to be stylish yet comfortable, professional yet relaxed.

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