The rise of the smart casual dress code has been felt in offices across the UK. Whether workplaces are feeling the influence of remote working or they’re just becoming more relaxed in general, clothing requirements are becoming less traditional. While 74% of employers do enforce some kind of dress code, gone are the suits, blazers, and ties for many.
Many workplaces now allow jeans and other dress-down styles, but it can be difficult to navigate that line between casual and just plain inappropriate. Smart casual in the office is here to stay for the most part so here is how you can embrace it while maintaining professional standards:
Maintaining professionalism
Dress codes are important to upholding the image that a company wants to convey and for many, this is of professionalism and reliability. While corporate culture is becoming more laid-back, there is still value in maintaining a professional image in a smart-casual setting. You want to hit that perfect balance of being comfortable but looking presentable.
Avoiding outfit options like short skirts, shorts, ripped jeans or caps and hats is a good place to start. The company guidelines should be specific about what is prohibited but you can achieve the smart casual look by opting for smart pieces along the lines of dark wash jeans, classic t-shirts, blouses, and low heels.
Personal style
Smart casual office wear leaves a lot of room to inject individual styles professionally so staff should be encouraged to express themselves through their workwear. Experimenting with colour or accessories like luxury watches can infuse personal style into your ensemble for an overall look that is distinctly you while compliant with workplace standards.
A good rule is to find garments that are relatively tailored but have surprise elements that allow you to make a statement. Whether you choose embellished buttons or a textured pair of trousers, you can support your personal style.
Company-specific guidelines
While embracing the evolution of smart casual office wear is important, it’s essential to have company-specific dress code regulations in place. This prevents any future confusion that could potentially damage a business by setting out what is meant by ‘smart casual wear’ and if there are any items that are prohibited.
The definition of what smart casual means may vary across organisations so it’s important to make this clear to new starters. There also may be reasons why certain clothing is restricted that are specific to individual work environments.
Having an updated, fashion-forward dress code is something every company should be working towards if you haven’t already incorporated it. It should also be easily accessible to every employee and mindful of their specific needs.
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