'Smart casual' is the most-requested and least-defined dress code. It produces more outfit anxiety than formal occasions. The actual formula is narrower than the name suggests — between 'office formal' and 'weekend casual', tilting toward smart.
What works as smart casual
Quality jeans + blazer + white shirt + leather shoes. Tailored trousers + knit jumper + ankle boots. Midi dress + flat ankle boots + light jacket. Jumpsuit + heels or smart trainers. The unifying thread: deliberate, well-cut, neutral palette, accessory restraint.
What overshoots toward casual
Distressed jeans. Trainers (unless white minimalist). Hoodies. Loungewear-adjacent pieces. T-shirts without a layer over.
Develop two reliable smart casual outfit formulas. Rotate them. Removes daily decision-making and ensures you're appropriately dressed.