Smart? Casual?

After finishing university for a week and applying for in excess of 40 new media related jobs I landed myself a job as a proposal writer for a well-established Internet marketing company. 

I was shell-shocked when I received a telephone call the same day as the interview advising that I had been successful and one of the best candidates interviewed. After all, this was the first interview I had been on to progress in my new career.

For the interview, I wore a new suit and shirt. My suit had only been worn once previously and was very comfortable, which I needed as I was traveling 1.5 hours to the interview.

Women's trousers were the biggest problem for me when purchasing the suit as I have fairly long legs and a small torso and waist. I decided to go for wide leg black trousers. I did try a pair of high waisted trousers but these emphasised my small torso and made me look as though as I was on stilts.

My new trousers accompanied by the matching suit made me feel very grown up and professional, and accompanied by a classic white shirt I was smart and confident, which clearly paid off.

A few days passed and I received the contract in the post with all of the companies, terms and conditions on and the dress code. To my surprise, as I hadn't noticed when I was in for the interview, the office attire states "smart casual" now this an be deceiving as I found out 3 days in to the job.

Smart casual to me is a pair of jeans, shirts, and women’s trouser in linen material and plain t-shirts. So, on my first day I wanted to make a good impression and wore black trousers with a white t-shirt and a long dress cardigan and black shoes, perfectly acceptable. 

Day two, after noticing that the lads in the office wore jeans and t-shirts and pumps which to me equals comfort and style and the girls also sported jeans and t-shirts I opted for the same. One girl even wore shorts with tights underneath and boots. I slipped on my dark smart jeans with a dressy girlie t-shirt and white pumps, I felt comfortable and to me relatively dressy. 

Day three, today I opted for light coloured jeans, again smart with no stains or rips in them, a white t-shirt and pumps with a brown Ted Baker belt and handbag to add a touch of girliness. However, during a mid week progress meeting with the boss he pointed out that smart casual is not the same as what I believe it to be.

Smart casual for a female is: women's trousers, smart jeans or a suitable length skirt and NO TRAINERS or PUMPS.

So on day four I opted for black linen trousers with a shirt and black balero with white peep toe sandals and day five I wore skinny jeans tucked on to knee high boots, a white t-shirt and waistcoat.

Atleast, I discovered in my first week what is acceptable to wear. Thats what week one is all about, learning!