I love the look on the far right. That’s about my style… Love the shoes.

Angie, this post was very timely for me! I have a three day train excursion coming up for which the dress code is “smart casual”, and I confess that it has been a term that gives me fits. I love that the combinations you’ve shown use the same pair of flats!

Great pix! Hey, can you give me some examples of a stylish denim skirt (that’s not a mini)? Dark wash notches it up for sure, but what about silhouettes?

Denim skirts are few and far between at the moment Jennifer which is annoying and a missed retail opportunity. I’m hoping that they’ll be more choice as the season unfolds. I’ll be sure to blog about them as soon as they come out.

I love the smart casual look…and these pics are fab! I, too, love seeing the embellished flats as I wear them often.

Jeans are allowed at my office, but very much frowned on by our managing partner (and I work in a creative industry!) I avoid jeans and also denim skirts and jackets for the office.

I like the look on the left. The shirt and jacet are so cute, and the shoes are great.

I never wear jeans to work. Even if you work somewhere where it is acceptable, I always feel that I want to look and feel like I am professional. I also find that it is inevitably on the days when I am in my more casusal Friday chlothes that I get called to an unexcpected meeting with the higher ups. The dark denim skirt is a good option as is the dress with the removable jean jacket!
Princess.

I love these looks (especially the one on the far right). But I’d also love to find an alternative to jeans. Although I work in a creative industry where jeans are perfectly acceptable, I prefer black pants for my work look. The trick is finding pants that aren’t too businessy, but are still “grown up.” It’s a delicate balance.

And thanks again, Angie, for all the wonderful tips! (I have been wearing my new Haflinger slippers with great pleasure, thanks to you!)

You raise a good point Tarzy. There are jeans or dress pants and very little in-between. Khaki’s are hard and “non-businessy” black pants are even harder. Try a pinstripe or subtle check (much like a false plain) instead of jeans. I have a few of those in my wardrobe and they work well.

A variation of the skirt question. Boden always carries long, ankle-length skirts. They manage to make them cute with their fun prints and sneakers, but I’m wondering if they make the average woman like me, who’s not a model, look frumpy. What do you think? What’s a flattering length that doesn’t look frumpy? (Again, no minis!)

Long skirts are best on tall ladies Jennifer. Long skirts can look great but they are hard for the average height women to pull off. The most flattering length of skirt for any body type is somewhere at the knee. This can mean just above, on, or just below depending on the individual. Around the knee is best because it’s the place that cuts your leg length in half so that your legs naturally look their longest and slimmest.

It also depends on proportions. A woman of average height can wear long skirts well if all her height’s in her legs. Long torso, short legs, not so much.

[...] without at least one pair of fab jeans. If you don’t have a pair, make it your next mission. A smart casual look is flop-proof and well worth the [...]

[...] quickly, but enjoyed every minute of it because I was bundled up and ready for the cold. I dressed smart casually every day, erring on the casual side for wet, slushy days, and on the smarter side for business [...]

[...] of dark wash jeans because you can dress them up or down. They form an integral part of the smart casual dress code, but look just as good with Converse sneakers, casual boots or casual sandals when you’re after a [...]