Dressy casual dress code

Mellllls

Hi,
Recently while on vacation a lot of restaurants I went to had a 'dressy casual' dress code. I don't really know what this means; I am guessing something in between smart casual and business casual. I erred on the dressier side because I hate being under-dressed but am trying to figure out what this means in case I ever run across it again. If anyone has any ideas, please share!
Thanks!

17 years ago

Dressing

7 replies

Latest reply was from Mellllls

anne

Veteran

I would think 'smart Casual" would be okay. Or maybe smart casual but not jeans.

17 years ago

kbosh

Active Member

I'd say no jeans or sandals, but no cocktail dresses either. Cute skirts, kitten heels, smart slacks. "Smart Casual" seems like the British way to say "Dressy Casual," like theater vs. theatre and grey vs. gray. I always prefer British.

17 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

To me, that would seem to encompass business casual then.....do you think it should?

17 years ago

kbosh

Active Member

With the way some offices are, sure. I think dressy casual allows for a little more sex appeal and personality than business casual.

17 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

Yeah I get that. Generally though when I see business casual as the dress code for a restaurant I think that it encompasses a look that allows for sex appeal and personality. Hopefully I'm not wrong about that!

17 years ago

tarzy

Veteran

What were the other patrons wearing?

17 years ago

Mellllls

Veteran

seemed to vary. at one place, it seemed most of the men were wearing sport coats and the women dresses but it was valentine's day. the other place there seemed to be a range from casual to business casual. this was in new orleans. where i live though, (dc) you really can't judge by what the other patrons are wearing. it's become a big issue that people are dressing casual or sub-casual at nicer restaurants where there are stricter dress codes. the restaurants aren't refusing to serve them due to the economy so it makes it hard to tell what is appropriate. some patrons are complaining though about the lack of appropriate attire.

17 years ago

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