Confused! Edited to include piccies - YouLookFab Forum

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Confused! Edited to include piccies

Louise

Veteran

Are the MOTG formula's casual or smart casual?
I usually wear a variation of these to work (no blue jeans) and felt smart casual but what then is classed as casual wear? I came to get dressed today and wanted casual I've ended up in a pair of black cargo type (no thigh pockets) trousers and a pink hoodie but am wondering if this is more loungewear aaarrrrgggghhhh help me define casual x

Edit Sihaya came up with a great idea to include piccies for clarification
I have worn all the following for work smart casual? My work doesn't actually have a dress code just no blue jeans so I do wear black zippered skinnies and my denim tunic shirt
#1 http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....10/001.jpg

#2 http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....0_0367.jpg

#3 http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....0_0311.jpg

The following I can't wear for work because of the jeans but I would still think of these as smart casual?
#4 http://i594.photobucket.com/al.....0_0329.jpg

General

15 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Steffie

I thought MOTG was casual. In my world, I actually label those outfits as 'cute casual' to mark the very sort of distinction you're asking about.

For me, the quickest and easiest way for me to understand which category I'm dressing in (in summer) comes from my footwear. If the outfit looks best with Converse or fashion sneakers, it's super-casual. If it calls for sweet sandals or ballet flats, it's cute-casual. (And if I'm wearing dress shoes, it's smart!) It's not 100% fool proof but it works for me.

I'm looking forward to hearing what others think.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Louise, I think the MOTG formulas can be casual to smart casual depending on the dressiness of the components. ie... converse vs heels, graphic t vs button down, etc. I think the very nature and intention of the MOTG formulas is that they are a stylish way to do casual, but they can certainly be smarted up a bit.
I do think what you described would be considered casual or loungewear (by nature of the hoodie)
It is hard to make distinctions between the various levels of dress because there is alot of overlap between them I think.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

What Kim said. I think footwear and knits verses woven tops do a lot to transition casual into smart casual.

Queen Mum

Veteran

Khris... I see a great SYC challenge here

Tanya

Veteran

I also agree with Kim: the formulas were meant to be casual, but certainly be modified into smart casual as well.

Sihaya

Veteran

I would vote mostly casual too for MOTG though there are some combinations that would certainly qualify for smart casual. Louise, maybe you should post pictures of some of your MOTG ensembles and we can specifically call them out?

Louise

Veteran

Great idea Sihaya I have edited my origianl post to include some pictures x

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I agree with what everyone has said. Are things clearer now, Louise?

Louise

Veteran

I think so. Think I may need to look for some converse type shoes. The shop your closet ban may have to be broken soon!!

Queen Mum

Veteran

hmm, I think I would call 1 and 2 casual
3 I could qualify as smart casual
4 I'm on the fence about. I think a darker wash jean would be more clearly smart casual.

but take that with a grain of salt.

edit.. maybe #2 is more smart casual since you have the hose.

Donna

I agree with Kim on the pictures you posted.

I think of a hoodie as being casual even if it's in a more dressy fabrication (like cashmere). That may just be my hang up with hoodies though.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Those all look casual to me, but perfectly acceptable for a casual workplace. Here are Angie's posts on Smart Casual for clarification:
http://youlookfab.com/2006/09/.....or-ladies/
http://youlookfab.com/2008/01/.....nd-beyond/

Louise

Veteran

Thanks for the links Khris. I think I was just starting to feel a tad overdressed and was thinking I needed something more casual than work stuff which looks like being classed as casual, you see why I was confused!! x

Vix

Veteran

Hi Louise --

FWIW, aside from look #1 (which I would term "casual") all of your outfits look like they fit into smart casual OR business casual to me.*

Looks like you are bringing a great dash of visual diversity to your office!

*I may be missing some nuances in Angie's descriptions/classifications, but I just re-read the bizcas posts and I didn't see anything there that would change my vote. [I am open to being corrected!]

Scarlet

Veteran

Just based on my gut reaction I actually agree with Vix that the first outfit is casual and the rest are smart casual.