What is a smart-casual dress code?

A smart-casual dress code is a business dress code that is not as relaxed as business casual but not quite business formal. It is a polished business-casual look.

This look makes allowances for personal taste and often includes dress skirts and pants, tailored clothing, leather footwear and complementary jewelery. Smart-casual clothing can often be seen on ambitious people who want to be promoted or people in supervisory positions.

Smart-casual clothing is also often seen on professionals in classrooms and business conference presenters. Attendees at these events are generally casually dressed. The term smart-casual first appeared in an Iowan newspaper in May of 1924.