Journal

Smart casual depends on context. With a shirt or polo, smart trousers and suitable shoes you can easily raise or lower the formality.

A reunion mainly calls for clothing that suits the location and that stays comfortable for a long time. Use familiar pieces and match the formality to the programme.

For a business breakfast, company culture matters more than one fixed dress code. Choose a comfortable outfit that also suits the rest of your working day.

For dinner at your manager's home, the type of invitation and the company culture lead. When in doubt, ask about the dress code and above all choose something comfortable.

For the first terrace day, it is mainly about changing temperatures. Choose a comfortable base and, if needed, bring an extra layer for the shade or the evening.

No special dress code is needed for a parents' evening. Above all, choose clothing in which you can sit, walk and hold a conversation comfortably.

At a cooking workshop, clothing is first about safety and room to move; at a chef's table, it is about the restaurant's dress code.

For a book launch or lecture there is rarely a fixed dress code. Choose clothing that suits the location, your role and seated comfort; as a speaker, the technology counts too.

A whole day of training calls for clothes that are comfortable, easy to wear in layers and stay polished. Here is how to choose an outfit for women and men.

You are joining an open day at a university or college. Here is how to dress as a parent: neat, comfortable and, above all, in the background.

A business summer drinks event calls for smart casual: polished, but light. This is how you choose an outfit that suits the mood and the weather.

A high tea calls for an outfit that is polished but not too formal. Here is how to find the right balance for women and men, from tea room to hotel.