smart casual

or smart-casual

adjective

1. (of clothing) neat or professional-looking but fairly casual:

   The dress code for the event will be smart casual.

noun

1. smart casual clothing or style.

Word History and Origins

Origin of smart casual¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

Places like The Savoy, the Willard Hotel and Waldorf Astoria are less strict on dress codes, but still ask their guests to arrive in smart casual attire.

From Salon

"For ladies, business, formal, or smart casual wear applies. Skirts and dresses should be below knee-length and decent. Sleeveless blouses are prohibited," he said.

From BBC

When I wear Western smart casual in the U.S.,

From Scientific American

Its campaigns show women wearing the unisex tops with satin skirts and styled as smart casual clothing to wear out to dinner.

From Reuters

The wedding of a college classmate had a “smart, but not too smart casual” dress code.

From Seattle Times