What to Wear for a Casual Work Dinner: Styles, Tips & Best Brands

Casual work dinners are a balancing act. You want to appear polished, approachable, and confident—without looking overdressed or underwhelming. This guide breaks down what to wear based on dress codes, body types, and seasonality, while recommending trusted high street and designer brands that get the balance just right.

1. Understanding the 'Casual Work Dinner' Dress Code

The phrase “casual work dinner” can be deceptively vague. Think of it as elevated casual: smart but comfortable, with no formal suiting required unless otherwise stated. It typically means:

No formal business wear (ties, full suits, or power dresses).
No sloppy casuals (joggers, hoodies, overly distressed denim).
Aim for polished ease: smart separates, understated tailoring, or elevated basics.

Common Dress Code Variations:

Smart casual: Think Reiss, COS, or Whistles co-ords, crisp shirts, tailored trousers.
Business casual: Add a blazer, loafers or smart mules, and tonal tailoring.
Creative casual: Play with prints, textures, and accessories—Me+Em and Ganni excel here.

2. What to Wear: Outfit Ideas by Category

For Women:

Top Options:

Silk or satin blouses (try Sézane or & Other Stories)
Relaxed structured shirts (Arket, Everlane)
Fine-gauge knits or cashmere tanks for layering (COS, Jigsaw)

Bottom Options:

Tailored cropped trousers (Whistles, Reiss)
Midi wrap skirts or pleated skirts (Massimo Dutti, Me+Em)
Dark indigo or black straight-leg jeans (Mother, Levi’s Premium)

Layering:

A structured blazer or longline coatigan works in all seasons.
For a trend-forward touch, opt for a boxy cropped jacket in boucle or wool blends.

Footwear:

Block-heeled mules, leather loafers, or pointed ankle boots.
Brands: Vagabond, Aeyde, Russell & Bromley.

Accessories:

Crossbody leather bags (Cuyana, APC)
Minimal gold or silver jewellery (Missoma, Mejuri)

For Men:

Shirt Options:

Oxford cotton button-downs (Uniqlo, Charles Tyrwhitt)
Knitted polo shirts or fine merino wool sweaters (Reiss, John Smedley)

Trousers:

Chinos or drawstring tailored trousers (COS, Closed)
Dark denim with a clean hem and no distressing (Nudie Jeans, Levi’s Made & Crafted)

Footwear:

Chelsea boots, derbies, or premium trainers in leather (Common Projects, Loake, M&S Autograph)

Outerwear:

A well-cut overshirt or unstructured wool blazer works well.

3. Dressing by Body Shape

Choosing pieces that balance proportions and highlight your strengths is key—especially in relaxed but semi-professional settings.

Apple Shape:

Flowy blouses with V-necks and tailored ankle trousers.
Brands like Me+Em and Baukjen offer forgiving yet structured shapes.

Pear Shape:

Statement tops, structured blazers, and A-line skirts or straight-leg trousers.
Try Whistles, Arket, and Reformation for flattering pieces.

Hourglass:

Wrap dresses, belted shirts, and high-waisted trousers accentuate curves beautifully.
Look at Reiss, Ghost, and Hobbs.

Athletic/Rectangle:

Add shape with peplum tops, pleated trousers, and soft layering.
Massimo Dutti, COS, and Ganni are ideal for tailoring with subtle shaping.

4. Seasonal Style Adjustments

Spring/Summer:

Light layers: linen shirts, cotton-blend cropped trousers.
Loafers or smart sandals in tan, white, or muted tones.
Soft colour palettes: sage, sand, ivory, or dusty rose.

Autumn/Winter:

Heavier textures like wool-blend blazers, merino jumpers, and leather.
Deep tones: navy, forest green, charcoal, plum.
Heeled boots and structured coats in statement cuts.

5. Best Brands for Casual Work Dinners

High Street:

COS – Minimalist tailoring with premium finishes.
& Other Stories – Trend-forward cuts with soft tailoring.
Whistles – Excellent for workwear basics with polish.
Massimo Dutti – Luxe-feeling pieces with clean silhouettes.
Reiss – Go-to for elevated smart casual.

Designer:

Me+Em – Known for intelligent tailoring and versatility.
Theory – Understated luxury with precision fits.
Ganni – Adds creative flair while staying refined.
Victoria Beckham – A splurge brand for sleek structured pieces.
Joseph – Sophisticated, timeless tailoring.

6. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Too casual: Avoid ripped jeans, slogan tees, or anything too lounge-y.
Too formal: Full suits, cocktail dresses, or ties can make you feel out of place.
Wearing new shoes: Always break in shoes to avoid discomfort.
Ignoring dress code cues: When in doubt, ask a colleague or aim for “smart elevated casual”.

7. The Smarter Way to Shop: Tellar.co.uk

No matter your body shape, outfit type, or brand preference, Tellar.co.uk removes the guesswork from dressing well.

Tellar is the UK’s Leading Sizing Tool—a platform that matches your exact body measurements to over 1,500+ brands including COS, Reiss, Arket, Me+Em, and Everlane. You’ll never need to check a confusing size guide again.

How it works:

Measure once using bust, waist, and hip—or input your known size from a favourite brand.
Create your free profile on tellar.co.uk.
Use the Store Size Lookup Tool to find your best-fitting size across hundreds of brands.
Download a free printable measuring tape to get started in minutes.
All tools are browser-based, no downloads needed.

🎯 No more returns. No more sizing confusion. Just accurate sizing every time.

8. Explore the Free Tellar Fashion Hub

Tellar doesn’t stop at sizing. The Tellar Fashion Hub is a constantly growing library of free, honest fashion content: styling tips, body shape advice, fabric guides, and best brand roundups.

A few posts you’ll love if prepping for a work dinner:

9. Follow Tellar for Real-Time Fashion Help

Stay on top of sizing updates, style trends, and expert tips:

Instagram: @Tellarsizing
Twitter/X: @TellarSizing
Pinterest: TellarSizing
Facebook: Tellar Sizing

Final Thought

A casual work dinner is your moment to express polish and personality in equal measure. Stick with flattering silhouettes, smart details, and subtle sophistication—and let Tellar.co.uk guide your sizing journey. With fewer fit errors and more outfit wins, you’ll dress smarter, shop better, and enjoy your evening with confidence.