Smart casual clothing for autistic people

Hi everyone,

Not posted here for a while but I have a new job, probably the most professional environment I will ever work in, and I've been told the dress code is "smart casual". 

I really struggle with clothing unless it is jeans and t-shirt or comfier. What can I wear that looks smart but is also extremely comfortable? What do other people wear in professional office environments? I'm also carrying extra weight and now around a size 16, so I also don't want to look/feel huge. 

Any inspiration is appreciated. I have until Monday to buy something. 

  • I live in Matalan leggings and nice tops when i'm in the office, teamed up with comfy boots in winter or soft shoes in summer. :)

  • Smart casual really just means no rips, holes or slogans lol

  • Just to update, I met my manager today on Teams and she was SO understanding even though she said she has limited knowledge of autism. Plus she said the BEST thing - other people do just wear jeans and t-shirts/jumpers to work. This is SUCH a relief for me. I don't think she will truly understand this relief but she said she had a friend with an autistic child who has intense anxiety over non-uniform days at school and gave the example of world book day and THIS meant I could say first day at new job = world book day for me. 

    And actually, although I didn't go into it in depth, the reason being is that a new job and deciding how to dress does actually feel like fancy dress to me. Deciding who I want people to see me as, which of course everyone thinks about when starting a job but for me, I have had crippling anxiety that has caused me chronic heartburn for over a WEEK now and boiled over into a full sobbing episode in bed last night when I couldn't sleep and felt like an absolute failure. 

    I did discover, however, that some genius has invented jogging pants that look like formal trousers that I bought for £16 from tesco. They feel cheap and scratchy though and I'm not sure if I will keep them right now, but they are still quite comfortable thanks to the elasticated waist so I might just keep them just in case. 

  • Thank you, I am going to have some more time to browse in the shops this week. I went shopping today and it was a disaster. Nothing felt right or looked right. 

    I've also subscribed to Stitch Fix tonight so that will be interesting... 

  • I’d wear stretchy black jeans but ones that are completely black not the dye wash ones so they look like trousers and a comfortable top, a half or three quarter length sleeve t shirt with a lowish shaped neck? I have some loose blouses as well which would work for smart casual. Maybe something like this with some detailing?

    www.next.co.uk/.../U00691