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Define “Smart/ Casual” in a Ski Hotel

 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
Off to Morzine, Hotel Viking, in a few weeks time. Slightly concerned to read “The dress code for evening meals is smart/casual”. Anyone got any advice? Surely we are not expected to pack lots of daft clothes for the week?
My definition of smart-casual would be clean / newish jeans, T-shirt or blouse and a fleece without pet hairs. Please someone tell me it doesn’t mean a dress and the OH needs to pack a sports jacket Puzzled for a Crystal 3* Ski hotel??
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@JanA, I'd say do what pleases you, ignore it. You paid for a room and board not for the fashion police to scrutinise you.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
That just means they'd prefer you to change out of ski gear before dinner.
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Slap some boardshorts over your budgiesmugglers and a hoodie over your wifebeater.
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No work clothes
For the Viking leave axes, horned helmets and bearskins in your room.
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At a 3* hotel?
Base layers or a onesie?
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@JanA, I would imagine you are pretty safe with what you suggest, although I think you would technically be driving a coach and horses through the term 'smart/casual' with either a fleece (with or without pet hairs) or a T-Shirt. If it was me, in any sort of ski hotel, then I'd personally go for clean jeans with shirt and decent jumper.

In some countries I think you have to bear in mind what others will be wearing. The Brits tend to be the shabbiest by far, and if the hotel has a broad mix of nationalities then I think you might want to dress up quite a bit more so you don't feel seriously out of place.

I definitely don't think you need a dress or sports jacket, but maybe just one step down from it.

@Pruman, it's not a question of fashion police. If 95% of your guests take the trouble to dress smartly then, for the comfort of all, you don't really want the other 5% dressing like tramps. Or vice versa.
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After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Given the cost of high end ski gear (and its ultimate use for some folks) I'd be more worried but not surprised to read, “The dress code for evening meals is Peak Perf., Norrona or Arc'teryx”
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Anything which is one step up from shaggy slippers setting off the base layers you've been wearing all day.

If it's as stupidly overheated as most ski hotels you won't want to be wearing a fleece in the dining room. Decent jeans and a reasonable top/shirt should do it.
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They are basically saying have a shower/bath and change for dinner.
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I had a similar instruction for a hotel in Austria with inghams. They confirmed it just meant no ski wear. I wore jeans and a tshirt for and had no problems about dress and plenty of others were wearing the same. I shouldn't bother about a sports jacket unless it's your normal attire and you want to wear it
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I have been to Hotel Viking in Morzine, smart casual without the smart should do it. Jeans and a tee shirt.
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Beachwear. Works everywhere.
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
foxtrotzulu wrote:

@Pruman, it's not a question of fashion police. If 95% of your guests take the trouble to dress smartly then, for the comfort of all, you don't really want the other 5% dressing like tramps. Or vice versa.


The other guests won't though. Why would anyone allow a UK tour operator with their unique idea of a 3 star (think 2 stars) dictate the dress code? As long as I'm comfortable I really don't care what others around me chose to wear (weddings, funerals, black tie aside)
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
@T Bar, Laughing
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 Poster: A snowHead
Poster: A snowHead
@Pruman,
Quote:

The other guests won't though. Why would anyone allow a UK tour operator with their unique idea of a 3 star (think 2 stars) dictate the dress code?
It's not necessarily a question of Crystal 'dictating' dress code. It's more likely to be the hotel owners. Are you assuming that all the guests will be going through Crystal? Certainly wasn't the case when we stayed with Crystal in Obergurgl. That was a 4* and 'smart casual' would have been a pretty accurate description of how people are dressed - most of whom were neither British nor travelling with Crystal. Like you, many people won't care if they are over/under dressed, but quite a few will do.
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Pruman wrote:
foxtrotzulu wrote:

@Pruman, it's not a question of fashion police. If 95% of your guests take the trouble to dress smartly then, for the comfort of all, you don't really want the other 5% dressing like tramps. Or vice versa.


The other guests won't though. Why would anyone allow a UK tour operator with their unique idea of a 3 star (think 2 stars) dictate the dress code? As long as I'm comfortable I really don't care what others around me chose to wear (weddings, funerals, black tie aside)


The Tour Operator aren't defining anything.

They are just passing on hotel requirements, unless it is a "club hotel", in which case it is run by them, and they can require whatever they want (subject to legela restrictions of course).
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Quote:

“The dress code for evening meals is smart/casual”

Intersting concept. I would take as meaning no swim wear and no nightwear (though someitmes the difference between nightdresses and evening dresses is a bit difficult to spot). When used at my work it is used to mean no suits, dinner jackets, or evening dresses (and pearls), just ordinary clothes
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Our work dress code is described as 'smart casual' which means that we all wear jeans, hoodies, trainers, clean and in good condition.
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queen bodecia wrote:
Our work dress code is described as 'smart casual' which means that we all wear jeans, hoodies, trainers, clean and in good condition.


I'm not saying you are inappropriately dressed for whatever work you do, open air pharmaceutical sales perhaps, but you'd be pushed to describe that as 'smart casual.' 😀
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@JanA, they're saying don't pitch up at 8pm straight from apres in full kit, and don't sit down wearing a towelling robe over undercrackers and flipflops. Somewhere in between will be fine.
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Can't believe this thread exists. It really is so simple.....


http://youtube.com/v/PDj3t5l5DZk
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cameronphillips2000 wrote:
Can't believe this thread exists. It really is so simple.....


Classic Laughing
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@foxtrotzulu, graphic design. Smart casual = art student chic.
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cameronphillips2000 wrote:
Can't believe this thread exists. It really is so simple.....


http://youtube.com/v/PDj3t5l5DZk


Hahaha brilliant!
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The Viking is at the top of a gondola in Morzine so you are stuck up there at night. If you don't know what "smart casual" is you probably don't possess the correct clothes for most of the civilised world
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 And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
Perhaps its Morzine, I wasn't allowed into a bar after 7 in ski gear following a longer than expected first après stop, and it wasn't just me in case you think there may have been an ulterior reason.
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That's weird (see another thread re French extra bits)) but I didn't put an accent on après!
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 You know it makes sense.
You know it makes sense.
'Smart casual' is a stupid term. It has no agreed definition and I suspect any establishment stating it as a requirement really means 'we reserve the right to tell you to sod off if we don't like the look of you'.
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 Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Dr John wrote:
and don't sit down wearing a towelling robe over undercrackers and flipflops. Somewhere in between will be fine.


It has happened on a bash. I won"t name names because I want to go on more bashes. wink
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 Poster: A snowHead
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@geepee, not to mention still being in ski attire... wink
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Smart/Casual is a non sequitur. A complete fiction and judgemental. Wear what you like, you've paid to be there.
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 Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
geepee wrote:
Dr John wrote:
and don't sit down wearing a towelling robe over undercrackers and flipflops. Somewhere in between will be fine.


It has happened on a bash. I won"t name names because I want to go on more bashes. wink


Some may not have been wearing the undercrackers
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Hells Bells wrote:
geepee wrote:
Dr John wrote:
and don't sit down wearing a towelling robe over undercrackers and flipflops. Somewhere in between will be fine.


It has happened on a bash. I won"t name names because I want to go on more bashes. wink


Some may not have been wearing the undercrackers


Laughing Laughing Laughing
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 Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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We stayed in Le Viking twice and the dress code for me was whatever I felt like (except stinky ski gear). I'm not that keen on being told what to do, especially on holiday, but cannot remember ever wearing more than shorts/jeans and t-shirt or possibly a polo at a push at any stage during the week.

Breakfast for me at any chalet or hotel is always the same. Merino base layer with either unzipped hard shell if i'm in a hurry or running shorts ready for a quick change.

Back on Le Viking the hotel has a great location but it isn't all that smart, the bar downstairs was pretty ratty and smelled of stale beer.

Whatever you do, take bum sledges if you have kids in your party because it is great for the kids to mess around on the hill after dinner (flood lit) while you sit in the bar!! Have a great trip.
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Ah, breakfast wear. I must confess to having found compression tights on a very large person a bit of a challenging sight first thing in the morning in Arabba. Skullie
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Why is it that some people think the skins they run in are suitable breakfast wear without some sort of
Modesty cover? I do not need to know what surgery you've endured gents!!!
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 After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
After all it is free Go on u know u want to!
Quote:

see another thread re French extra bits

We don't want any French (or any other nationality) bits at breakfast, either.
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skribble wrote:
Why is it that some people think the skins they run in are suitable breakfast wear without some sort of
Modesty cover? I do not need to know what surgery you've endured gents!!!
Quite!
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@pam w, @Hurtle, exactly! Just get up 5 minutes earlier so you don't have to have breakfast in your thermals.
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