Smart and Casual...

Since when did the attire "Smart Casual" refer to jeans and sneakers?

I have always been under the impression that "Smart Casual" really referred to what you would wear to work in a typical office environment. But for men who wore suits and ties daily, it really meant collared shirt, minus tie and jacket.

Our work function which is about to kick off in 1 hour time has been defined as "Smart Casual" and yet the whole floor that i work in has turned up in jeans and sneakers (jogger like, not designer like).

Only a few managers who had meetings with clients have worn shirts and dress pants. They have proceeded to take off their ties.

I'm not fazed about what i am wearing. I wore a wrap dress and i look like a person who actually had work to do.

What i am fazed about is how laxed the people i work with are. If they were invited to another event, like a birthday, or an engagement party, etc...would they have also worn scruffy jeans and sneakers thinking what would normally be defined as "casual" was "smart casual"???

What they are wearing today is normally reserved for "Casual Friday's"...its never been referred to as "Smart Casual Friday's" has it???

Is this occurrance just in Australia?

Am i wrong to think that "Smart Casual" should be more than jeans and sneakers?