Comments on: Office appropriate attire

By: Brianna

Brianna — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:37:08 +0000

I am a 38D so it is hard not to show any cleavage. Honestly, there is discrimination in the work place regarding body type. I keep hearing that cleavage and knees are “unprofessional”. You know what? I think that those people who say unprofessional actually mean feminine. This is enforcing that the only way to get anywhere in the business world is to cover up any curves and dress like a man. It is time that business people accept a woman’s body. My friend quit her job because she was scolded about her cleavage in a certain shirt. Her co-worker, who is flat chested, was wearing the same exact shirt and had nothing said to her about it. Not sure why, but somehow breasts incriminate women.

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 25 Sep 2008 20:05:10 +0000

Great list Angie! I totally agree.

Joy, I think the problem with the pants that cling in the butt crack is just the way the pants are made. I have tired on a few pairs of pants lately that do that. Some are baggy everywhere else and cling in the butt crack. Needless to say, I haven’t bought any pants like that.

By: April

April — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:49:32 +0000

I work with domestic animals, wild animals, and livestock that have been neglected, abused, or are simply lost or unwanted. At our staff meetings, dogs chase each other around the table. In my office, I usually have a dog visiting, most times it is a large dog that drools when he rests his head on my lap. I bottle-feed orphaned kittens and often get their formula on me. We are required to wear khaki pants, company-issued polos, and sneakers. Thank goodness, because I couldn’t see myself walking a Great Dane while wearing heels! Of course we ladies wear dress pants, blouses, and heels for company events; however I prefer the khakis with the dog drool on them for the day to day stuff!

By: Amelia

Amelia — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 12:55:57 +0000

I volunteer at the high school where my husband teaches, and I have been dismayed at times, to see what student teachers were wearing. I don’t know how anyone thinks they can get the respect they need as a teacher when their midriff is showing! And if the teacher is a young, attractive 22 year old, who is trying to teach testosterone laden, 18 year old boys, well, good luck with that! I wonder what kind of education young teachers are getting, if it doesn’t include some strong words on the relationship between respect and credibility and what you choose to wear in the classroom.

By: Yvonne

Yvonne — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 03:23:28 +0000

Great Post! I also would like to hear your take on the question Swirl poses about formal/informal suits. I am always amazed at what people will wear to work. Once I was shopping for shoes and the clerk work awful very worn, torn jeans and flip flops and a strappy cami. I wanted to ask for the manager and tell them how inappropriate that was. Makes me not want to shop there…You feel no respect for someone dressed like that as a store clerk.

When my girls were young I was a SAHM too. I found that when I dressed up I felt better about myself (more confident and positive) than when I didn’t. You get to where you need adult conversation and to get out of the house and it helps to dress up occasionally. The nice thing there is you can do whatever you like.

I have started wearing skirts and dresses more often now (thanks to Angie & my sister). It feels great! Makes you feel happy, and fun and pretty. I haven’t got a big closet of clothes to wear but have fun with what I have. I have really used your posts to try to purchase clothes that are flattering to my body type and what works and what doesn’t. Thanks!

By: Carrie

Carrie — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 21:06:38 +0000

Thanks Joelle - and congrats on the weight loss! (assuming it was intended)

By: Joelle

Joelle — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:24:25 +0000

Carrie,
If you can’t find affordable higher rise pants the solution may be just to wear your low rise pants with longer tops. Since I’ve been following Angie’s guidelines on proper top lengths to wear with pants (tops should end just a few inches above crotch point). I have had no back exposure problems with the pants/jeans I have, which now sit lower than they used to due to recent weight loss.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:03:12 +0000

Joelle - I’m an occupational therapist and spend a lot of time bending over/down to help patients or get weights off the floor of the gym. We wear pretty casual clothing (no jeans) but even with slacks I have a hard time finding pants that meet the “sit-test”. If anyone knows where to get inexpensive pants that sit higher on the waist I would love to know!

Antje - I agree that jeans are sometimes tricky. I have a pair of dressier jeans (wide leg with cuffs, no pockets) but I was never confident that I could wear them any day but casual Friday. But then on casual Friday they look to dressy!

I used to work in a hospital and the worst offense I saw was first year women medical interns. You would think the only clothes they had were scrubs or club clothes! Someone must say something to them somewhere along the line because thankfully they dress more appropriately in the second year.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:20:20 +0000

I used to work in a very casual environment too…in fact the casual-ness of the culture is part of the lore of the company now. Two stories from the old days…I was at a company meeting where a new Sr. VP who came from a more formal company, stated that he wasn’t going to change the company dress policy, but he did feel shoes were at least required as a health issue. Around the same time, I walked into a co-worker’s office who had returned from her lunch workout and didn’t bother to change out of her volleyball bikini. I’m pretty tolerant myself, but this crossed a line for me.

As usual, great post, Angie!

By: Fran

Fran — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:00:37 +0000

Nicole, thepants/buttocks/jacket thing is a personal peeve. I haven’t got anything against wearing pants-suits at all. It’s just that, when you’re sitting in court and can’t really read and have nothing else to do, you start pondering those things. I haven’t heard anyone else complain.

Angie, I also go “hoseless” on weekends, spider veins blotches, puffs and all. Just not for work. I’m not so insane that I put on pantyhose on Saturdays!

I also agree with your rules for the workplace. I don’t really have rules in my office, but I’ve never had to have rules. Everyone (all 3 of us!) dresses appropriately. We also don’t have corporate clients (only people), so we don’t have to get all snazzed up to make an impression. Business casual it is, unless we have to go to court.