My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

Wearing short sleeves helps me feel cooler. Hate the thought of sweaty sticky skin hanging out in vest tops.

Is there not an organisational dress code/uniform policy that overrides her telling you what to wear? There usually is with NHS

I can understand vest tops, it’s not the top it’s the people wearing them, all boobs and armpits is not good.
we were allowed long shorts and skirts over the knee. To be fair though as long as you wear cotton or linen, it’s cooler than synthetic and far better than wearing nothing alot of the time.
can you invest in a fan? I’ve got a shark one which can be used portable after a full charge so no worrying about the pat testing.

Nope, no arsecracks thanks..

Apparently having a big hairy arsecrack on display would be fine in an office though, because it's 'perfectly natural'.

My guess is that she hasn't come back because she doesn't want to read any more posts by people scandalized by bare arms, and horror of horror, toes.

But not everyone likes that! I don't like dresses - they are akwkard and long hems are not practical for tubes, stairs and small kids. I hate how we are all supposed to wear some floaty concoction as a uniform just so we don't, horror of horrors, flash a knee. It's giving handmaid's tale. I also hate sticky, sweaty material on my joints so no way am I covering my knees or armpits.

The OP only wore the shorts for the photo to demonstrate the top. She repeatedly said that, and that she was not going to work in the shorts. There have been several posts correcting that from the OP and loads of posters.

I’ve never really understood the reasoning that losing a few cm of fabric is vital to remain cool.
If it’s hot it’s hot, the extra fabric that turns a vest into a t-shirt or knee length shorts into 3/4 trousers makes little difference.

How many offices have you worked in?
I used to temp, doing single days or a week in different offices in various cities, and I've seen the range from strappy vests with shorts and flip-flops to strict suit with long-sleeve shirt and skirt below the knee.

Dress code can depend on job title: numerate and technical, can be very relaxed, but usually not actually boxer shorts. NHS always more formal, because even if you work in an office, you usually walk through the waiting room/ eat in the canteen and might encounter patients on the way.

In general, OP, your outfits that you posted are way too casual: yes they do look like pajamas. Lots of women would wear a tee shirt and drawstring shorts to sleep in. The home-sewn top has a tee-shirt neckline and is knitted fabric - that shape would be formal enough in a crisp woven fabric. You'd need a button opening to put your head through, and that could be at the front.

Even at the most casual places I've worked, those shorts would only be okay in a lab where you wear a labcoat over the top. Shorts that short have to be more structured. Soft unstructured shorts like those are only okay if they are long - touching the knee.

Hope that helps.

Thank goodness it's not 1976 anymore and we don't have to live like that.

We were in a pub garden yesterday and every time this chap sat down his arse was hanging out so far you could park a bike in it. It was so disgusting my kids couldn't stop looking and laughing. Once you have seen it it's burnt on your retinas.

Dear God, when did mumsnet become so Victorian? Bare arms and knees on show is now inappropriate? Are people worried that their co-workers would swoon at the sight of an ankle?

As for the PP who mentioned unshaven pits - why does other people's body hair bother you so much? You do realise it's completely natural?

After reading most of OP's posts...and the fact that she hasn't come back in ages, I suspect she's been exaggerating and embellishing her interpretation of the dress code for clicks, ie the photos of pyjama style top and shorts, ankle length skirts and insisting that men can wear shorts whereas women must be covered up.

A floaty cotton dress would probably be cooler than that T-shirt.
Suppose it depends how much op cares about the job / whether she could get another one (if she wants to).

Well I’m 54 and use it. I did when I was 44. What’s the good reason?

It's Kaftan and no knickers time.....

I wonder what your manager would say about this OP. A guy who's got long hair and a beard like Sam Ryder turned up wearing a vest top, a skirt touching his knees, green argyle socks and Crocs. I don't know what she'd do about Eric.

Never worked any office where vests and shorts are acceptable

how about 3/4 length trousers / culottes?

Good for you. So what?

I didn’t know till I read this thread, how much I hate the word ‘floaty’.

One of the best things about my job is having zero dress code or expectations on how we look. The top top people wander around in suits and heels but I couldn’t be less interested in that life so I carry on in sleeveless dresses and sandals, tattoos out, bright colours everywhere and focus my energy on getting my work done.

I think it’s shocking to keep an office at 35 degrees and enforce any sort of dress code.

She's bring way over the top, but strappy tops and are unnecessary and I find above the knee length a bit revealing. No one wants to see fungal nails out in sandals either. Short sleeved tops and longer skirt/shorts should be allowed surely?

The 1970s were well known for floaty Laura Ashley type dresses. Long flouncy skirts. Very comfortable to wear. I believe 70s fashions are back in vogue.

Men also need to dress modestly. Clothing should be appropriate for a professional workplace rather than a beach. I wouldn't expect someone male to be wearing anything too tight across the crutch or behind. I don't want to see genitalia, underwear or them wearing vest or crop tops in the workplace. I'd expect shorts to be tailored and not casual or swim shorts.

I remember the Australian who was complaining that on dress-down Friday in our Sydney office they just wore thongs. The whole London office went completely silent. Only I heard him say... "What do you call them? Oh yes, flip-flops." 😂