My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

Have you actually been told that you can't wear that top Op?

I wouldn't call that a vest top.

Looks like a sleeveless blouse to me.

Why? Do you have smelly arm pits?Do you think every one must too?

mine are waxed monthly, I shower at least once a day & use Dove advanced care ( the dark blue lid) and it keeps me totally fresh.

if I ever forget the deodorant it's a different story.

I don't wear vest tops without a shirt over the top, but that's because of some alarming scaring (and now bingo wings!) but nothing to do with my arm pits?!?!

Standard corporate wear. Before covid, no one would have batted an eye at this. Now, everyone is shocked we aren't supposed to mince around in our pants, anymore.

Given you’re not client facing then no, I see nothing inappropriate about it. It’s certainly not smart, but adding an extra two inches of sleeve isn’t going to change that!

Shorts and vests just aren’t office attire, for men or women. Banning knee length skirts is weird, though.

My last office we weren’t allowed
strappy tops or dresses
shorts
open toe shoes

dresses and skirts fine though and above the knee

That's absolutely fine, you're not even showing your shoulders.

Crack on, and if your manager complains, ask them to explain specifically what it is about your clothes that are inappropriate. Then forward to HR, and ask them to send you a copy of the dress code policy, as you're confused.

Your manager sounds like a bully.

Work does need a certain standard but some of OP's manager ideas seem a bot ott
I can imagine some posters on here are pretty much buttoned up where ever they are be it the beach, casual or evening. Don't like thin strap t shirts, certain dresses ?
What is wrong with [whispers] arm pits?
I don't want to see anyone's arse cheeks dropping out of their Daisy Dukes anywhere but I go with the live and let live.
Today I'm wearing a cotton dress, thin straps and low cut neckline. Shaven arm pits and bare legs -I'm a slattern by MN standards.😁

I think the top is fine but not sure about the trousers for work OP? They look like what I would call holiday wear = very casual. In my last job I wasn't client facing and there was no dress code. I could (and did) wear jeans in the winter. In the summer it would be plain linen trousers (not cut offs because they make short people like me look even shorter) or very occasionally a dress with short sleeves. I never get the tops of my arms out (I don't own any sleeveless garments) and I don't think I suffer more with the heat because of this. Those few inches of fabric aren't going to make a difference.

Wherever I have worked, vest type tops were not acceptable and skirts were expected to be midi length unless worn with tights. There are plenty of options with this coverage.

It’s fine. It would look a bit too casual for my office, people have worn sleeveless but more the tailored style that was linked earlier in the thread, not tshirt material. A sleeveless smart blouse not a vest top / sleeveless tee

Yeah of course I think the staff would have it comfortable if it was in their power? Why do you think I'm attacking the NHS? And yes they do have expensive machines in the hospital and servers that need to be kept cool.

Sorry if I was wrong about the heat regulation h&s thing.

Jakers maximum temperature for workers in Spain is 27cm. Our government are really dragging their heels

"UK should set maximum working temperature rules, advisers say - BBC News" https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm2p1j4y0kro

That's really nice.
Obviously someone has been dressing for the beach, 😂. Did someone turn up in cut off shorts, op?

Well no, but with the best will in the world, it's obvious from the photo OP posted that this isn't how the staff are dressing. If people wore dark colours, formal fabrics (obviously not in this weather), smart outfits, the manager probably wouldn't have said anything. Turning up to work in something that looks like pyjamas isn't ideal. There are definitely options that are both cool and smart.

There are shorts and shorts. In some airplane magazine ages ago I saw adverts for some offshore services - either BVI or Caymans or suchlike. The model there, a man advertising the services, was wearing a smart suit with shorts, both khaki coloured and long socks with Barker shoes or similar. The shorts were not casual, they had amazing creases on them. He also wore a colonial casque hat or whatever it is called, also khaki.

I also loved a city short - they are smart and work appropriate especially when styled as such - however a knee length tailored short is worlds different to Jennifer turning up in denim cut offs or Dave man - spreading in his baggy cargo shorts. Perhaps the blanket rule is to make it easier to police if people have taken the piss in the past, “no shorts,” is clearer than “those shorts look acceptable, those don’t.”

What expensive machines..? And you don't think the staff would have the ward at a more comfortable temperature if it was in their power? Anyway, no there isn't a H&S directive. Why would it be physically dangerous to work in an office at X degrees but not to work in welding?

Some ludicrous responses on this thread.

It astonishes me how many Mumsnetters have astonishingly outdated views about what is 'appropriate' and 'professional' in the average office.

In most offices, nobody gives a flying fuck if they see a woman's shoulders. I'm 50 and in my 28 years of working in offices, I've never worked anywhere that banned sleeveless tops. Even in my first job, which was the most formal place I've ever worked, we wore sleeveless tops and had bare legs with skirts in summer. My colleagues and I wore tailored 'city shorts' to the office when they were fashionable about 20 years ago without so much as a raised eyebrow.

It also stuns me how many Mumsnetters seem to think that just because they're repulsed by the mere hint of a bare human limb, that somehow means everyone has to dress like they're extras in The Handmaid's Tale to spare them their physical nausea at the sight of an armpit or something.

OP, your boss is a complete arsehole.

I am not in a customer facing role however our office dress code is

No bare shoulders
No offensive writing on clothing
Any footwear without ankle support such as crocs UGGs sliders of flipflops
No jeans
No trainers
No Hoodies
No sportswear or tracksuits
Any clothing that is too revealing

That pretty much fits within yours managers comments bar the skirt length being specified

I think it is a pretty standard dress code and I dont find it hard to dress for even when hot.

In my previous job I had complaints over wearing a dress like this
Ria Print Jersey Shirt Dress in PINK PRINT | White Stuff https://share.google/YEXtRw6CTuhcnbooL

Apparently it was too revealing (the one I had on was a round cut neck line no buttons) and too short..... I ignored that however boss was outraged over the complaint and made anpoint out of wearing something sinilar next time she came on a site visit.

lucky for your manager it's not religiously mandated attire ....

Short sleeve blouse, linen trousers, a dress, fancy teeshirt with length under the knee

Presumably someone has dressed completely inappropriately and has spoilt it for everyone I'm with her on the vest tops and shorts though. Skirts is ridiculous. But you will be cooler in a light dress anyway than top and shorts.