To think that “professional” standards shouldn’t apply during periods of extreme weather?

In a word … Yes. You’re actually being much worse than unreasonable, but let’s just leave it at that. I wouldn’t want to be unprofessional…

Yep cus sitting soaked in sweat all day, unable to think straight because of the unbearable height is sooooo much more professional than being comfortable 🙄

The replies to the OP really surprise me. My bedroom has reached 29 degrees for two evenings and it is very uncomfortable. And all I have to do in there is lie down wearing barely anything. I could not imagine having to try to concentrate and function in a room over 30 degrees. I would feel unwell and wouldn’t be able to think about much other than how miserable I was.
Although I agree that the debate around appropriate attire is almost pointless, because unless you are wearing a bikini and sitting in the shaded end of a swimming pool with swim-up bar and a nice mocktail on the go, you’re going to be horribly horribly uncomfortable.

So your clothes are what make you professional?

I would go in t shirt and shorts but take a change of clothes just in case

In a word … Yes. You’re actually being much worse than unreasonable, but let’s just leave it at that. I wouldn’t want to be unprofessional…

Smart clothes come in a range of materials.
You can get smart clothes that are cool.
Google Italian hot weather outfits suitable for the office.

When the weather gets hot you just change the material of the clothes you are wearing.

I think now you don’t really see men in shirt and tie it looks a bit silly, I drove past two men walking up the road this morning in white shirts and ties, I think they were coach drivers but from a distance I assumed they were school children until I got closer and realised they were grown men in what looked like school uniform.

I think your workplace sounds genuinely dangerous. Now post-menopause I really can't cope with heat anywhere near as well as I could when younger. If I couldn't keep cool enough I would have to leave. I wouldn't risk heatstroke for any job.

Postmen weren't allowed to wear shorts until 1992. I'm the 80s they still wore shirt, tie and jacket. Dress standards change and people adapt.

I'm hot countries where this weather is usual, buildings are designed differently and don't tend to get so hot. Plus most offices do have aircon. OP's office was close to 40C indoors.

Sleeves to mid arm is weird, plenty of men where short sleeve shirts and women sleeveless dresses, they’re just arms! I can’t fathom how arms are unprofessional. I understand no shorts though, I don’t think shorts can ever look professional. I’ve been wearing long sleeveless dresses.

I’m here to know what happens with the complaint about the heat in that office - no current law for upper temperatures is meant to boundaries and glass blowers who are a dying bread not office workers!
My matron was NOT HAPPY when I brought the baby room thermometer in to fight the battle that we needed drinks at the desk because our ward had surpassed 30 degrees - this was some years ago and I was pregnant with my youngest and therefore very feisty! 😂
But we did get to have water only on the ward!
I wish your team every success.

Then try stripes 🤣

Why a floral dress? I fucking hate floral patterns.

You hate your job, you hate your bosses, either go home (where no doubt you have air con?) go off sick, or just bear it, like most of the working population.

Weird how everyone suddenly starts sucking up to the man the second one individual complains about something in their workplace. Telling people to "suck it up" in this heat does not make you a martyr. Nobody is impressed. Everybody handles the heat differently, it takes a single brain cell to understand this.

I think dress codes should be relaxed in this heat, too, OP. The capitalists like to forget that the scum working beneath them are also human beings, too. Seemingly, so does everybody else the second you take issue with their unreasonable rules. It's not like it's going to be hot forever, the company is not going to collapse because workers are wearing clothes that don't make them feel like they're going to pass out for like 3 days.

Over summer I just wear a linen suit and a long sleeve cotton shirt. I have a few longer cotton dresses which I put a linen blazer over the top.

I try to do good quality matching accessories to make something casual look more professional.

Yes, I literally had to lay my head down this afternoon until I felt well enough to stand up. No idea what the temp was but I got home to 30 degrees and it seemed cool and pleasant !

I agree. I always feel cooler in a dress - more air flow. Keeping cool isn't about exposing more skin.

These posts are so odd - what do you think people in hot countries do? I live in southern Europe where it is 35+ degrees for months on end. My son is still at school, they have no air-con. I wfh in my living room, we have no air-con.
Yes its too hot, yes its uncomfortable but the country cant come to a stand still because people are refusing to work or refusing to send kids to school.
Make adjustments and crack on

Anyone who says very high temperatures don't put your health at risk is deluded.

Retail uniform for us..trousers, polo shirt, dark colours. Bottled water in staff fridge and ice pops in the freezer section. No air con, metal roof to warehouse. Absolutely boiling. Again, strict absence policy so you avoid unnecessary absence. It was a case of crack on and mentally regretting poor decisions when you were young that mean shit jobs for shit pay with companies only interested in profit not staff welfare or retention.

The best clothing to wear in extreme heat is lightweight material and loose styles, not shorts and tight skinny tops. Its what people wear in very hot countries for a reason. A loose lightweight floral cotton dress and sandals for women and light linen shirts and trousers for men are more than appropriate for office wear.