Feel like I’ve made a massive outfit faux pas at work

[Pantone345]

Today I wore: fitted black poloneck tucked into an A line skirt (about 4 inches off the knee but I am tall!), thick black tights and heeled knee high boots (not over the knee and heels are 3 inches)

Manager made a few comments about my outfit. Asked if I was going out after work and just a few other comments which combined made me think I’ve fucked up!

Public sector, a whole range of clothes from sort of casual to very smart

Boots plus short skirt is a bit weird for office wear tbh. Boots plus trousers ok. Short skirt not really ok but some in my office do wear above the knee in summer with wedge sandals or ballerina shoes.

I prefer to wear boots to work then change into shoes I keep in my desk. Clomping about in boots all day is uncomfortable never mind looking less smart

That wouldn’t be appropriate in my place of work but sounds ok for yours

That said, just because something technically passes the dress code policy doesn’t mean it is always appropriate

Tbh I think I would privately think your skirt was too short at 4" above the knee but wouldn't say anything. I know you said people wear all sorts but do others wear skirts that short,?

To me the skirt in the photo is too short for an office when combined with three inch high boots.

It's a bit like the tits/legs rule - you can have one out but not the other. Three inch heel with midi or knee length skirt. Or the short skirt with tights and oxfords or loafers or other flats.

Sounds fine , I’m not sure why people at work fell the need to comment 🙄

Feel*

It sounds like you appeared much more dressed up than your colleagues. In my public sector office there are women who wear outfits like yours but they are rare; most wear flats, DMs, trainers, Birkenstock's etc (cliché?) and more casual skirts or dresses if not trousers.
That doesn't mean your outfit was wrong, just not in keeping.

Public sector here too, wouldn't be OK in my workplace unless for possibly work experience / low band young admin. Most of us tend to dress more "corporate". The skirt would be fine with a heel and blouse, or fine knit jumper maybe. Sounds more like a weekend outfit to me.

Sounds nice to me!! Maybe you just looked nicer than usual

Sounds like you are reading way too much into other people’s comments

Would be absolutely fine in all of the places I’ve worked. If it wasn’t out of character (style wise) for you, I’d be surprised at her commenting.

If it happens again, I’d have a word. There’s never any need to comment on personal style when there’s no valid reason. It’s a power play move by insecure women. Sad, but true.

It seems okay.. because you were wearing tights.. but to be honest I've only ever worn knee high boots at work on casual fridays. Not every day office wear.

TBF, the skirt in that picture is too short for work IMO

ime knee-high boots and short-ish skirts always attract comments.It's not always about jealousy or undermining. It's just quite a distinctive 'look'.

Wouldn't have been an issue in my old workplace but everywhere is different. Dont stress about it OP.

I know what people mean about knee boots. It strikes me as someone wearing outdoor clothes indoors. Having said that I wear them (charity sector).

I think the skirt length was probably what caught the managers eye. She wasn't saying she disapproved though, she just noticed.

I think the key is “thick black tights”. I have some that are bigger than leggings and I wouldn’t consider a short skirt to be a problem for that reason. It’s just like wearing leggings and a skirt.

I get it!!! I am just under 5ft 11 size 10 long legs. in our very progressive anything goes blah blah office I see this kind of outfit. But when I wear it, I dunno but it looks WAY .... way I don’t know way more STATEMENT than on a smaller person. I can’t explain it - I went to the bathroom the other day and a colleague came out of one of the cubicles in a tiny black leather dress, skin tight, honestly if I came in wearing that - it would look way too much on me. I think it’s our height! Not because literally we stick up higher but you probably have a lot of presence when you’re dressed up like that - more than the average joe.

Completely fine work outfit. I agree with PP the black tights make it ok - without it would be a bit much.

There’s never any need to comment on personal style when there’s no valid reason. It’s a power play move by insecure women.

What crap. If your manager is making comments about your outfit then it isn’t suitable for the work environment. Do we really have to pass off women picking up women on being unprofessional as “jealous”. Really

I agree that your skirt can be as short as you like if you wear thick tights with them. Must be completely opaque though. (IMHO of course!)

Skirt was way too short to be ‘professional/corporate’. If you felt uncomfortable, then it might have been a bit more ‘going out’ than work, but I don’t think it’s the end of the world, so relax.

Your outfit sounds great. Perhaps would have been better to change into shoes at work and just wear the boots for travelling. That's what I used to do (not saying I did anything special). I never wore boots in work, they were for out of doors.

However there was nothing wrong with what you wore, on the contrary it was very smart.

Justresting, I totally get you. Am similar proportions and it's a real issue. I think it's partly a proportion thing in terms of how clothes sit. Normal office dresses look like clubwear on me. Either that or like I'm an adult wearing kids clothes.

Anything outwith special "tall" ranges looks ridiculous and those ranges are so freaking limited in terms of options.

Sorry to derail but bleurgh.

I wouldn't worry, I went to work today all in black including over the knee boots, looked like a cross between Batman and Johnny Cash, I'm female. Sounds like an arsehole comment from an arsehole designed to make you feel uncomfortable rise above it