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Original poster

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

137 replies

Pantone345 · 28/10/2019 21:24

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

OP posts:
Boots20 · 28/10/2019 22:43

Sounds fine to me...unless the outfit was accompanied with a gimp mask & leather whip then I dont see a problem, I would wear a boob tube, pencil skirt & kitten heels tomorrow it may make the manager rethink their view on the boots, skirt & thick black tights x

BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo · 28/10/2019 22:43

I think it’s the turtle neck! They make even average sized boobs look huge, put that together with a shortish skirt and knee high boots, it’s quite a statement look, it’s the type of outfit where you literally show no flesh whatsoever but would be classed as ‘sexy’ I think.

LolaSmiles · 28/10/2019 22:49

Why have we got the usual "jealous" and "insecure" claims?
It seems any thread about a woman getting their attire mentioned at work on MN attracts the usual claim that whatever she wears is totally and utterly right, any man commenting must be sexist and any woman commenting must be jealous.

Meanwhile offline people have common sense.

The OP's outfit sounds lovely, just not for work

Interested in this thread?

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Clothing General style & beauty
Insomniacscientist · 28/10/2019 22:54

Sorry knee high boots and short skirt screen lady of the night. Don’t dwell on it too much and wear more appropriate corporate wear in future

shearwater · 28/10/2019 22:55

just not for work

Said as if work is a single place we all go to with the same dress code.

shearwater · 28/10/2019 22:57

more appropriate corporate

Not everyone is a corporate drone. There is not one single "work" dress code. Get an imagination.

BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 22:58

I am 6ft 2 so I get you about the skirts and I hate midi length. I probably wouldn't go four inches above the knee, but some of mine are probably that high when I sit down. I think it may be you were more dressy than usual perhaps.

I have seen people wearing this sort of outfit in many places I have worked though. I wear knee high black boots with blocky heels to work often and I manage a corporate area. I also see many others wearing them to work in the city during rush hour so I don't think they are that unusual. I will say, I do tend to wear a coloured top or skirt though to avoid an evening look.

Majorcollywobble · 28/10/2019 22:58

An A line skirt four inches above the knee worn with thick tights sounds smart to me . Perhaps it was a weird sort of compliment?

memaymamo · 28/10/2019 22:58

In my experience, it's often about how you look that day relative to your normal outfits. If this was a departure from your usual style, people will comment and think you're going out later or have a special meeting etc.

Is there a friend in the office you can quietly ask? Maybe he/she will have heard comments. If you were indeed dressed unprofessionally it would be helpful to know.

BarbedBloom · 28/10/2019 22:59

In last paragraph I mean wearing and seeing knee high boots worn with knee length or shorter skirts. I don't own any trousers as I live in skirts and dresses

LolaSmiles · 28/10/2019 23:02

Said as if work is a single place we all go to with the same dress code.
No, but if someone has raised it and multiple people are saying it wouldnt pass in their workplace then it's hardly within the standard work wear bubble.

Then again you've used the phrase "corporate drone" so the likelihood is you're going to assume anyone who doesn't say "it's totally fine" is some sort of robot who couldn't possibly dress with any personality in the workplace.

GrumpyHoonMain · 28/10/2019 23:04

What is your figure like? On me that outfit would look like clubbing wear as I have curvy hips / bum / thighs and cannon ball boobs.

RosesAndLilies · 29/10/2019 05:56

Agree it's difficult without knowing what dress code is acceptable where you work. However in my industry the skirt would be too short and the boots unacceptable (due to height not heel)

PearlsBeforeWine · 29/10/2019 06:02

Mistake was probably the short skirt. Plus the heeled boots. You. Might have got away with shiirt skirt and flat boots or a longer skirt..

Original poster
Pantone345 · 29/10/2019 06:19

Straight up and down, size 6, no boobs

OP posts:
JapaneseBirdPainting · 29/10/2019 06:33

It sounds to me that you looked absolutely fantastic. :)

[jealous 5ft 1 size 16 here] :)

onemorecupofcoffeefortheroad · 29/10/2019 06:39

Sounds lovely Pantone - take no notice I bet you looked great. Pp saying we shouldn't jump to saying your boss is jealous - well yes but on the other hand it's hard to imagine what else her issue is. Her comments were inappropriate - asking if you were going out clubbing IS designed in an underhand way to suggest your outfit was 'over-the-top' for work - when it clearly wasn't. If she had an issue with your outfit or it breached some sort of dress-code she should have spoken to you about it privately, formally and professionally. Not made snide comments.

Original poster
Pantone345 · 29/10/2019 06:40

I’ve just read our staff dress code

“Staff to dress in a manner which avoids provocation or suggestive messages”. 😳😳😳

Burkas all round then?

OP posts:
Original poster
Pantone345 · 29/10/2019 06:41

I wear heels all the time but yes I think it was hell/skirt length together even though I had thick black tights on. Could easily have been leggings

OP posts:
cptartapp · 29/10/2019 06:47

I'm tall with long legs. Sounds like a lovely outfit but wouldnt wear it myself and agree with pp. When you're tall you do stand out more, and what looks fine in someone smaller, in a tall slim woman certain outfits are perhaps seen as 'showing off'. I wish I had the confidence not to bother but I'd have worn the skirts or the boots, not both together.

EleanorReally · 29/10/2019 06:56

does the uniform policy mention length of skirt?
do other people dress similarly?
i expect it was the combination, heels and short skirt

Teateaandmoretea · 29/10/2019 07:02

I don't really understand the drama of 'massive faux pas'.

Ultimately you either want to fit in and look like everyone else or you care not as long as you meet the dress code (particularly in non-customer facing role). If you feel uncomfortable sticking out then wear something that fits in more in future.

These threads are just weird, the other one is 'no one ever says anything to a man' erm they do some men are appallingly bad at reading unwritten rules and take smart casual waaay too far. I've talked to a couple about how this appears in our dastardly corporate mindset of 'personal branding' (their words not mine btw...!).

AliciaQuays · 29/10/2019 07:06

I think it sounds great. Wonder if it’s the all black that makes it look dressy

Agree re company dress code tho wtf

Durgasarrow · 29/10/2019 07:11

Sounds very stylish and attractive.

Yeahnahyeah1 · 29/10/2019 07:12

Forget about the comments, sounds like a lovely outfit!