Would you wear a sleeveless top in the office?

[kitkatkaytie]

Looking for new workwear this week, and I was struck by how many smart sleeveless tops there are out there. Some of them are lovely but as I get older I just don't want to have my arms on show in the office. I'm 45, size 10, my arms are ok but definitely a little bit of wobble and not perfect in texture!!

I don't know if I'd feel differently if my arms were sleek, toned and tanned, ha ha.......or if there's just something about getting older that makes me think no-one in a professional environment wants to see too much flesh!

As a new joiner, I was taught no cleavage, no bare shoulders, nothing above the knee. But that was early 2000s. I stick to it, but I don’t care if other people have sleeveless tops or whatever.

Sleeveless yes, strappy no. Similar with feet- a peep toe is fine (although I think not fashionable right now) but a sandal with just a strap so all your toes are out is not.

This will cause outrage, no doubt, but I think you have to consider that what may be fine on clean, healthy skin could be quite unpleasant on less clean, less healthy skin. And you can’t have one rule for the fragrant and lovely and one for everyone else, so everyone needs to be a bit more conservative.

We're not allowed to, no bare shoulders, sandals/strappy shoes, nothing with even a hint of cleavage or above the knee, but I have daily contact with high risk sex offenders.

I always go with this

Glad I'm not the only one confused by this thread

Women in our office are fine to have their lower arms on display. Men's arms above the wrist are not permitted at all except on specific dress down days.

And obviously no part of men's legs should be visible at any time - even on a dress down day you'd be pushing your luck.

“This will cause outrage, no doubt, but I think you have to consider that what may be fine on clean, healthy skin could be quite unpleasant on less clean, less healthy skin. And you can’t have one rule for the fragrant and lovely and one for everyone else, so everyone needs to be a bit more conservative.”

no outrage, because it’s a common, fairly banal opinion

I've seen people faint at the mere hint of a 'top of an arm'.
Seriously, what kind of workplace ordains this and what would happen if you displayed a shoulder?!

I guess I didn't mean the question as in whether it's offensive/inoffensive..I suppose it was more, are people confident enough about their arms. I tend to wear sleeveless tops on holiday and socially, but tend to shy away from it in the workplace..

Yes. My office is very casual, we are in a factory so we don't see customers.

I would say 80% of the women in my office (Australian law firm, 100% corporate clients) wear something akin to this. Jacket on top when cold, or when arriving at a client meeting.
Similar in my London office in the City.

No one has yet died or run away at the sight of a female human's upper arm area