Are these dresses too "tennis" for a business meeting?

[Onlyrainbows]

I have a business meeting in a couple of weeks and given the weather I want to wear something as fresh as possible, ideally sleeveless.

I imagine the OP doesn't have anyone else to zip it up and has yet to discover how to do it for herself.

Or she works with idiots who will think it is funny to walk behind and unzip her.

Ok hang on, so is it a business meeting or more of a work “away day” ?

And you say it can’t zip up at the back… will you be changing out of it?

Think we need more details about the day, I was assuming sit down meeting in an office.

What size are you as there’s lots of good sale options around but limited sizes.

Yes, obviously nobody can help me zip and unzip it.

I’m 56 and even in my advanced years have no problems with zipping a dress up!

Yes I need to stay overnight (so that's the unzipping issue). I'm the only one who's staying AFAIK. No, it's not at "away day" otherwise I would definitely wear one of those dresses.

Assuming you are able bodied why do you need help?

Right, but are you staying overnight?? You’ve left out quite a bit of info about the trip!

Anyway I think this from me & em is fab and seems like it could work. Would be good with smart leather sandals or flats rather than flip flops.

In my 38 years I still haven't been able to... I did the string trick last February for that company convention and wrecked my dress, so thanks but no thanks.

Sorry cross posted re overnight!!

They used to stand at the bottom of the open staircases to watch her climb up so they could see what she had for breakfast

That’s fucking vile. What princes among men you worked with.
Still, brought it on herself, eh? 🙄

Too short and most of them look like sportswear.

It is perfectly possible to find summer dresses that are not either too short or maxi dresses.

Some stores have ''petite'' ranges as well. I think Next do that.

I'd love to know how people manage back zippers themselves, because I sure can't!! And yes I'll be staying overnight (just me).

Would this playsuit be too casual?

How about a skirt and top combo? Something like this: www.marksandspencer.com/linen-blend-animal-print-midi-skirt/p/clp60541210

Then match it with a nice t shirt, I'd suggest arket.

Ok am genuinely shocked that adult women are reliant upon others to put clothes on! Judging by the numbers of dresses with zips at the back in M&S I assume it’s a normal thing to be able to do.

condused why you need string - surely you just put your arm down and behind for the first bit and then over the top of your shoulder to finish it off 🤷‍♀️ It’s worrying that women are limiting their clothing options as to whether they have another person to dress them!

mini that's more my style :)

That M&S skirt looks ok, would need to figure out the shirt though.

I have a skirt (which was my first option) but haven't been able to find a shirt that goes with it. (Just as an example that I'm a bit funny with clothes and WFH doesn't really help "my style")

I have dresses I can't fully zip up myself at the back. At home I get DP to do it, when working away, I've left it partly unzipped under a jacket or cardigan, or asked a female work colleague to zip it up for me. I've also done the same for others.

Honestly op that’s really funny, what kind of business meeting would you wear those too? 🤣🤣🤣

If it was an internal meeting I would 100% wear them!!

Perhaps she works for the lawn tennis association?

If its a proper business meeting then they're too casual.

I’m 56 and even in my advanced years have no problems with zipping a dress up

I'm 46 and do yoga but tend to avoid some dresses with a back zip as they can be a right pain in the arse to zip up/down. Even a side zip can be a problem. Entirely depends on the style, how fitted it is and how good the zip is. Those tiny little plastic hidden zips which get stuck in material at the side - aaargh! There are loads of shit zips around that ruin a perfectly good dress 😡

Once I stupidly bought a jumpsuit from Next that had a backzip. You'd have definitely wet yourself before you got the zip down.

Also surely being able to zip up a dress at the back depends on mobility, shoulder tightness, flexibility, arm length, size and shape? A lot of people can't bend and touch their toes let alone zip up something on their backs. Great if you can but don't be too self-congratulatory that you have this ability and astonished that others don't. Bit bloody insensitive.

With the possible exception of phase 8 which is a bit weddingy, those shops are not really places I'd look for business wear though.

Try Hobbs, Reiss or Whistles. Or M&S / Next for something more budget friendly. My go to is Brand Alley, but you need to allow 2-3 weeks for stuff to arrive.

M&S had smart "office" shorts this summer which don't look too formal with a plain tshirt or top.

It would really help to know which sector you work in and what sort of business meeting it is.

The photos you have posted are in a section on the website named 'Tennis.' They are garments that were made to play tennis in them. I do like them but they are very very short. The only business meeting where I have seen women where dresses / skirts this short is when I used to work near the fashion team.

Look at Hush & Boden - There are a few sleeveless mini dresses that you could definitely wear to a business meeting.