To ask help wording a dress code policy for our office?

[OvertiredandConfused]

I am in despair of the dress code at work and want to change it so that it gives a reasonable idea of expectations but isn't a ridiculous list of dos and don'ts! We're all intelligent adults for goodness sake!

The aim is to have what I would call a smart casual / business casual environment. So that would allow for tailored jeans with a shirt or jacket and smart shoes, for example. Your favourite tour t-shirt, ripped jeans and trainers is not ok.

We currently have what reads like a very prescriptive dress code and yet half the staff still look scruffy even thought they technically follow the guidelines whilst the other half are irritated that the jeans example above is not allowed.

I was thinking of a statement along the lines of "we expect employees to present themselves in clean and smart attire that is appropriate for their role and an office environment." However, I think that is a little too open to personal interpretation.

Has anyone got any useful suggestions, or great policies that they're willing to share?

There's no point people on MN telling you Mermaid36, we don't work with you.

Do you think it's acceptable and more importantly, has your boss ever told you that it's not or have you ever got the feeling that she might want to?

This was asked a while back, but I didn't see an answer. What's wrong with armpits on show (provided they are clean and shaved!). I prefer to wear vest style tops to work for a couple of reasons, now I'm worried I've been committing a heinous faux pas all these years!

If leggings are basically being worn as a cotton version of tights, I can't see why it would be a problem.

If they're being worn as trousers, it probably is a problem!

Chronically as with the reply above -depends on the office. In mine, which is at the strict end, a sleeveless summer dress would be fine as long as the edge of the dress is not cut in so that shoulders/ shoulder blade aren't showing (does that make sense ? Princess Diana style sleeveless shift day dresses OK vest tops not) But your office may well be more relaxed.

I prefer to wear vest style tops to work for a couple of reasons, now I'm worried I've been committing a heinous faux pas all these years!

So do I CrohnicallyAspie so it's not an aspie thing - it's a hot weather, gym-toned tanned arms thing .

I'm sure your tops are all right unless someone has said or everyone else is wearing sleeves buttoned to the cuff. IME some people with Aspergers are capable of picking up social signals even if they don't seem to make sense.

I've been in a coroner's court where a witness was sent to the cells for wearing a vest and being disrespectful to the court and occasion.

It wasn't just that he was wearing a vest - there were attitude problems - but his vest started it.

And before anyone talks about him being a free spirit and the coroner having a stick up his arse, someone had died and his weeping family were in attendance.

It is a more relaxed environment than your typical office- I have had a few comments about my tops but along the lines of 'aren't you cold?' (as everyone else is wrapped up in jumpers and scarves). People wear clothes ranging from tailored trousers/shirt to long t-shirt and leggings, the only outright ban seems to be jeans.

Cashmere and ski pants

The poshest outfit on here hands down. Please tell me you also had a hairband and a real pearl necklace?

The poshest outfit on here hands down. Please tell me you also had a hairband and a real pearl necklace?

I had fake pearls.

My friend got a job at The Daily Telegraph and to celebrate I got her a purple velvet headband and glued pearls from Claire's Accessories on it. She wore it and sent me a picture

She was a great deal posher than me. It took me years to infiltrate them but I did it in the end.