To ask if this is appropriate office wear?

[Skimpyfd]

I work in a big law firm. Today I wore a navy dress about an inch above knee and skin coloured tights. Is this weird in winter?! Felt I got a few funny looks but might be being paranoid?

''If you're tall with long legs skirts which look fine on other people somehow look indecent on you.''

Big boobs have a similar effect as the long leg thing. Certain tops which a smaller busted women would look great in and would wear without a second thought, look a bit too 'look at me' with my figure. It's a genuine PITA.

I agree about the flesh coloured sheer tights = officey, opaque tights = casual, sheer black = bit risque. Last one especially with heels. It is obviously an age thing

They never used to glitterspy. Rules for professional women in the big 4 accountancy firms, circa 1981:

Natural coloured tights or stockings
No thick or coloured tights or stockings
Covered shoes, no sandals, peep toes or sling ba ks
No bare legs
Arms covered to the elbow
No revealing necklines
Colours and styles to be conservative
No trousers
Conservative hair styles and jewellery - one lobe piercing only (remember Chris Evert's two)

I thought flesh coloured tights were meant to be the "smartest" ones.

I have never seen anyone in my office wearing navy tights. Not even sure where you would buy them?

Nude tights? In winter? Does that mean you are shaving your legs?!
One of the joys of opaque tights is that no one need ever know!

I wear nude tights most of the year. It fucking bankrupts me.

My legs only need shaving once every two weeks so no furry regrowth issues there!

Since when did nude tights become racy or no-go for smart business dress

Since 1981 a lot has changed in the workplace for women, for the better, including the requirement to bare ones flesh below the knee!

Oh god. I've got bare legs today (navy dress and navy heels).

Have I made a terrible faux pas?

Unless you are outdoors a lot, surely normal tights are warm enough in an office?

My last office was fucking Baltic. Used to have to wear my woolly scarf
at my desk.

I've got navy tights from, I think, American Apparel. Well, they call them 'midnight' or something because presumably 'navy' sounds frumpy.

OldRoses, as recently as 2001 I went to sign up with temp agencies wearing a trouser suit with a high-necked sleeveless top underneath, and was told I'd need something that 'covered me up a bit more'.

True, Sapphire.

Personally I always wear black tights (30 or 40 den) to work in the City. I have a navy blue dress above my knee and I wear black tights and black shoes - is that wrong?

I used to be airline cabin crew and the uniform was navy but we had to wear sheer black tights (15 den) and black court shoes.

We're the shoes cheap looking? You can look under dressed with insubstantial shoes in winter.

My company still enforces a dress code - very similar to the one given earlier only change is smart trousers are permitted - other than that shoes, no bare legs, flesh coloured tights and modesty are still specified. People have been sent home and lost holiday for wearing Opaques in the workplace. There is a male dress code too and I have sent men home for unsuitable footwear (trainers or boots not shoes).

I think good-quality, opaque tights look smart, not casual. I would have worn black or navy, definitely not sheer flesh-coloured- the thought makes me cringe and reminds me of being at my convent grammar school where you were supposed to wear American Tan tights but I would wear grey. And 1 inch above the knee is not too short but sheer tights probably made it look that way. I'm of an age where I don't do knees, though- it's opaque in winter or bare legs in summer with just below the knee skirts or dresses.

I think you've had some really odd responses on here, OP, as you sound as though you've got it spot on. Personally, I wouldn't wear black shoes with a navy dress but nor would I wear navy shoes as I have rarely found ones I like. Instead, I'd wear my red, bright pink or aubergine ones as I think it just adds a bit of interest to an otherwise dull (but perfect for the job/environment) outfit.
I have just moved out of the City and am struggling at the moment as my office is freezing and I just can't face wearing nude tights but nor would I wear opaques with my navy dresses/suits as it would just look wrong. I am happy to wear colourful shoes but not tights. Instead, I am wearing a lot of black.

I have male friends who work for v conservative professional firms and their dress code is as strict if not stricter... dark suit, professionally pressed shirt, lace up shoes, tie, clean shaven... I think the girls who I have met from the same firms almost have more leeway! Although I think what you describe sounds fine OP.

Aren't opaques a bit granny? Wool can be made stylish with a bit of effort, but plain m&s 60 denier in black or - God forbid - navy with a matching dress is surely the preserve of Kate Middleton on a bad day?

OP your outfit sounds perfectly fine.

I can't quite get my head around the idea of streetwalkers checking their 8 deniers for ladders before heading out for a night of sin...

People have been sent home and lost holiday for wearing Opaques in the workplace.

Lozzamas do you work in a nunnery/monastery?

Just thought ... you refer to a "big law" firm & yourself as a "grad". Is this the London office of a NY firm? If so, the dress code will be a bit different but nude tights would still not be out of place.

OP you have started two threads about this....

Lozzamas - blimey - where do you work?!

Surprised by the hatred for opaque tights!

I've got it: Lozzamas works for The Dorchester. OP, think yourself lucky!