To think this is an okay work outfit for a social worker

[couldnothinkofone]

m.newlook.com/shop/womens/dresses/dark-grey-drawstring-waist-shirt-dress_504395403

^ that's it

I hate trousers with a passion (find them so uncomfortable and I feel masculine wearing them!

So dresses and skirts only for me.

To work I always wear a dress like in the link with black tights and heeled black boots. Simple but in my opinion smart casual.

I work with adults.

My flat mate has said she thinks it's fine for day to day at work but it's my first day tomorrow and I need to make a good impression so I should go in a smarter outfit. She suggested putting up
With black trousers and a nice blouse just for tomorrow.

AIBU to think that dress, black tights, and black heeled ankle boots are fine for my first day on the job?

I'm a size 12 and tall so things tend to look neat and tidy on me.

Regardless of length, I don't think the cut and style is appropriate for a first day. It's more something you would wear at a weekend. It's a great dress but a bit drapey/floaty for a HCP.

I would go for something understated and gently tailored. I work in M/H and we're not allowed to have bare legs (even with a knee length dress) particularly for home visits. I wear leggings with tailored tunics most of the time as I also hate trousers!

I think the second dress is a bit too casual, regardless of what length it is on you I don't think it's a dress you can wear for work.

I work with social services a fair bit and I can't imagine any of them wearing something that style. It might vary by area but as it's your first day have you got a knee length-ish skirt and nice top you could wear instead?

I don't understand everyone saying it's too short. Just above the knee with tights is fine. I hate wearing skirts/dresses below the knee. I feel frumpy.

I am a sw who has worked with both adults and children and would wear those with either. Think people aren't seeing past the made up, tights-less models x

100 denier black tights in August with a short dress - sounds a bit odd to me.

Don't you have anything a bit smarter and seasonal you can wear for your first day?

Can't you find something more interesting? Irregardless of length, they're both miserable.

Also you say you're size 12 but the dress you link to is plus size and starts at size 16.

???

@runningyogabooze - probably size 12 inside lol

You need trousers or leggings. People have pets that jump up, occasionally fleas (tuck trousers into socks or they go up your trousers and bite you later), you drop things and have to bend down, get in and out of the car all day long. Trousers/leggings and a smartish top where there is nothing to see if you bend down.

I'm surprised how many people say those dresses are "lovely" They look like a sack tied in at the waist.

I agree with your flatmate about going smarter on your first day. You'll be better able to judge the dress code for that particular workplace afterwards and can adjust accordingly. Something that looks smart but can be easily adjusted to look more casual if it's too smart would be better IMO.

Yes also agree about the thick tights and boots in August? It's so humid at the moment I would melt. My tights and boots have been packed away since March and will probably be brought back to life in October.

Great tops for trousers, those.

They're both too short.

You'd have to wear slim fitting trousers or leggings.

I work in an adult social work setting. Both links you've posted are fine with tighta and similar to what everyone else wears.

Social worker with adults here

Honestly, it's fine.

ideal, in fact.

Have a great first day.

In fact,

I'm a senior social worker.
today I'm wearing leggings, black flat pumps, a stripey dress above knee. Black cardi because the office is fucking freezing.

I am a social worker too and that dress is fine. I have seen loads of colleagues in similar dresses. It would be fine even if you were working with children. I had a colleague who wore short body con dresses and very high heels and she did child protection work. How she dressed did not affect her ability to do her job well.

Too short. Need trousers or leggings - nit just tights.

Too short. IMO

Well,

Our social workers (we have had a few) came in: neutral coloured tunic tops and leggings, smart trousers and top, office-type clothes (not really formal, but certainly not very casual), knee length skirts and jackets. In general, they seemed to avoid very formal clothing (e.g. business suits and so on) which could create a distance between them and their clients and they would steer away from anything too casual which might hint at a less than professional approach.

The first dress is, in my opinion, the nicer, smarter one.
If as you say, it is knee length, then I think that's fine.
Some thicker tights would look good.

So every single person on here who is an actual social worker says it's fine. There's your answer!

I'm not a SW but work with them frequently. I think that outfit is perfectly appropriate.

Hope all goes well with your first day.

That second dress looks scruffy AF. As a pp said, sack tied at the waist. Regardless of how you say things tend to look 'neat' on you, I don't think that dress would look 'neat' on anybody.

The last social worker says she is wearing a short dress but with leggings as recommended by lots of posters.

Yes I am wearing leggings, but that's because I'm having an office day, I think tights are actually more formal!