To think that spaghetti strap dresses/tops are not appropriaye/professional office wear no matter how hot it is?

[SerenDippitty]

Except perhaps on a dress down Friday and perhaps not even then.

I think we've lost a collective sense of what's appropriate in terms of clothing and maybe that's a good thing as it gives women more freedom, but I'm not sure. I think it's good to have a standard language for what's appropriate in the office. As for strappy tops 99% they just aren't very flattering so purely for sartorial reasons alone I would steer clear.

I do notice that there just aren't agreed standards for other occasions like weddings. On the FB site 'Mrs Gloss and the Goss' I see loads of women asking for feedback on the dress they're going to a wedding in and it's often quite inappropriate, super tight 'night out dresses' with serious cleavage showing. Sometimes they ask if it's appropriate for a wedding and everyone says 'Go girl' and 'You look gorgeous hun'. It's depressing since I think if you have to ask then it's probably a no.

I do agree to an extent - I think smart casual is fine for the workplace. I often wore dark jeans in my old job.

I do think that a camisole top (especially a silky one) could be construed as underwear and therefore, unless there is a jacket that isn't taken off, it isn't work-appropriate.

If you wear a spaghetti strap vest top you are likely to be showing a lot of back, shoulder and cleavage. It won't stop you from doing a good job, but it could make colleagues feel uncomfortable.

I do feel vaguely uncomfortable when female colleagues are showing a lot of flesh. Also hate the phenomenon of women walking around shoeless - not sure whether it is the thought of bare feet or the filthy carpets that I dislike more, but I find it a bit yuk.

It also depends on the conditions you had e to work in.
When I wore a suit I worked in a lovely air conditioned place.I
Where I work Now it is roasting so I won't wear trousers never mind a suit.
I have to wear appropriate but cool clothes.

m.coolspotters.com/actresses/angelina-jolie/and/clothing/dolce-and-gabbana-silk-camisole/media/795036

This is very similar to what I wore today, currently at after work drinks so an outfit needs to be able to swap from office to bar appropriate.

I have a very expensive multiway bra as I wear spaghetti straps so often. Maybe OP's issue is the way the straps are worn? I'm not personally offended by the sight of a bra strap but do tend to hide them myself

I felt very out of place at work today as I was wearing short sleeves; most of the other women were wearing smart and pretty sleeveless tops. Even the male managers were in short sleeves and the only ties I saw were on the uniformed blokes at reception. Tomorrow is dress down too 😀

I was born in Jamaica. Now anyone ever been to Jamaica knows the ladies love to wear revealing sexy clothing that shows their curves. But once we go to work you are expected to dress appropriately. No clevage, Elbow lenght shirts for both men and women no skirts lengths above the knees. As much as you may like it and comfortable with showing flesh. It's for when your not at work. I think most women know to do the bend test to ensure they not revealing anything they don't want to it should not.
I went to work today and yes I do work in an office setting. I wore a long red and white loose dress (ankle length) a light cardigan elbow length with close in toed shoes. Majority also came in looking smart dressed accordling. However one lady wore a top those thin straps with no bra, she had on a tight fitting skirt mid thigh lenght. (This is not something you would expect to see in this office). When she bent down to put her bag down we all was able to confirm she was wearing no bra. Nipples peeking! She was sent home within 5mins of the managers seeing her. Then the rest of the appropriately dressed staff had to listen to what they as managers felt was appropriate office wear for both men and women. YOU CAN BE COMFORTABLE BUT STILL DRESS ACCORDLING!

It would be fine in our office. Long shorts for men and women, t-shirt, flip flops. All ok.

It must look professional and not show lots of inappropriate flesh. Nobody would think it appropriate for a man to show an equivalent amount of flesh in any normal office. No reason women should be treated differently.

I’m menopausal. I work with a woman who is allergic to aircon. It’s 32 degrees, with no breeze. I don’t give a fuck if my shoulders are upsetting you: you’ll be a whole lot more upset when I become psychotic because I’ve overheated...

@anditgoes that top is gorgeous

fox who died and made you the fucking thread police?

Sorry if my posting quickly between doing other things and not getting my grammar right annoys you. Since I'm educated to post graduate level and work in a senior role I'm pretty sure I can write a coherent sentence when it matters not that it's any of your fucking business

In all the office jobs I’ve had, I’ve found that if you don’t attend work drinks etc you are quite set apart from everyone else actually. It’s an unspoken rule that you have to attend, and they think you aren’t a team player if you don’t.

Maybe it's because I work in an industry where it's very normal to have beer / wine / soft drinks / nibbles laid on in the office at 5pm on a Thu or Fri, so you can have a chat and a drink with your colleagues for 10 mins without having to go anywhere on your own time. In the companies I work at, it's the 20 somethings that go to the pub together after work - loads of people have long commutes and / or families, so unless it's a big occasion (Christmas party) where more people will make arrangements to attend (but many won't), most people don't hang around to socialise after work. Having a 5 min chat in the office isn't a massive imposition - and you don't have to join in, many don't (or they grab a beer / wine to have at their desk!) if they need to crack on with work. But my industry is more relaxed and 'work drinks' isn't such a 'thing'.

Well I kind of agree !!! I’ve always thought the same but now our office is down to 2 people so there is literally my colleague and I in the office all day (except cleaner for an hour one day and gardener for an hour) and I was on a half day today so I wore a spaghetti strap dress!!! To be fair as soon as I walked in I said I’ve broken the dress code and worn spaghetti straps!!!!

Wouldn't be keen on them in most work environments. Some though can look smart if the rest of the outfit is smart. With all the work places being hot and females "dressing down" to help keep cool what are the males to - wear a vest top and shorts!

The is nothing wrong with spaghetti straps per se as many have just pointed out.

However, uniforms and dress codes are really to remind the wearer that they are on someone else’s territory and there to do something other than that which they would have chosen themselves to do, so, of course spaghetti straps are inappropriate at work.

There are also points consider about the unfairness of men in suits being unable to relax their dress code and about the general distraction of attractive or unattractive bare flesh.

Uniform means everyone being the same. If you are not thinking about your clothes and your effect on others you can concentrate on your job.

They are tacky.

I always feel a bit indecent in spaghetti straps, especially at work. So don't, unless I'm wearing a cardi and not likely to take it off. Thick straps are fine though, go figure!

I'm not bothered about other people wearing them though, although if they're obviously not wearing a bra, it could be seen as provocative, I'm not sure.

They are tacky

How?

It depends on context and certainly it wouldn’t be appropriate in my office. If you are seeing clients or in formal meetings you should be dressed appropriately.

I don’t give a fuck if my shoulders are upsetting you
Good for you! That might be an acceptable attitude where you work but it wouldn’t be everywhere.

OMG get a life!

As others have said, it you have an employment contract that stipulates a particular dress code, you are expected to comply with it. This may indeed include specifics of what complies with standards of 'decency' especially in a customer facing role. However, otherwise may I humbly suggest that people focus on their jobs and their own performance rather than colleagues. We do not live in a society (in the main) where women are required to cover up to tempting others off of the path of chastity. Far too many people are bothered about spotting what's 'wrong' I'm others rather than looking to improve themselves. Don't want to see this sort of thing? Stay away from swimming pools, beaches, etc

The Angelina Jolie top posted above is very pretty, but if I saw someone wearing this to office, my first thought would be to kindly inform them they have forgotten their shirt and have come to work in their underwear..

The Angelina Jolie top posted above is very pretty, but if I saw someone wearing this to office, my first thought would be to kindly inform them they have forgotten their shirt and have come to work in their underwear

Oh golly you think you’re quite the wag don’t you. Do your colleagues often laugh at you?

I’m not disputing you might have to discuss attire with people as to your office policy. Just don’t be a twat about it.

Don't want to see this sort of thing? Stay away from swimming pools, beaches, etc - I have no issues seeing half-naked people on beaches, this thread is not about banning strappy tops everywhere. I expect to see naked skin when I go to swimming pool or sauna. I normally don't expect to see half-dressed people in busiess meetings - there's a time and place for various levels of undress.