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.

Do your colleagues often laugh at you?

No, but most of them come to the office fully dressed. It could happen, I once almost left the house in a hurry without my skirt on. Would prefer if people would let me know and not let me walk around in underwear, because who cares what one wears and it does not affect the quality of my work.

because who cares what one wears and it does not affect the quality of my work

Well quite

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

I think you'd drop dead if you had a peek in my underwear drawer.

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

If worn with a blazer or something it would be fine - just on its own like that i agree it looks like half of a pyjama set!

Don't want to see this sort of thing? Stay away from swimming pools, beaches, etc

We are, which is why we are discussing appropriate office work wear, not beach bar wear.

It's part of the job description of some of us to ensure their team is behaving and dress appropriately. I assure you that seeing the shoulders and armpits of another woman is not tempting me off a past of chastity that I am not taking anyway the abs of a the office hunk possibly but I would still regretfully tell him to put a shirt on

I don't believe for a second you genuinely can't see the difference between reasonable request in a work place and the insane demands of some deranged fundamentalist, and again, why do people have to make it a thing against women! Men in most offices are expected to dress just appropriately!

No one cares if you can work well at home in your pyjamas, we are talking about dressing up in an office.

SerenDippitty I think it depends. I work in a professional office in the creative industry - Company Director comes in to work wearing shorts and t-shirt, setting the tone for the rest of us.

Some people say they need to dress smartly to get into work mode, so wearing beachwear would affect the quality of their work.

I never work in my pyjamas when I am at home because it wouldn't feel right.

I can't see why it's controversial to expect people to dress in a professional way in a professional workplace.

Who gives a flying fuck what's appropriate'?? Jesus you people sound like Victorians scandalised by a woman in trousers. People should dress however they're comfortable and if the sight of a little flesh offends you, the problem is 100% yours.

Why do people have to make it a thing against women. Well, OP mentions spaghetti straps, and whilst I don't wish to sound discriminatory in any way, I don't often see men wearing them.

G5000. Not sure about the context here. I mentioned employer dress code requirements. I think we should do a poll on how many of the comments actually relate to attire in business meetings, and indeed whether anyone is experiencing skimpy clothing in said meetings. Also, I have to confess (admits being non voyeuristic) I spend little time studying other people's naked flesh whether in the work place or on a beach. That's just me though, I prefer a good book.

It’s going to be over 30 degrees next week where I work. As long as people are clean and neat, I don’t really care what they wear to get through the day. If boobs, bums and tums are covered, that’s enough for me as a manager.

Whiskysourpus I think this says something about making it an issue about women, doesn't it?

@runningkeenster - Some people say they need to dress smartly to get into work mode, so wearing beachwear would affect the quality of their work.

This is why I wear a suit & tie at work: I feel more confident dealing with senior managers and members of the public when I'm dressed this way. But it's not a requirement for the job, most of my colleagues don't do it and many would feel very uncomfortable dressed so formally. I do not care at all what other people wear at work. There is no association whatsoever between people's level of professionalism and how they dress. I know people who dress very conventionally who are incompetent and frankly unsuitable, and others who dress casually or downright scruffily but are exemplary professionals.

I'll repeat what I said previously: the people who are noticing and complaining about other people's clothing should try doing some work instead (says he, while eating lunch & posting on Mumsnet on his work computer).

I agree, a man in spaghetti straps would be a bit too informal

I am in my early forties and have A/C at work for the very first time this year, after 20 odd years in the workplace. It makes such a difference!

But even before, I still would not have bared that much flesh or worn spaghetti straps because it just says ‘day at home’ or ‘beach holiday’ to me.

Christ how is a vest top not professional? To me your work ethic, ability to do your job and politeness make you professional not your attire. If it bothers you then don't wear them but personally in extreme weathers then let people wear what they want if it makes them more comfortable to do their job.

I must thoroughly agree. Not acceptable on someone who is a decent size but one a woman who is "larger than life" (OK - fat!) with arms like barbecued hams then it looks revolting.

These are the same people who zip themselves into those dreadful fleece tops in the winter, imagining that they have successfully somehow disguised the extra 4 stone of blubber they still kid themselves is 'babyweight'.........oh no it isn't!

OP are you my boss? We got an email on Friday saying dress down is Friday only and business clothing must be worn the rest of the week

Heaven protect us from all those terrible people who go out in public while being fat, ralfeesmum. They wear sleeveless tops and you’re horrified, they cover up in winter and you’re horrified, perhaps you’re the person who should stay home so you’re not offended.

Rafeesmum
What would you like'fat' people to wear in 27 degrees ?
A suit and fur lined boots ?

No wonder girls become anorexic with that sort of attitude.

I’d like to distance myself from the ageist and fattest remarks on this thread. I still think spaghetti straps aren’t professional but that has nothing to do with how people look in them. I am late 50s and happy to expose my shoulders and less than perfect arms in less formal settings and could not give a stuff what anyone else thinks. Nor do I look at others and think “ooh shouldn’t have worn that love”, obviously some people do.

I don't think spaghetti straps are professional attire.

If someone's workplace is more casual then it may be appropriate.

I do feel that in many workplaces there's a distinct sense of 'men wear suits / shirt and trousers whilst women can wear whatever they like'.

I'm in a school and it's been boiling. Some men are still wearing suits, but not many. Lots of men have been wearing trousers and shirt/chinos and a shirt still and many of the women (me included) have still been wearing professional dress/business casual. Some women seem to think that mid thigh casual dresses and flip flops arw appropriate for school. They look totally unprofessional (and at that point I'm on the pupils' side. Why should Miss blogs be walking around like she's off to thr beach whilst the rest of us are still managing to dress properly?)

I don't understand why wider straps are somehow more professional

Uyulala
It's about style and cut. Workplace dress codes evolve over time, but style and cut make a difference to an outfit.

Some sandals are perfectly appropriate for an office, but some aren't.
Some midi skirts are appropriate for professional/business casual dress but others of the same length aren't.

The problem is that when it gets hot there's a group of women who seem to take the attiude of 'but it's hot so I'll wear what I like'. Certainly in every place I've worked people notice who can't be bothered to dress appropriately.