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.

In normal circumstances they probably wouldn't be appropriate but in this heat I think normal rules don't apply.

But you can see shoulders with wide straps and cleavage in anything- I think anything showing your boobs is inappropriate for the office. Strappy tops are also low cut more often than not.

Again seems to me it’s women getting a bashing here.
because it's rare when a man tries to turn up in the office with a vest on, or with flip flops.

Women have so much choice over appropriate office wear, I have no sympathy for the ones trying to look as unprofessional as possible. They make the rest of us look like idiots.

You're right, it would be totally inappropriate. If you worked in Saudi Arabia.

The problem is when men aren't allowed equivalent. It was a big issue at our office for years. Rare occasion I side with the men on this one. Men can now wear long shorts and sandals.

I have no sympathy for the ones trying to look as unprofessional as possible. They make the rest of us look like idiots

What an utterly bizarre notion.

I work in a primary school. General consensus is that as long as when you bend over no underwear flashes (either end) then its ok (and there is alot of bending down when you are working with small children!)

Just the same as I wouldn't expect to see a man's pants when he bent down too.

You'd hate me. I wore an outfit with spaghetti straps today. God forbid somebody knows I have shoulders and breasts! It was a silk cami and midi pencil skirt, one of my favourite looks.

Some women I've attended professional events with come looking like they've wrapped themselves in their nan's curtains. Each to their own and all

Sounds like some green eyed monsters here.

When dh worked In Oz shorts t shirts sohagetti dresses fine. Very high powered office jobs done.

Our obsession with uniforms for school children and appropriate office wear (bar the ridiculous)is our obsession with class and snobbery.

All nonsense and nothing to do with doing a good professional job.

anditgoes

You shameless hussy

What an utterly bizarre notion.
what is so bizarre about getting bored of some idiot trying to make women look unprofessional when all the men get it?

Cami top without a jacket is not appropriate office wear. Would your male boss wear one? of course not.

The sad truth is also that we have to treat all employees equally. Whilst I personally think some women could get away with it because they have the right body and they are bright, I can't tell another one that she is too chubby and needs to cover up. Bottom line is that my clients wouldn't be impressed , so that settles it!

It's a question of degree surely? Cleavage and sideboob have no place at work - nor do men's great hairy armpits in those vests with the huge armholes (we've had that too). Teeny shorts maybe not such a good plan either.

It's work, enforcing basic manners and not inflicting great swathes of body on your colleagues is hardly Saudi style coverage.

Cami top without a jacket is not appropriate office wear

In your opinion.

But then I don’t let myself get bothered about what other people choose to wear/behave at work. It isn’t a reflection on me in any way.

Sounds like some green eyed monsters here.
you should look at photos of "ladies days" to see what some women think they can get away with when they are "dressed up" in this country. We DO need an official dress code I tell you

I think this is the kind of thing OP & others are referring to...

I work in an office which is fairly casual with no specific dress code but I still manage not to rock up in a vest top - I work in an office so I have clothes which are suitable to wear in an office irrespective of the weather. Most of my tops are sleeveless & I'd usually wear a cardi or blazer over them but the straps are always wide enough to cover my bra straps & necklines high enough to cover my cleavage & I hate sleeves past my elbow & anything around my neck so if I can find appropriate tops for this weather then it's obviously not that difficult - I'm not believing that everyone is wearing woolly jumpers on an everyday basis so can't just tweak their regular outfits to be comfortable.

Sounds like some green eyed monsters here

What a bizarre comment. I do have strappy tops, no need to be jealous.

Bottom line is that my clients wouldn't be impressed , so that settles it!

Not everyone else is in a client facing role.

I can't tell another one that she is too chubby and needs to cover up

So it isn’t a question of inappropriateness, it’s more a problem with fat people?

I always got very annoyed and felt sorry for the men in the office during heat waves - they had to wear a suit regardless. No rolling sleeves up and wearing a tie.

Why don't they take their jackets off an roll up their sleeves? I've never met a man who wears his suit jacket all day and doesn't roll up his sleeves.

I think sleeveless is fine. But spaghetti straps showing a wide expanse of back are not. Men would not get away with best tops or shirts unbuttoned more than the top couple of buttons. And I agree with whoever said it is perfectly possible to dress comfortably for hot weather without putting acres of flesh on display.

Cami top without a jacket is not appropriate office wear
In your opinion.

My opinion, my bosses opinion, my clients opinion and whoever HR wrote all the handbooks I have seen so far.

Depends on the job and the office.

Very hard to make a generalised statement...

My opinion, my bosses opinion, my clients opinion and whoever HR wrote all the handbooks I have seen so far

Ah but you haven’t seen ALL the handbooks

As I said I worked in an office which was a rather stuffy law firm. When you were in your office there was no code at all. It was simply smart when meeting clients. On days with no meetings they were happy for you to wear anything that you found comfortable.

I don’t think most women would wear the outfits they wear on ladies day to the office now really would they don’t be a silly billy.

And for the record I think ladies day outfits are brilliant and fun. Different topic.

And how on Earth how another woman dresses can make you or any other woman look unprofessional?

You make yourself professional or unprofessional by how well regarded you are and how good st your job.

Nothing to do with how you dress. What a bizarre comment

And I agree with whoever said it is perfectly possible to dress comfortably for hot weather without putting acres of flesh on display.

While I have no issues with spaghetti straps, this is true. The best clothing to wear in hot weather is long, loose fitting clothing. It provides sun protection, and allows air to move underneath your clothes. Tight vest tops/shorts aren't as good because they trap heat and cause sweating, and (while this isn't an issue in a office) exposed skin gets hotter in the sun faster.

Frankly if I could wear a nice loose shirt and trousers I probably would! Men really don't even have to think about what they wear, the number of 'smart' options for women comparable is quite a lot less. It's all so much more tight and uncomfortable.

I think it's fairly obvious when you look at someone whether they look professional or not. We had one woman who would wear leggings and she was swiftly pulled up for it (obviously!) but I've worn strappy tops and no one has flinched.

Air con should be sufficient to keep people in normal work shirts cool though.