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.

LilithTheKitty sounds like you are in a lab where full shoes and cover are required for safety rather than as a dress code?

Men rarely wear spaghetti tops so they wouldn’t wear them to work - I don’t see why they can’t wear a clean, presentable, smart t shirt. Or shorts and sandals. I work in a school and all the men seem to feel they need to wear a shirt and tie every day - not sure it’s actually in the policy though, if they complian about the women being able to wear dresses etc I just tell them they should ask to come in wearing shorts and a short sleeved shirt. They should rock the boat a bit if they’ve got a problem!

It's in the dress code, says something along the lines of "appropriate attire must be worn, heels when required" - or something like that, I'll dig it out.

It's a very superficial company, the seem to never higher anyone even slightly overweight and the attractiveness of the staff is pretty high. There's no way to say that without sounding like a big-headed pig, but it's true.

If anything I think they actually encourage women to look sexual, I'll turn up in a less flattering outfit with small heels and see if they mention it

My work dress code stipulates no spaghetti straps (sleeveless is ok). However, being all corporate, they also provide air conditioning, so no-one has to boil at work.

(I do also think that we Brits are dire at dressing for hot weather.)

I think it depends on the kind of office you work in. Some offices are really casual and people generally look scruffy and that's fine. Others have dress codes and then when someone turns up in something that isn't within the dress code, they look out of place and inappropriate. I work in an office, where the code is quite conservative, so anyone turning up in shorts & spaghetti strap tops would be asked to comply with the dress code the next day - and we have air con, so you'd freeze anyway!!!!

I think some people in the UK wear really unattractive & unflattering outfits when its hot and seem to think we all need to see their half naked bodies but that is a whole different subject, and thank goodness it is a free country and we can wear what we like even if it is hideous!

Who cares what men wear? Why does their garb have to dictate what women wear? If men don’t like what they feel they have to wear when it’s hot then they can campaign for change.

I find it baffling that so many people can’t understand that plenty of office environments are very relaxed, and that if you’re role isn’t forward facing it doesn’t matter. Loads of bikes in shorts in my office yesterday, women wearing whatever - my Head of Department was in a vest top and some knackered old cords - she was still able to do her job! She’s working from hone today, probably in her jammies - getting the work done.

I bet all these people are the ones who think that secondary school kids should wear blazers at all times and sixth formers need to wear business wear. Can’t get their heads around the idea that not everyone works in an uber formal corporate office.

Typos!

@JacquesHammer

Firstly, thank you for my first ever @ notification, I feel like I'm a true MNer now

Secondly, I'm only dressed because I took the dogs out early, otherwise I'd be sat here in a spaghetti strapped nightdress. Seriously though, I really don't understand the fuss about what people wear. Do people really believe it affects the quality of their work? Or is it a catch-22 in that some people believe that you can't be professional if you're wearing certain types of clothes and so workers are forced into wearing professional clothes to placate those people?

Who cares what men wear? Why does their garb have to dictate what women wear?

why do you need to differentiate between the 2? How difficult is it to ask for people to dress appropriately? I don't want to see anyone's armpits or anyone's feet!

You don't have to wear uber conservative work wear but you can prefer for people to dress differently for clubbing on the beach and for the office. It's not only about the job being done, it's about respect for people around you. The day someone starts rocking in their pjs in your office, unwashed and people start complaining, even your uber cool office will have to do something about it.

Many dress codes have only started to appear because one individual started to take the piss and things had to be formalised.

I don’t think flip flops, spaghetti straps, bra straps showing, skirts so short that I can see your bright pink knickers when you are walking upstairs a few steps ahead of me, tiny little shorts that barely cover your bumcheeks or crop tops that show belly are appropriate in a professional environment but i’ve seen teachers/school staff wearing all of the above in the last week when students are being told off for not having their tie & blazer on ... a tank type top with wide straps, a floaty skirt, sandals etc I have no problem with.

So does everyone in my office wearing sleeveless or strappy clothes not respect anyone else? What a load of utter drivel. We’re all clean, our clothes are clean, no undies on show. We’re not imbeciles, you know. Or particularly cool. We’re just aware that what we wear to do our non-forward facing jobs isn’t relevant.

Or is it a catch-22 in that some people believe that you can't be professional if you're wearing certain types of clothes and so workers are forced into wearing professional clothes to placate those people?

I think it is this. Its habit and social convention. I quite like it when nonsense social conventions are ignored. So women in spaghetti straps are fine, imo, and if men don't like their clothing then wear something different (including campaigning to be allowed if necessary - just like women have had to do for the last century).

findogask properly hot countries have air conditioning and the offices can be colder than here! I've been in Dubai, 45c outside but was close to shivering in the office with a full jumper on as the a/c was cranked up so high!

I agree OP. I think it looks inappropriate and unprofessional in the workplace. Spaghetti straps are for holidays, the beach or lounging at home (like hotpants, crop tshirts and bikinis).

I think it looks awful to show bra straps, like you couldn't be bothered to cover your underwear. Not offensive, just unkempt and lazy. Like men whose low slung jeans reveal half their boxers!

Upper arms, shoulders and armpits are quite a 'private' part of the body. Men don't turn up to work in a sleeveless vest so why should women?
And I think it's polite to cover your armpits in a shared office, as if you get sweaty your colleagues will get a whiff every time you move your arms. Short sleeves absorb sweat and are more hygienic.

I think wearing a short sleeved loose fitting silk blouse is just as cool as spaghetti straps.

In our office it regularly tops 30C in the summer (no aircon). No problems with women wearing skimpy tops and flip-flops because we're more productive than if we were in "traditional" office wear.

I agree with the OP. I grew up in Florida, and have lived for a long time in Southeast Asia. People don't go to work in these types of clothes. And before anyone says, yes but the UK doesn't have air conditioning, neither do a lot of other places, including very hot places. And hot places in the developing world have power cuts, you still go to work and you still keep your clothes on.

God some of you would need the vapours if you came into my office

Tech companies are super casual - so spaghetti straps are absolutely normal

The (male) CEO is in shorts and flip flops
A (female) member of the leadership team is wearing a spaghetti strap top (showing her completely tattooed upper chest, upper back and full sleeves), ripped jeans and sandals

Our COO wears jeans and trainers every single day

Lots of the blokes are wearing shorts today, as are the women

What's the big deal? Clients are on site and hot desking in our office and they like being able to dress down when they're over with us!

Depends on the type and style.

Others have dress codes and then when someone turns up in something that isn't within the dress code, they look out of place and inappropriate

We once had a chap turn up to a very casual office in a very casual industry in a full on suit, with waistcoat etc. You could have heard a pin drop as he walked in.

Upper arms, shoulders and armpits are quite a 'private' part of the body

Armpits maybe if whiffy, but are shoulders and upper arms really considered "private" Clearly I didn't get that rather Victorian memo

@bananafish81

I believe we spoke on the "tattooed nurses" about that.

If anyone wants a hoot, that's a great thread to go have a read of

Oh dear op. Yesterday I took my son to nursery. Staff usually wear branded tunics (beauty style ones). However yesterday it was 30 degrees here, and staff are busy with all the children, and when I got there my sons key worker had a black spaghetti strap top on. In what way does it matter what she had on? Was she unable to care for my son as well yesterday because she didn't have her tunic on? No.
It's the same in an office surely. As long as the person is still able to do their job just as well, why does it mater what clothes they have on? It's not like they're turning up in bondage/ fetish clothing and shoes is it?

@JacquesHammer haha yes that was a doozy!

I used to go to canary wharf for client meetings with a large global trade bank with neon pink hair. Funnily enough they were much more interested in my recommendations for their mobile commissioning strategy than in what I was wearing or my grooming

Wear them by all means, but don't pretend it's because it is slightly warmer than usual

I know right??! You'd swear we may actually DIE if we are forced to wear sleeveless blouses instead!

And I'm v v impressed by those of you who have this ability to wear spaghetti strap tops with no cleavage showing. When I wear one every time I bend over you can see the underwire in the middle and everything!

Yes outfit context matters. Eg white/cream silk cami top, no visible bra, with a high waisted grey/black pencil skirt would look fine.

It depends on the person too, someone quite slim with small boobs will probably pull it off, ie still look professional