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.

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

This is without a doubt the best thing I've ever read. Have I stumbled onto a middle eastern mumsnet?

I may well be missing the point but I dislike them because mostly they look grim!

Most women have flabby, untoned arms, bingo wings and side boob. Very unattractive whereas a short sleeved or no sleeved shirt id far more flattering and cooler!

I agree totally.

Come on banana, tell us more please

en route to crappy admin job with boring hair

This is without a doubt the best thing I've ever read. Have I stumbled onto a middle eastern mumsnet?

what a ridiculous and sexist comment.

SpandexTutu yep but I'm in an office too when I'm writing up in between and there's no lab coats in the office. We don't have a dress code as such, just safety rules about what is appropriate in the lab so no bare legs/ exposed feet and no high heels.
I really don't see why a dress code is necessary for an office worker with no customer contact though.

Are people in your office actually showing their SHOULDERS!!! The horror

I know. Shudders.

I'm with you OP, you can dress for hot weather without having to show lots of sweaty flesh.

People actually smell more when they show more flesh. Wear a t-shirt with short sleeves.

Some of the replies on here are mental - upper arms are a "private" part of the body?! How do you cope going outside without having a fainting from the sheer debauchery of normal people wearing normal summer clothes?!

I work in a smart-casual office, usually people will wear smart trousers or something but this week everyone has been in sandals, spaghetti straps galore, and even a few pairs of denim hotpants!!

It's not normal to be revolted by the human body to the point where a shoulder is unacceptable, and I think letting staff chose their own clothing is a basic sign of respect. If you can't trust their judgement not to come in in a bikini or an offensive t shirt or something, why even hire them?!

Seriously!! its so hot in my office right now that the " air conditioning " is blowing warm air- the fan is only circulating more hot air etc and we are melting, I don't think we have a female dress code apart from appropriate shoes when on the shop floor- back office its whatever you want, - the only limitation is no short shorts- none of us would cope if we had to wear long sleeves!!!

• we actually have a male dress code too, having looked at our HR docs, but that only says no shorts above the knees.

Come on banana, tell us more please

Haha what do you want to know?

I've been to a global trade bank for meetings with neon pink hair

Similarly over with with one of the big 4 professional firms for meetings, with a slightly less flamboyant pastel pink barnet

I'm sure it would be different if I'd actually worked FOR these companies. But these companies were our clients, so its par for the course that when they work with creative companies, that the teams working on their business will reflect the company culture where they work, not of their clients

Of course I would always modify my clothing if on site with a client - I might still wear jeans, but would wear with a fitted shirt and brogues for a meeting day, rather than a scruffy boyfriend-style shirt and trainers that I might wear to work otherwise

"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."

But many organisations do think that's why they have a dress code. I fact how your colleges conduct themselves can reflect on you, as another Staff member of that company.

For the person who said that they were on their way to Court, representing their company, that's really unusual, in fact, I've never seen it. The Job Center gives out Clothes payments, so people show more respect.

It's about showing underwear from my POV. There are times when it should be avoided. Every professional workplace, working with children/vulnerable people and Court are some. So it's unusual that a TA was allowed to wear one. Being dressed a certain way does instill confidence and respect.

My DD had to attend the Job Center yesterday, it was an Air Conditioned newish building. They were running at least 40 minuets behind on appointments. Coupled with how some of the Advisers were dressed, the whole thing just seemed like a piss take. You certainly couldn't have worn what they were wearing to a Job Interview, anywhere.

I think they are a No, for anyone customer facing. I've worn them when I've worked in non customer facing role, though.

I wore a cotton Kimono over a strapless dress yesterday and I was cooler than when I've been uncovered. Wearing less doesn't mean that you will be less hot, which I wish topless men would realise.

PretABoire, if people are wearing denim hot-pants, your Office isn't Smart Casual, it doesn't have a dress code whatsoever.

All the blinding white flesh on display this week has hurt my eyes. Why do Brits dress so awful?

We have a dress code which states (for both male and female) that no underwear can show. So that means no spaghetti straps, no low rise trousers showing briefs/knickers. We are also not allowed to wear anything which displays our midriff, or shorts, or flip flops. The code applies to both men and women.

I know it's traditionally not considered proper work attire, but I've literally no idea why.

@possumgoddess could I wear spaghetti straps if I ditch the bra?

I think letting staff chose their own clothing is a basic sign of respect. If you can't trust their judgement not to come in in a bikini or an offensive t shirt or something, why even hire them?!

Cute, but I am guessing you've never employed a team of people, have you.

Of course what you wear is a reflexion of what and who you are, YOU chose the clothes, you decided what image you wanted for others to see. You are judged accordingly, why wouldn't you be.

If anyone thinks this is appropriate office work wear, it just proves why dress codes need to be in place.

Thank God I work in Design, unless there is a very impossible client meeting our office has a very relaxed dress code, as in there isn't one. Stop judging women on what they wear and get on with your job.

Many people have commented that as long as it's not client facing, or that they will put proper clothes on for client meetings. Why? If it doesn't matter and you can do the work in bikini, why bother?

Eh? Why?
What difference does it make?
Where I work we can wear joggers so not formal at all, but when I first started I wore smart 'office' attaire. Made no difference to how I did my job

Cute, but I am guessing you've never employed a team of people, have you

Yeah. And let them dress as they wanted. It’s fairly common in creative sectors

No one really wants to see shoulders and armpits or toes, male or female

Oh dear, you can see all of those terrifying body parts on me today. In my professional office no less!

Why? If it doesn't matter and you can do the work in bikini, why bother?

Because I try not to dress in swimsuits at the best of times

I did have a smashing pair of fluffy boots in my office for winter though. Toasty!