To think bare legs at work isn’t unprofessional

[Basketofkittens]

I work in a non customer / public facing role in an office. Today as it was hot I wore an nice knee length A-line skirt and a T-shirt. All very respectable. Think White Stuff style. With ballet flats.

One of the more senior managers pulled me up and said that bare legs and a casual skirt weren’t appropriate. She was wearing linen culottes and flip flops.

In my last job I would wear a maxi dress and sandals in the heat but there was no formal dress code. I looked at the dress code for this workplace and it’s smart-casual. Knee length skirts and smart tops are in the acceptable column. Flip flops are not.

Normally I would wear a smartish work dress with tights but it’s just too sticky and the office has poor ventilation.

It's quite normal to have bare legs in every office I've worked in - city to academia. No-one would have given the slightest toss that a woman wasn't wearing tights or that she was wearing bright nail varnish. Thankfully, I've always worked with grown ups who know that - as long as you're reasonably smart - it's what you do rather than how well you conform to outdated ideas.

If someone didn't employ me because I'd turned up to an interview with bare legs, I'd be hugely relieved because I can do without working for someone that small-minded.

I’m 35 and think bare legs look unprofessional. One of my teaching colleagues has been showing up bare legged to work recently and I don’t think it looks quite right. I wear good quality sheer flesh coloured tights that match my skin tone well to work, church, certain restaurants or in certain company. I’m bare legged on more casual days, holiday etc. I would expect to be pulled up at work if I showed up bare legged and always kept several extra packets of tights in my bottom work drawer in case of rips/ladders etc.

Flip flops at work, unless some sort of medical necessity, are awful! She had a bit of a cheek.

Nah, you have to wear tights. No bare legs.

I wear snag sheers too!

I hate how my legs look so I wear tights except in an absolute heatwave. Most people in my office (law) don’t though.

I don't feel fully dressed without tights on.
Think that's just a personal hang-up though!
I wouldn't say bare legs are unprofessional though.

The idea of wearing tights on the few very warm days we get is so dismal. Still none the wiser as to why in some minds bare legs = bad, covered legs trying their best to appear as bare legs = good.

I guess she thought that culottes didn’t count as bare legs.

Ah, why does this not surprise me? Just bizarre. I assume that these culottes were longer than your skirt, but still I am stunned that someone in flip flops would tell you off for having bare legs. I live in Florida and even we aren't allowed to wear flip flops to work (safety issue).

Of course, we are allowed to have bare legs. I am a professional and the last time I wore pantyhose was in about 1995 I think.

In my first job female staff were told we couldn't wear boots.... by the Headmistress who was herself wearing them as she sat on the edge of a table with her legs swinging back & forth.

The following summer term I was talking to her in her office one day when I got the distinct impression she wasn't really listening to me as she seemed to be intently examining my dress. Suddenly she interrupted me saying, "Are sleeveless dresses suitable for professional wear?" I said, "Would you prefer me not to wear this dress to work?" (it was perfectly respectable, not spaghetti straps or anything) and she said "Oh no no no" and returned to the subject of our discussion

I think both of these were just power games, testing for a reaction - could the same be true of your case OP?

Where I work the policy is that culottes and flip flips are not allowed, bare legs are allowed.

I used to work in financial services. I had bare legs in the summer there. (And also wore clothing that wasn't dark, and didn't wear a jacket in the summer!). I wouldn't have worn open toed shoes.

I now work in the NHS. I did wear a jacket and tights to the interviews, in spite of the sweltering heat. I do not wear a jacket any longer. I wear bare legs and open toed sandals. I don't actually even shave my legs more than maybe once every two months... Sometimes I wear a bright orange dress. I wouldn't wear unshaved bare legs, and sandals to e.g. a governing body meeting, as it's public. I would to most other meetings.

In spite of the above missteps, the fact that I'm actually good at my job thankfully counts for more, and I'm highly regarded amongst our directors. Phew!

OP - don't quite write off the whole of the NHS yet, we're not all like that!

Where I work the policy is that culottes and flip flips are not allowed, bare legs are allowed.

Why wouldn't culottes be allowed?

I used to wear nude tights when I worked in a solitors firm but most of the solicitors didn't!
Just because I found it comfier though. I felt hotter with my bare legs against the scratchy chair and also my shoes felt cooler with tights on.

I'm currently wearing harem pants to work in the heat - all in dark colours/smart patterns.

So sad to hear women's clothing is so closely monitored and policed. Stick to the job. I suspect the manager was on a power trip.

YANBU
Sounds like she hasn't a clue, I'd look at the uniform policy or speak to her boss about the issue.
It can't be one rule for her and another for other people... but there is no problem with bare legs imo, flip flops are questionable in a work environment though especially if she is a clinical worker?

Just watching the England - Norway match and all the players have bare legs so I gather from this thread that none of them can be very professional

What is wrong with bare legs?! 'Natural' tights are vile

I just don’t get this idea that you are less professional, implying you are less able to do your job properly because of your clothing, bare legs, tattoos, gel nails, etc. I also don’t get the idea of dress down Friday - what so you can be ‘less professional’ for a day? Surely the usual standards are adhered to? I also can’t believe that women are condoning/enforcing this carry on and find some of the comments are just ridiculous and concerning at the same time. The idea that a woman should cover up or shave her natural body hair in order to ‘be professional’ is frankly disgusting.

Flip flops totally not ok.
What were you thinking.
Oh sorry manager was wearing flip flops.
Bitch got problems.
Is she having a laugh,flip flops and culottes.

@Purplejay we are more relaxed on a Friday, usually less work. Saturdays are also dress down

Just wear trousers fgs.

YANBU i would say flip flops are more unprofessional. Not sure how she had the cheek to when she has her toes out!

And i hate skin coloured tights, so i would go bare legged, its never been a problem where I've worked. Obviously some professions i can understand the need to have skin covered/protected.

Maybe it was her way of telling you that everyone could see your underwear all day

What the hell is wrong with bare legs? I assume bare arms are fine so why the double standard? They're legs, not genitals!!

Some of the people are very nice, others less so but this was the final straw really.

People are too busy to show me what to do and get grumpy when I ask for help. It’s very rigid with the hours and I’m used to flexitime and working from home.

I sit and count down the clock until I can go home.

"Nude" tights are just supposed to look like bare legs but airbrushed a bit aren't they? In which case Bare legs is just like not wearing makeup. Perfectly acceptable.