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.

Some places were hot today,
but don't know know if this was the case where the OP was
Either way bare legs fine if comfortable for the individual

I find it odd that there still seems to be view that there is a correlation between what you wear at work and your ability to do a good job. Personally I think as long as someone is clean, tidy and presentable it really doesn't matter if they wear tights (or not), leggings and a tunic, trousers or whatever

I would always have thought of bare legs as unprofessional but I actually have no idea why!!! Flip flops ... how can she call you out on you being bare legged when she was in flip flops?!

@littlebillie That's not the sort of thing worth being mortified over. I mean, it would be rather alarming if they didn't, given what sausages are.

My legs look like sausages too. They're long, thin compared to their length, and consist of skin stuffed full of meat and fat.

I’m going to work tomorrow in denim shorts (just above the knee length) and trainers as I’ve fallen tonight and ripped the only pair of trousers I had which would cover my braces, so it’s denim shorts or working from home and I’ve promised a staff member some help tomorrow so can’t let them done, mine you my staff won’t bat an eyelid as I’ve had to wear that outfit in the middle of winter too (thanks disability)

People should dress appropriately for their workplace but bare legs aren’t inappropriate and I’m fine with flip flops too, I work in an area where if workers dressed too formally clients would view them with suspicion, that said if I’ve a meeting with the commissioner shorts would be a no go, surely it’s common sense?

I miss going bare legged

Where do you even buy flesh tights?

Sorry but what??? I’m usually on the conservative side of dress codes - so no strapless tops, flip flops, etc but honestly what is the issue with bare legs?

from that serial killer in Silence of the Lambs. Not Hannibal Lecter but the other guy.

Are you sure it had nothing to do with the skirt? White Stuff clothes make you look like you’ve given up and moved to a farm.

My office is very casual. Can wear what you like so long as it's not all hanging out. I wear jeans in winter and summer knee length dress and sandals in summer. Without tights.

She was jealous op! Definitely.

YANBU

Wear the skirt with a pair of stripy knee-length socks tomorrow if bare legs are so unprofessional.
We're not allowed bare legs at work but it's due to real H&S concerns. Everyone wears trousers anyway.

The conflation of slavishly following dress codes (and other petty rules) with being professional is the reason why there are so many incompetent people in many workplaces, especially at management level.

@TheSmallClangerWhistlesAgain love the stripey socks idea

I had this dilemma this week, skirt and tights or should go bare legged ? Different offices - main office - smart wide legged trousers and t-shirt and flats. Satellite office (non customer facing) - smart shorts (knee length) and t- shirt and flats. Absolutely no flip flops. P.s husband thought I looked great.

Skin tone tights are awful things.
You think you've pulled the waistband up and tucked it neatly into your bra out of the way and it sneaks out and distractingly rolls down your torso bit by bit turning you into the size 8 version of Michellin Man as they settle into the squishiest bit of the mum tum in a snug, restrictive band.

Meanwhile the legs creep downwards in honour of Nora Batty.

Then the ladder inevitably occurs as you hitch them up and stab your nail through them. This grows each time you have to adjust them.

Such a professional look

@SudowoodoVoodoo that why I keep a spare pair in my bag 😊

I'll be wearing tights no matter how hot it gets . I have varicose veins and blemished legs and I prefer wearing tights. I have never had thrush from wearing tights luckily. I don't mind others having bare legs, I do think flip flops are unprofessional though.

Just had to check that it is 2019 and not 1950.

How daft! I always thought that the mental health nursing dress code was more casual in my experience.
I’m a GP in my 30’s and if I have actually shaved my legs in Summer (happens less than I’d like too as shower usually interrupted by little peeps!) I often don’t wear tights. No patient has ever commented, or staff.

I used to work for the nhs and the uniform policy applied to non clinical staff as well as clinical staff and bare legs were not allowed.

I can remember twice in about ten years when it was deemed hot enough for the tights must be worn rule to be relaxed and a formal email was sent out to all staff informing them of this.

staff also had to have "hair the colour of a horse" and no visible piercings apart from a pair of plain coloured stud earrings. The bat shit policy is still in effect.

Sounds like you were dressed perfectly appropriately. Nothing wrong with it. What did you say? Are you sure she doesn't have other issues with you and she is just doing this because of them?

staff also had to have "hair the colour of a horse"

Ive never heard of that. What does it mean?

Do you mean plain? Not coloured? How draconian!