Colleague’s wardrobe malfunction/unprofessional attire

[CGaus]

I often work in court, where professionals are required to dress formally in suits with jackets and closed toe professional shoes (think lawyers, civil servants). Our professional code of conduct requires us to act as “model litigants” and our policy manual has some information on standards expected at court including dress.

A colleague was wearing a knee length short sleeved cotton summer dress without a jacket. She also wore sandals. We live in Australia where it’s currently mid 20s C so the summer dress wasn’t unusual, just inappropriate. She is new to the country and the role and may not be aware of appropriate attire in court.

As a side issue this dress had buttons all the way down the front, and when she stood side-on there were gaps in the dress through which her bra, underwear and skin could be seen. This is only noticeable if you happen to be standing at the angle I was. I assume she wasn’t aware of this.

Should I have said something? I didn’t get a chance to speak with her when the opportunity arose as my matter was called into court and I had to go. Now I’m wondering if I should mention it to her next time I see her?

Should I have said something?

Like what? Did you know I can see your underwear if I get side on, tilt my head and stare through your buttons? Or do you just mean talking about appropriate work attire?

Basically, No, never to the first one but yes to the second if it is your job to police this kind of thing, ie it's your job.

If it's not your job I'd just leave it to whomevers job it is as regardless of your intentions there is way too much of a chance for her to take it as an insult in my opinion and that could mean a strained relationship in future.

I agree with the previous poster - sounds as if her underwear was not visible except from a very specific position (I mean if I lie on the floor and look up your skirt, I'll see your knickers, but that wouldn't mean you were dressed innappropriately)

As for needing to wear a jacket or whatever she maybe reasoned no jacket is better than a courtroom full of people sweating into their tweeds.

I would leave well alone - she'll work it out for herself if she is being innappropriate - she will observe what everyone else is wearing and make adjustments.

If it’s really inappropriate the judge will get the court clerk to have a word with her. It happened to a colleague of mine.

It really wasn’t a “side on, tilt my head and stare through your buttons” situation, anyone who happens to be standing to the side of her will clearly be able to see her underwear! It was quite a significant gap between the buttons from the side of about two inches of I had to guess. This is especially concerning given the way we sit in the courtroom is often along a row.

I do understand where you are coming from though in terms of I’m not her manager and it would be very embarrassing for both of us I’m sure if I did mention it to her in a similar situation in future.

If my underwear was ever visible at work I’d want to be told. Surely it’s better coming from a colleague of the same gender rather than from a Magistrate during proceedings with an audience present (this does happen occasionally!)

She probably realised that her attire wasn't 'appropriate' after seeing the manner in which everyone else was dressed. Hopefully, she will turn up in more 'professional' clobber when she is next in court. As PP said, don't say anything unless she commits the crime for a second time.

Is there a Manager that can pick this up?

Otherwise it could mean a sour working relationship.

Can't you tell her kindly?

I'd be really embarrassed if no-one told me and I didn't follow the dress code.

I think I would have said something like, "You're underwear is showing", or "I like your pink bra", in a laughing way. It would make think before wearing that dress to work again. Or it might not!

It surely doesn't matter that much though.

It’s definitely not her first time in court, as a part of our training we are required to visit various courts before we can work in them. I didn’t attend training with her but in my own training professional expectations and dress were discussed at length.

Absolutely she has a manager somewhere and I will take everyone’s advice and leave it to someone else to say something 😀

I would stay out of it if i were you. Not really any of your business unless she's a friend or you're her boss

I don’t think a summer dress and buttons are the same issue. Shirts button and many people in very professional environments wear them every single day. She obviously didn’t realise. Corporate shirtdresses button also. I would leave it.

Personally I would tell her. If this is a written code of conduct she could get into trouble.

I'm sure she'll be aware after today - if everyone else is suited and booted she'll be mortified at turning in up in a summer dress. I really wouldn't mention the fact you can see her underwear and skin through the gaps between the buttons on her dress, that sounds weird and creepy.

Do they really expect women to wear jackets in court even when it's baking hot? In the UK it would be perfectly acceptable for a woman to wear a knee-length cotton dress during heatwaves.

If this is a job requirement then yes have a quiet word before she gets a formal complaint, but may be more of a convention and isn't enforced in which case it is not your business

OP If it was me, I'd want a colleague to give me a gentle nudge, but I'm also aware from what feels like dozen workwear threads this week alone that there's a dominant voice on MN that it's essentially sexist bullying to mention anything about what a woman wears to work unless you go in with an itemised tick list policy.

The first time I had to go to court for my work, I was advised in advance about what was considered appropriate attire. Hopefully she'll realise on her own. If not, I think her manager should really tell her

I would tell her.

Keep your beak out. She is not your junior and it is not your business to police what she wears - and there is no way you can speak to her without coming across as an officious twat.

Don't be a hall monitor, respect her choices.

I don't really think it is your place to tell her.
If her outfits are inappropriate a manager or someone else from the court will point this out to her.

If she has just started, you might want to have a chat with her to tell her about the 'rules'. in the sense that she might not have been aware about it (or she hasnt 'got' wat that means in Australia vs her country of origin etc...)

As a foreigner, I would prefer somone gently telling me about the 'customs' of the country and why y is inappropriate than learnig the hard way (eg with a magistrate making a comment)

Unless you are her boss, I don't think it's your place to tell her you think her clothes were inappropriate.

Anything that buttons down the front might occasionally mean you can see through a gap if you happen to be standing at a very specific angle and staring, so I definitely wouldn't mention that; it's a bit creepy.

If someone could see my underwear through my clothes and didn't realise I would be extremely grateful for someone to give me the heads up about it regardless if it was from a certain angle only. There will be a lot of occasions when she'll be stood up and people seated to the side of her so exposing herself may happen quite a bit.

I would leave telling her what you are expected to wear to her manager. That's their job to sort that.

I think you should just mind your own business. If there’s an issue someone senior will tell her.