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?

I think you should tell her. If there are rules that she may not be aware of, I think it's only decent to let her know. She might not have had a chance to go shopping yet - you could point her in the direction of some suitable places.
I imagine it's only going to get hotter there, so explaining how you dress smartly in the heat would be handy info too.

Do they really expect women to wear jackets in court even when it's baking hot

I worked in Court for a long time and we'd take our jackets off between hearings but put them on again when the Magistrates were coming back in. It would then be for one of them to say "it's ok to take jackets off". It was a bit of a formality!

They say about shooting the messenger for a reason.
Do not be that person.

Tough one. I know you want to help but if she's already had the guidance then I would be inclined to stay out of it. It may be that she is aware but after an international move and retraining she hasn't got any spare money at the minute for new clothes and shoes and is making do until she can go shopping.

However well intentioned, I would be a bit taken aback if a colleague approached me to smarten up who was not my manager.

I would be terrified if it was my manager who mentioned that. To hear that from a colleague (same age?same level?) is a way much better. I'd prefer to be told by you, OP

In the UK legal professionals are not allowed to have bare arms in court - except when sanctioned by the Judge. I would ask her manager to have a quite word - advisory rather than admonishing.

Someone got sacked on here the other day for telling a workmate something similar to this.
It can be classed as bullying.
Stay out of it.

I would not tell her how to dress as it's not your job.

I would, however, tell a colleague if I could see their underwear - privately, discretely, 121, in the loos as I'd want to know.

But, don't be the work attire police - nothing good will come of it.

I'm not clear what her role is. Or yours. What sort of court is this. There's a big difference here between a tribunal/magistrates court and The Higher Courts.

I think, if she is the kind of person you might be friends with one day, and you felt like taking her for a coffee, see how she's settling in, etc etc, you could mention it in passing, but if you don't think you would have that kind of a relationship with her, maybe leave it to her manager.

I always find office summer clothes tricky, you get such a range of styles from vest top shorts and flip flops, to mother of bride dresses. It's a hard season to dress for I think.

You should have quietly walked up to her and put your hands into the gaps of the dress and snapped her bra strap with one hand while simultaneously having her a wedgey with the other. It would have drew her attention to her wardrobe malfunction and would have a nice way to introduce yourself x

I always find office summer clothes tricky, you get such a range of styles from vest top shorts and flip flops, to mother of bride dresses. It's a hard season to dress for I think
It's almost like you've been in some of my workplaces

YABU

@Beveren Australia has aircon, wearing a light suit inside shouldn’t be a problem unless the air con is really really bad. It’s very different in the heat there to the way it is here.

LolaSmiles I usually wear a Borat Mankini with sling back kitten heels, maybe you've noticed me?

Just tell her that the court requires faily formal clothes. No need to embarass her by poiting out the shortcomings of her previous attire.

sarf oh that was you! Great look btw.

Personally I'm a fan of the beach flip flops with summer mini dress look. Sure it blows about a bit, but I take my chances and match my underwear to the dress so it coordinates. A bit of a breeze is needed when it's so hot.

My friend at eight months pregnant bursting out of everything in court was pulled aside by her boss for wearing a cardigan instead of a jacket in a heatwave, so someone will have a word with her I am sure.

I probably wouldn't say anything, but if you really want to you could say something like 'gosh I'd love to get wear a summer dress in court, my manager/magistrate/whoever would never let me away with it though, what with the court dress code tinkly laugh'

If you were to say something then mention either one issue or the other - both would start to look like bullying. I personally would mention the visible bra because it sounds like it’s completely unintentional on her part and if I were her I’d be grateful if a well-intentioned female colleague gave me a friendly heads up (but maybe not after the fact - only if she wears it again).

Leave it for her manager to address the general dress code - presumably she won’t get sacked on the spot or anything drastic if you don’t warn her about it.

Unless you have a personal relationship with her or have authority over her, it is not appropriate for you to tell her.
I would think any adult would have a good idea of how to dress for any court anywhere- or would ask.

Do you manage her?

Is it your job to police people’s attire more generally?

If the answer to these questions is no, then keep out of it.

Even on summer days of 35C+ it is absolutely still a requirement to dress formally in suits and jackets, others wear silk robes and wigs in court. Culturally it is seen as a sign of respect for the judicial system and the sitting Magistrate to dress professionally. Magistrates have been known to address professionals directly in court if they aren’t suitably attired which as I’m sure you can imagine would be very embarrassing for all involved. The building is well air conditioned and Australians are usually able to cope with higher temperatures than those in the UK are (as a generalisation you get used to the heat!)

But what is her job please? Huge difference here between the court clerk and barrister or judge. Wigs here are only de rigeur for criminal cases or ceremonials. I find it difficult to imagine that Australia should be more formal.

I’m hesitant to say which particular area of the legal system I work in, but basically we are government lawyers and public servants. She is not a court clerk nor is she the Magistrate. Wigs and robes are quite rare to be honest but they absolutely are seen within our legal system.