My manager has banned all vests, skirts and shorts

[itsjustthepricewepay]

I could cry right now.

I understand banning thin strapped vests but surely thick straps are fine? She’s also banned all shorts (including knee length) and skirts that sit at the knee. Basically we have to go down to ankle length trousers.

AIBU to genuinely consider quitting my job? Her office is air conditioned but we’re in a horrible hot sun trap!

100% agree.

When I say it about men’s clothing it does seem a bit unusual and primarily comes with connotations of the clothing being simple, humble, plain etc.

Trying to abstain from frivolity, luxury etc.

I recognise the need for some dress standards when at work, but I can’t see what is inappropriate about knee-length skirts, especially in a non-public facing role.

Knee-length skirts have generally been acceptable office attire for generations! In my rather staid office yesterday, lots of women were wearing dresses and skirts of that length - to call that inappropriate in a UK office is frankly bizarre!

And I really don’t have time for those posters who say stuff like “in my day I had to wear a tight corset, thick woollen tights and couldn’t show a millimetre of ankle, so you should just suck it up.” Are women really expected to just accept stuff because women in the 70s had to put up with it?!
It’s like saying women shouldn’t be able to have mortgages in their own name, and should accept that marital rape is an oxymoron. What backward logic.

So simply stick to that… Your top (whilst I wouldn’t feel comfortable with it at work - I don’t want people to see the texture of my bra) should be fine going by this. Sleeveless is fine as long as the shoulders are covered, after all.

(I often wear high-neck, sleeveless blouses at work. Simply keep a blazer ready in case I need it…)

I had no idea so many people had an issue with bare shoulders and uncovered armpits until I read this thread. I live in tank tops in hot weather, because I hate the feeling of sweating into a t-shirt sleeve and the sweat just sitting there soaked into the fabric all day.

💯

If men wore vests or short shorts or skirts I would say exactly the same thing, I know what is appropriate in standard indoor work places so wear that and none of it is

I do not see men wearing anything mentioned in the OP in the workplace yes I am sure millions of women will come on here and say they do I am not one of them

Well the issue is for many of us this is not considered “within reason”.

You’re not being “belligerent” if you question something or use a union to enquire about your rights.

Not everyone just wants to roll over and say yes mam in every situation even where a new rule is causing them discomfort and significant inconvenience.

I don’t think the outfits OP posted were more suited for gardening than an office lacking air conditioning. They were fine.

And on that point, I worked in government offices as far back as 2011 and they had AC, I think Op and her colleagues should actually raise that as an issue and see if something can be done too.

• focusing on OPs clothes rather thsn the real issue of her sub-standard office conditions which is really what should be the cause for outrage.”

Exactly. It’s depressing and I say this as someone who wears maxi dresses and loose linen trousers in the heat. They are focusing on the wrong thing here and this is why things never change.

We didn’t think it as ‘suffering’, we didn’t moan at management, it was no one’s fault, everyone was in the same boat. We just looked forward to our two week holiday.

If you treat people like children, they'll behave like children. Parent-child workplace cultures are ineffective and pretty miserable to work in for anybody with an ounce of initiative and self-motivation.

If somebody is dressing in a way to cause offense then it just needs a short and direct 121 conversation - not a blanket ban communicated to all colleagues. Reminds me of school when we had to kneel on the floor to check the length of our skirts.

I’ve just dropped off DH at the train station and close to 100% of people going in to London were in shorts, short sleeves or, horror of horrors, short skirts. I didn’t study the footwear. Nobody struck me as scruffy either.

if your NHS there will be a dress code so I’d check this. May be worth having a conversation about them providing fans / air conditioning units in extreme weather if your expected to dress for cooler weather

Men also need to dress modestly. Clothing should be appropriate for a professional workplace rather than a beach. I wouldn't expect someone male to be wearing anything too tight across the crutch or behind. I don't want to see genitalia, underwear or them wearing vest or crop tops in the workplace. I'd expect shorts to be tailored and not casual or swim shorts.

I remember the Australian who was complaining that on dress-down Friday in our Sydney office they just wore thongs. The whole London office went completely silent. Only I heard him say... "What do you call them? Oh yes, flip-flops." 😂

The 1970s were well known for floaty Laura Ashley type dresses. Long flouncy skirts. Very comfortable to wear. I believe 70s fashions are back in vogue.

She's bring way over the top, but strappy tops and are unnecessary and I find above the knee length a bit revealing. No one wants to see fungal nails out in sandals either. Short sleeved tops and longer skirt/shorts should be allowed surely?

One of the best things about my job is having zero dress code or expectations on how we look. The top top people wander around in suits and heels but I couldn’t be less interested in that life so I carry on in sleeveless dresses and sandals, tattoos out, bright colours everywhere and focus my energy on getting my work done.

I think it’s shocking to keep an office at 35 degrees and enforce any sort of dress code.

I didn’t know till I read this thread, how much I hate the word ‘floaty’.

Good for you. So what?

Never worked any office where vests and shorts are acceptable

how about 3/4 length trousers / culottes?

I wonder what your manager would say about this OP. A guy who's got long hair and a beard like Sam Ryder turned up wearing a vest top, a skirt touching his knees, green argyle socks and Crocs. I don't know what she'd do about Eric.

It's Kaftan and no knickers time.....

Well I’m 54 and use it. I did when I was 44. What’s the good reason?

A floaty cotton dress would probably be cooler than that T-shirt.
Suppose it depends how much op cares about the job / whether she could get another one (if she wants to).

After reading most of OP's posts...and the fact that she hasn't come back in ages, I suspect she's been exaggerating and embellishing her interpretation of the dress code for clicks, ie the photos of pyjama style top and shorts, ankle length skirts and insisting that men can wear shorts whereas women must be covered up.

Dear God, when did mumsnet become so Victorian? Bare arms and knees on show is now inappropriate? Are people worried that their co-workers would swoon at the sight of an ankle?

As for the PP who mentioned unshaven pits - why does other people's body hair bother you so much? You do realise it's completely natural?