Dress code at work, double standards?

[Freak12345]

Yesterday it was over 30 degrees and I made a mistake, I wore shorts with a blazer but the shorts were tailored and not skimpy hotpants/daisy Duke shorts or anything at all, slightly longer.

Anyway I got pulled into the manager's office and told to not wear them again, which fair enough I understand and I won't.

I was told the code is 'smart casual' however noticed the manager who told me off was in flip flops.

Later noticed the assistant manager had slippers on- well those fluffy slip on slipper-type things, and another staff member was in tracksuit bottoms?

I don't see any of those as smart-casual any more than tailored shorts, maybe they were all told off separately but I'm not sure, just seemed a bit off?

I think it's the bra that bothered me. I could see this person's straps and the full clasp, maybe she got spoken to as well but I was sitting near them all day and didn't see it. Plus very thin spaghetti strap dress. So that's more acceptable than shorts? I think maybe I'm already disliking the role a little bit and looking for reasons.

I'd immediately invest in a skort (ideally shorter than the shorts you were wearing) just to see their brain malfunction at the ambiguity of the dress code policy.

Have you heard yourself???

?? What the heck ??
She hasn't said anything wrong at all here.
She's talking about the headteacher's inability/difficulty applying a dress code in the warmer months due to different body shapes and quality of clothing items. Nowt wrong with that.

What industry are you in, is there a reason they’re being dictatorial?

even if there is, in extreme heat concessions should be made

Long linens 😂

Why are you staring at armpits all day.

Really? Where do you work? The 18th century?

I think you should go back to them today and ask for a proper list of what is acceptable and what isn’t. It sounds like you were picked up on your clothes unfairly so I’m not surprised you are confused.

The OP's said how long the shorts are: Just measured, shorts are about a palm length up from my knee but not full hand

Wtf - get an actual life.

That IS inappropriate in my book. Not that it's a bra strap per se, but it just sounds untidy. How low/saggy was the back that you could see the whole clasp? There must have been an inappropriate amount of back skin on view.

It was like something you'd see on the beach. I walked past the manager today and could see her looking at my (formal and shorts-free) outfit. I'm not sure how i feel.

Don't ever take a job at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo !!

Have you asked for the policy/talked to HR?

From what you have said, it would seem double standards. But we are going off what you have said and haven’t seen the respective outfits. What did you wear them with? I would wear chino shorts (mid thigh or longer) with a lose fitting shirt and loafers, complementary belt etc and would not expect that to be a problem. But you do need to balance the casual element with other smarter elements.

The longest pair of palazzo cropped I wear for work is about 4cm shorter than these www.roman.co.uk/palazzo-culotte-trouser-18087108

I'm not. It's against the dress code!

First post: 'shorts with a blazer'

@Freak12345 that sounds fine to me, I bet that length woukd be ok if it was a skirt or a dress. Seems strange to pull you up for that and others have joggers on or flip flops, tailored shorts are fine and smart.

Whether it's wrong or not depends on what she actually did. I don't think she should have had a conversation along the lines of "Jane, you shouldn't wear that top because you are quite well endowed. I see that Mary is wearing the exact same top, but she is quite flat-chested, so it's fine on her."

Have you seen the state of high school kids wearing a blazer. That comment means nothing 🤦🏼‍♀️

She's not a high school kid though.
EDITED for clarity

Yeah management don’t follow the rules where I work either (daycare nursery.) We have to wear dark blue polo tops with thick leggings or tailored trousers, closed toe shoes but not crocs. Management wear nice cool floaty dresses, loose linen trousers, sandals… but then staff are also only allowed water in the rooms no other drink or food… management can have whatever!

Years ago I worked in a Bank. I was told off for wearing inappropriate footwear (flat, bronze sandals from M&S - pretty sensible) whilst another member of the team was tottering around the banking hall in her high heeled, open toed mules. Double standards because I wasn't in the clique 🙄