Classy or slutty?

[strawbsers]

We had a an important customer visit to our office today - one of the female visitors (late 20s, tall and slim) was wearing a tartan mini-skirt, black opaque tights and shiny patent black pumps. I have tracked down the skirt and it was one of these; www.lookastic.co.uk/women/red-plaid-mini-skirt/shop/topshop-tartan-plaid-skirt-red-4-75373?utm_medium=Referral&utm_source=lookastic.com
I commented to my female colleagues after she left that she looked stunning and stylish - but they (all 5 of them) said she looked tarty/slutty and that it was not a suitable business outfit (I have to admit that it would have been a bit hot today - she travelled 3 hours in the car) - but I think it looked good and I'm thinking of getting same skirt/similar outfit.
What do others think - class or tart?

cherryplumbanana my partner worked in the corporate world he was given a lot company credit card and a Merc car thats just come out that year. The neighbours thought that he bought the car and called him a flash bastard he had to give it back it weren't his forever his job loaned it to him. My partner bought a tag watch to go with his suit. You have to look smart when going to meet clients and more importantly have the gift of the gab. What she is wearing isn't that bad if she went to work in jeans that would be a different story. It weren't the men complaining about her skirt it was the women.

I think people need to mind there own business

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie good one

Of course body shapes are taken in to account in dress codes

A lower cut top might look fine on someone with double As but inappropriate for someone with double Ds

Is cleavage a problem I have never heard of that being a problem. As long as they look smart and presentable you can't discriminate.

It's not slutty. It is a bit "youth" though.

I think you'd be OK in fashion type industries but not in my accountancy world

Yes of course cleavage is a problem, most City firms would not allow it

See also bare legs, shoulders out, strap tops, see through clothes

I don't think it's stylish andvif you don't own the tartan, it's never classy.

I like it. I'm not really sure how I'd define a classy look though, I think interpretation can vary. I usually consider simple, unfussy designs in quality fabric and muted or dark colours to be classy, but I suspect that there are people who could explain why that's wrong. What I would say is that I wouldn't describe anyone's outfit as slutty. If that means too revealing (which again is subjective) then I wouldnt agree as she had tights on with it. I see you said you're ordering it, I think that if you like it and feel comfortable there's a good chance you're going to look good.

Not trying to hijack the thread but cherryplum can you elaborate? It sounds as though you have witnessed some interesting takes on dress code.

Queenbean out of curiosity where do you work?

I'd wear itceith thick cord tights in winter, but not to work.

In my last work place I had to wear black trousers and black shoes with there work top. I worked in care I had no choice but to wear there uniform.

*with

Does anybody else think this could be very identifiable.
I hope nobody recognises these people and tells them.

The mums at the school would always complain about the teacher wearing heels to work. They even went as far as creating a fb page about it. The teacher stopped wearing heels when she ws heavily pregnant.

Can people stop saying it's inappropriate for work in such a sweeping way? It might be for some workplaces but isn't for all. Your workplace doesn't speak for all workplaces.

I agree with this statement. This skirt wouldn't suit me but I would have been 'allowed' to wear it to any of my jobs over the last 30 years and, indeed, other staff do wear things like this. The only things we can't wear are football shirts and short shorts, although we are expected to dress up a bit if we attend a multi agency meeting.

Sunshine a law firm in city of London

Many financial services places are the same too

Goodness what a multi-layered thread. Where to start? Right, the only thing I've seen that isn't classy is calling women 'slutty'. Or 'tarty'. Me, I'm not keen on 'bitchy' either, not even for women who call women 'slutty'.

As for the skirt: I read a page of comments before I opened the link and I cannot tell you how disappointed I was. I'd expected at least something made of rubber with matching crotchless pants. It's just a short skirt, probably not even that short unless you're model height. I don't know if it's work appropriate because I don't know enough about the op's job, other than that it involves cosmetics. If she works for Marshall and Snelgrove then probably not; if it's for Creative Shit Ltd, then probably fine. I doubt whether anyone would turn a hair at my workplace. Hell they wouldn't even notice if I wore it.

As for these dress codes that incorporate body shape: how very forward thinking. Do Trinny and Susannah write them?

Oh our dress code doesn't say "anyone over a size 12 may not wear cropped trousers" etc but they do make provisions for how clothing will sit on various bodies

For example. I used to work for a company where they were hot on the old cleavage rule. There was a very large lady who also had big boobs, and so most of the stuff she'd wear would give her cleavage. There was quite some uproar when slim members of the team were told to up their necklines, they argued that she should be told to as well.

I was on a different floor at the time, well away from the drama, but was very interesting to see!

RiverTam I don't work in creative industry, and clearly, nor do most posters on this thread. Where I work the dress code is smart, casual, so we can wear smart jeans with shoes/ boots, but no trainers. Skirts/ dresses can't be too short, no strappy or strapless tops and no very low cut tops.

Even the graphic designers have to comply.

Cheap looking.

I'm with Flo, I wouldn't wear that skirt because I don't like it but really, I can't get worked up about it on either a style or "appropriateness" level. It's a tartan skirt, worn with opaque tights and flat shoes. Slutty? Really? Seriously, anyone in my workplace could wear that and no one would think twice about it and I work in healthcare not some super edgy creative industry.

I'm also amused that it's worthy of comment that someone would wear something that wasn't considered to be "in fashion" just now. Some people just have clothes, they don't think "but people wore that in the 90s, I'd better not" they think "I like that skirt, I'll wear it".

I think it's too strong a nod to the punk movement to be categorised alongside suspenders or a backless, frontless short tight dress.. or whatever, you know what I mean. Avoiding the s word here.

Seems abit out of season too. Methinks it is more winter fashion than anything. Too add wouldnt say it was classy, but as it is described not slutty either, just meh.