Are these two dresses dated for workwear?

[CoastOfXmasPast]

I know “if you like it, wear it “ but also I was loved the era of a power Galaxy dress, and would live in them for the rest of my working life, so need some perspective.

https://www.hobbs.com/product/meera-dress/0125-5237-9045L05-ZINNIA-PINK.html?utm_source=google&utm_source_platform=google_ads&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=NEST_Hobbs_UK_EN_BoF_Shopping_Brand&utm_id=22300217733&utm_content=agid_171138532490-ad_736662908342&network=g&device=c&targetid=pla-293946777986&utm_tpl=live&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22300217733&gbraid=0AAAAADC5o-KwGWjelOitcXVX5sd7rkULg&gclid=CjwKCAiAzOXMBhASEiwAe14Sac3hzLKfFRuXOlOBqVaIJQVk1lrUH-RBsTvlRqGi-flYMFJ-RP3vIxoCkeIQAvD_BwE

https://www.hobbs.com/product/hallie-dress/0125-5635-9045L00-HYDRANGEA-BLUE.html

Funnily enough, I was thinking earlier that I could see Melania wearing these on her more dress-down days ...

Aside from that I think you probably are reading a little bit too much into it!!!

Phew I'm glad another cardigan fan has joined the thread. 😂

I had another look at them. The pink is the nicer of of the 2. I don't like the blue.

So, what is a woman to wear to work in the summer?

Whilst it's changed over the years this has never been a problem my whole working life. Hobbs used to do lots of linen but seem to have abandoned that.

I personally don't think they're 'dated' but I also haven't cared about what I wear to work since 2016. They're simple, inoffensive and easily accessorised.

One thing I have learned over the years is that there are a LOT of lawyers on MN.

I don't mind the dresses OP posted, think they are fairly classic and timeless and if they suit the shape/colouring of the wearer they will look rather nice.

Some of the responses on here have been wild and entertaining. I do find that work attire has changed hugely, when I was a trainee it was much more formal business attire every day and much stricter rules (I remember getting a severe ticking off for walking past reception in just my skirt and blouse and not my suit jacket).

Now I am much more senior and everything is much more relaxed. I hardly every see anyone face to face, and I'm hardly ever in court in person (mostly virtual). I dress up to go into the office but only because I like to. Some of my colleagues turn up in jeans/shirt and some in dresses.

The more senior, and more powerful you are, the more you can dress however you like. 20 years ago DH worked as a cog in the wheel of an investment firm and wore suit and tie daily. Now he owns his own private equity firm and wears... joggers and cardigans 😁

I love a Hobbs dress but I think a more modern silhouette is a collarless shirt dress or a button through in a more drapery fabric. Those are a bit stiff for my taste and I wouldn’t wear those colours to the office, I prefer jewel tones but that’s a personal preference.

... and certain industries are places for fashion parades - with unwritten codes, and heaven help the unwary. I once went for an interview at Conde Nast. I had a good chance, as I'd been headhunted, and I REALLY wanted that job! Lurking in reception before my meeting, I knew I wouldn't get it. My Joseph suit suddenly looked ostentatious and, worse, my tights didn't match my shoes. Every one of the women streaming through the building that day had colour-blocked legs & feet.

Sure enough, I was "lovely, don't feel her face fits" 😭 My advice to eager job-seekers now includes hanging around the offices and nearby coffee shops to internalise what they're wearing!

There was something to be said for old-fashioned workwear rules and even uniforms.

Absolutely lovely. I think they'd fit in with lots of offices but I'd keep away for heels and smart jackets unless you work somewhere formal.

So will you be going to see the new The Devil Wears Prada film - or will it be far too triggering?!!!

I will so be seeing it 😂

Not workwear in my eyes

Me too - I love being inspired by design elements of films. Clothes, architecture, interiors ... Have you seen The Duke of Burgundy? The whole look & aesthetic of it, including the clothing, is just wonderful!!

Oh, dear. Erotic romance dramas are not my thing, especially when the whole focus is on an SM relationship. I doubt the sumptuous visuals would be enough to distract me from the content... "Stylish, sensual and smart", says Rotten Tomatoes. It always says that about films I can't stand!

Mind you, if Strickland's managed to film lesbian sex (or any consensual sex) without slow panning a woman's body from thigh to breast, I'd buy a ticket just to congratulate him 😏

Well, that's the interesting think about it. It's not a lesbian relationship per se - he deliberately chose to set it in an unidentifiable Mittel-European village in an unidentifiable time period - clothes have Victorian, 40s/50s & 70s vibes. And he populates the village entirely with women (who are all in relationships with each other - & are all lepidopterists!). So by removing men entirely from the scene, the women are merely in a relationship - neither hetero or homo - as these are the only types of relationships.

He chose to do that so that you don't then concentrate on a sado-masochistic relationship between a man & a woman - & the innate power imbalance therein - but on the relationship between the two women instead. I found it strange, intriguing, slightly bonkers & very beautiful. Also quite moving.

There's little to no real nudity or sex either. It's become a favourite film of mine, & the costume design really is wonderful!!

They are beautiful dresses and get my upvote. They'd be good to go from office to evening too.

I was thinking about how much love there was for Traitors Jade’s £400 cardigans (brand Hope and something?) barely a month ago - oh, the fickle turn of style.

(I do appreciate there’s a world of difference between Jade’s oversized cardis and a little pink or black one worn over these dresses.)

OP, they probably are dated but that doesn't really matter if you wear with confidence.

The advantage of dated styles though is that you can buy great quality for pennies on vinted. Then if they don't work out in the office this summer, you haven't sunk costs.

They look like mother of the bride dresses

I like them, they're the sort of thing I'd wear to the office back in the day when I had meetings and conferences. I'd put a cardigan on with them but then I'm always cold.

I now work in a casual office, in the summer I'll occasionally wear a smartish dress with flat sandals (I'm talking strappy flat toe post sandals), or tights and ballet flats in winter but I'm one of the few not in jeans when I do.

I miss the days of proper office dressing.

You’d look bonkers and not particularly well dressed where I work turning up in those.

I'm in banking. I would wear them with either a blazer or one of my beautiful Indian Kashmiri woolen shawls, as I get cold in offices

I do shawls too - love a nice shawl.

Shawls now 🙈

I have to say, the only person I know at my work who wears a shawl is an administrator... so take that advice VERY carefully, OP...

It could be that the op is fishwife