Are these tops appropriate for the office?

[Tulipdot8]

In a debate at the moment and would appreciate some opinions. This is for a corporate office in London. These two tips would be warm just on their own no shirt underneath. A bit of mid drift showing. Thank you!

Well not everyone works in a super smart corporate office. So it depends a lot on the type of office you’re working in. It might be a fairly small quite casual office environment. You should be able to judge for yourself by looking at the general attire of your work colleagues. If you see similar then fair enough but if not then find something else that fits the bill a little better

No but when people ask this i think you are looking for permission to do it anyway

No. I don't love the length but they are also kind of sloppy looking.

I agree, they look old I don't even know if I would wear these out in public

They are lovely tops for home but Midriff showing in office is generally frowned upon.

Sorry people have been harsh when you were just asking for advice.

Nah.

Apart from anything else they look incredibly shabby

TBH, it’s a minefield out there nowadays. My DDs both work in corporate environments, both in quite high up management positions, both in public / client facing positions at times. The wouldn’t wear either of those tops as they look shabby. If they were less ‘worn’ they likely would wear them! One DDs workplace is full of women wearing clumpy trainers, wide legged trousers and cropped tops - it’s the new corporate look! The other DD wears leather look leggings / trousers and chunky knits with biker boots at the moment. Both have salaries over 100k!

Just buy yourself some blouses!

If you can see up it, down it or through it, it is inappropriate. No toes, upper arms, midriffs or armpits either.

No, they aren't appropriate

With a more structured skirt or trousers, shoes (not trainers) and a vest underneath they'd be fine. They are soft and loose and ime you get away with one item being soft and comfy if the rest are more "smart".

They look scruffy.

I work for a FTSE 100 company and our dress code is "dress for your day". In practice for lots of people in my unit this means jeans, tshirt, trainers is fine but most people will wear a shirt with jeans and trainers, for eg.

I still wouldn't wear, for example, leggings without something to cover my crotch, short mini, anything showing side boob, side cutout, midriff or cleavage - and wouldn't expect anyone else to.

Are you just starting out in the world of office work, @Tulipdot8? (Inference from visible wardrobe panic!)

Even if this is just a short term placement or whatever, you’ll be helping yourself if you start building a work wardrobe. Nothing you might wear to lounge in your bedroom on a Saturday morning is likely to be appropriate for impressing colleagues (in the right way) in a corporate environment. Even in these post-lockdown more casual times the expectation generally is that your clothes should look like the mother’s rant in Barbie - they need to do a lot of work.

Could you maybe sell some of your loungewear and buy a couple of suitable items? Perhaps the person you’re debating with could assist?

This is blunt but true I'm afraid. Is that you in the office in work wear? If so, it's really scruffy and not even remotely suitable for any job really.

Perhaps you need to look at the OP’s photos again, @Boke?

I think the blue one with tailored dark high waisted trousers would look very smart. I am confused as to why apparently 1-2cm of bare flesh showing at a woman's waistline, (which might show when she walks away from her desk) would send any of her colleagues into a frenzy where they would be unable to get on with their work throughout the day... I don't think what women wear in the office should have any bearing on whether they are judged as being "professional".... I don't like the colour of the oatmeal one tho. It's a bit meh for me😉

Someone I work with wore gym leggings to work the other day!

In my corporate jobs in the 1980s the women weren't allowed to wear trousers🤣 not that we should return to that sexist bollocks but standards do seem to have gone through the floor.

Blouses?! Opposite extreme, do people still wear blouses, even typing the word sounds weird!

They aren’t smart. I know lots of offices are less formal now but these just look a bit knackered. Midriff is not appropriate in an office.

No, that would not look professional.

Definitely not! The blue one is one of those ‘what you wearing tonight?’ ‘Jeans and a nice top’ tops.

They also do nothing for your figure and make you look frumpy (and you’re not!)

Too casual. Midriff is an absolute no. Assuming you’re not wearing the jogging bottoms to work either?

Of course they do
You may call them shirts or tops but yes, they do.

It’s called corporate wear.

I had the misfortune to need to visit 2 solicitors offices recently.

In one they wore smart, but comfortable corporate wear and in the other they looked like they were going off clubbing.

guess which one got my business