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!

If it'sa new job, wear something more obviously professional to start with and see what everyone else is wearing

I wouldn't wear those to work and when I was office based I worked on building sites.

What do you do op? Maybe we can help find some things for you.

Do you have spare money to buy stuff at the moment?

I used to love a bit of Dorothy Perkins for work clothes. Cheap, smart, and did petite length, which was hard to find then. I haven't looked on their site for years but they might be worth looking at.

It depends on the workplace and dresscode, if it is a new job I would opt for more formal to be on the safe side until you know how things are. This does not have to be a full on suit and jacket but perhaps smart tailored trousers and a top (not cropped) with a cardigan. Have a look on Vinted OP, lots of great things suitable for office wear.

No, they are not suitable.

Are you stuck ? If it is today I would put a fitted t-shirt under the first with fitted trousers.

I and my first day in a job yesterday in an office, (which I will be in charge of). I was actually quite taken aback by how scruffy everyone looked. I don't mind jeans and trainers etc but there were people knocking about in joggers and cropped tops and one girl honestly looked like she'd been dragged through a hedge backwards. Dirty massive t shirt, hair all over the place, joggers, dirty trainers. I've been called in to trouble shoot and office dress code is going on my list. To do the business you need to look the business in my view-or at least look like you've vaguely brushed your hair!
That said I think the cardigan is fine with a high waisted skirt or trousers, the first one not so much.

I agree, one of mine goes out in stuff I would have worn for low key uni nights out back in the 90s! Has a 'proper' job. Has to be the right trainers though.

Put a black vest or body suit underneath. Still the ‘look’ you’re after. Without the negative issues.

You look really scruffy. Sorry OP. They are lounge wear not office attire even before you take into account the midriff on show.

Not appropriate at all to have your midriff showing in the office, even if it is only a “tiny bit” wear a cami.

Also they look scruffy and unprofessional- sorry op.

I think the blue one with tailored dark high waisted trousers would look very smart.

Only if it looked new, unfaded and ironed, surely @Legdaysucks? With tailored trousers or a non-floppy skirt. And no gap between top and lower garments.

It is hard to assess possible office wear if it’s shown with what look like pyjamas/loungewear. The little cardigan might be fine coordinated with other, smarter items. But it does look, again, a bit limp and faded and crumpled.

@Tulipdot8 I’m sure you do possess an iron. But if you tend to buy clothes in softer, unstructured fabrics you may find a clothes steamer useful. Also some colour preserving washing powder / liquid.

And if you’re sourcing your work wear from Vinted or similar you need to be scrupulous about only buying clear, bright, unfaded colours.

HM and Zara both sell good basic suiting. You need woven fabrics to not look droopy.

Our office isn't corporate and since the pandemic we've relaxed to a stage where jeans and trainers are fine, but visible midriffs (along with active wear, lounge wear and offensive / controversial slogans of any kind) remain on the unacceptable list.

Your tops would be fine with a t-shirt or camisole underneath OP (to the PP who said the cardigan looked bobbly, it looks like a bouclé fabric to me?), but if those are the trousers you're planning on then they might need a rethink for a corporate office too.

Some offices ok, corporate offices, not ok.

I think the lounge pants are a bigger problem even than the tops

Have to say we wouldn't bat an eyelid where I work.

Come on people - credit the OP with some sense! She’s obviously not planning to wear the trousers in the photos to an office.

Midriff is never appropriate at work unless you're a swim or gym instructor, or model of course

Depends where you work. Some places are smarter than others. A creative or media agency for instance is usually very casual.
But as a rule of thumb if you have to ask whether it’s office appropriate, it probably isn’t.

It’s midriff.

No, not appropriate. Also, they both look scruffy and somewhat knackered.

No, showing any amount of midriff is not appropriate. It will be significantly more as soon as you raise your arms.

Also those aren't the trousers you plan to wear are they? They look like lounge wear.

I guess you have a new job and a very limited budget so you are trying to make do with your clothes. Sorry but you are going to need to buy something if that's all you have.

Primark or charity shops. You can find a pair of dark structured trousers and a couple of plain smart tops. What you have is not appropriate

Always err on the side of caution and go conservative

I would speak (informally) to anyone on my team who came dressed like this

What is the office more exactly?
In eg a legal firm the whole outfit would be awful- the trousers are unstructured and the material very casual. And any cropped top or even glimpse of midriff is a total no. Even with a cami underneath imho.

If the office is a charity type slightly more practical rolled sleeves and move boxes and full of young people vibe then maybe.

No midriff for the office. Depends, the tops look a bit too casual in my opinion even in a smart casual office. The lighter one might be OK with a cami underneath it.

Midriff is a very odd word, gets odder the more you say it.