Dress Code

I am a firm believer in personal expression, and I truly think people should wear whatever they want in their personal life (that said, I am still totally free to be snarky about your choices). However, the workplace is a different story. Yes, I know it’s hot at hell out there, people (heat advisory in DC today), but that is no excuse. On my walk to work every morning, I see a lot of women clearly on their way to work who are just walking nightmares. Lots of skin is never appropriate at work.

Here are a couple of rules of thumb for dressing for work:

1. If you can’t lean over in your skirt for fear of showing your underpants, it is just too damn short. Save it for the evening.

2. If you can’t lean over without exposing cleavage, your top is just low cut.

3. If you can see your thong through your pants (or skirt), it is wayyyyyy too tight. The whole point of wearing a thong is to avoid showing panty lines. If you can see the thong, things are just wrong.

4. Sleeveless is ok; strapless (or spaghetti straps) is not. (I once spied a co-worker sporting a dress that a friend had worn to an evening wedding the previous weekend. A cocktail dress is not appropriate for the office.) Shoulders are not appropriate for the office. An exception will be made if you wear a sweater or jacket over the dress while at the office.

Here are a couple of favorites looks I’ve seen recently:

A woman wearing a skin-tight micromini, a see-through blouse (over a camisole, but still), and six-inch heels. I know you are probably thinking, come on, now this woman is clearly a hooker, but I ask you, do hookers carry briefcases?

A really short jean mini (just covering the butt), a tank top, and a flashdance style droopy sweater worn off the shoulder. It rendered me speechless.

A woman sporting black spike-heel ankle strap shoes. These are clearly an evening shoe and not appropriate for the office unless your office is a bar.

(For a related blogging, please check out bryc3's latest entry).