<p>If there is no particular “dress code” at work, people can dress the way they want (within legal conduct, I do not think that nudity in schools is legal). If there is one, they have to follow it and should be reprimanded if they do not. If there is a need for certain code because of certain job position, then a “dress code” is must. So, all issues in connection to 'dress code" should be addressed in specific policy, discussion will not resolve anything, implementing correct policy / procedures will.</p>
<p>faux, no, not really. It’s not something that comes up. Where would it? Why would it? Unless you’re taking a future success class or something. Job fairs or your advisors might be a place where it is mentioned. </p>
<p>What’s wrong with being super modest? Let her dress how she wants to dress :).</p>
<p>D15 is very modest too and I’m glad. We went to the girls’ basketball awards last night and I didn’t know if some of them were athletes or hookers. 
Wow, I wouldn’t let D out of the house dressed like that. I thought some of the skirt bottoms and top of the shirts were going to meet in the middle.</p>
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<p>No long skirts :(</p>
<p>I can see prohibiting very short skirts, but why long ones?</p>
<p>As for modesty, I see nothing wrong with it. I have a daughter who’s on the modest side as well. My husband says that he thought that, as the father of a daughter, he would frequently find himself saying, “You’re not going out of the house dressed like that.” He never found it necessary to say it – not even once – because she never wore anything objectionable. She’s on her own now, but I’m sure she still dresses appropriately. Sure, she has low-cut tops, but they don’t go to the office. And I think her current bathing suit is a one-piece that you can actually swim in.</p>
<p>At my office, our department’s admin could be the poster girl for how a young woman should dress for work in a business casual office. She wears a wide variety of styles and obviously enjoys fashion, but every outfit is dignified, professional, and as attractive as the young woman wearing it. </p>
<p>Some young women just “get it.” She’s one of them.</p>
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<p>The middle school principal wears these suits with a normal jacket and a suit skirt just above the ankles. I think it looks ridiculous, even on a 60 year old. So while wearing a skirt too short is much worse, wearing a business type skirt all the way down to your shoes is bad, too.</p>
<p>I do think that many young women have a hard time understanding “business casual.” If you’ve worn shorts and flip flops all the way through college, then khakis may feel dressy to you. It was easier to not make a mistake when we all wore the little man skirted suits and silk ties.</p>
<p>As the weather warms toward summer, at my corporate workplace I’ll receive the annual “dress appropriately” reminder email. </p>
<p>Each year I smile when I get to the prohibition of “flip flops”. When casual dressing became more common about 7 years ago, they added this footwear reminder. But the first time they caused some confusion using the term “thongs”.</p>
<p>^ As I recall, it was about 7 years ago that pants were low rise, tops were short and thongs ( NOT the flip flop kind!) were frequently on display.</p>
<p>It actually really annoys me when work dress codes aren’t very explicit. Mine says, for example, that clothing cannot be “too revealing”. So how short can your skirt be before someone judges you for it? Is a nice sleeveless top okay? Etc. I think so much of this kind of thing is very subjective and should be as clear as possible.</p>
<p>And I just don’t understand why people would go to work dressed like prostitutes. I’d feel really unprofessional wearing anything very tight or showing any cleavage at all.</p>
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<p>A simple dress code that trusts the employees to have good judgement can work the best, if you have reasonable employees. If you have a dozen pages of exacting rules, employees may resent being micromanaged, and some may actively rebel by trying to find loopholes or seeing how close they can get to the border between what is permitted or not permitted.</p>
<p>In a school situation, the teachers and administrative staff should be subject to a dress code the same as or similar to what students are subject to, in order to set a good example.</p>
<p>It is good when upper management sets a good example. If they wear clothes more suitable for a picnic for sporting event or nightclub or the beach, it’s hard to expect staff to maintain high standards. </p>
<p>I am glad that for our clinics, we have our staff wear a collared polo shirt with our logo embroidered one & whatever slacks anyone wants to wear. The volunteers also wear a tshirt with their organization identifying them on it with whatever jeans or slacks they prefer. It has worked well for us so far.</p>
<p>I find it very unprofessional that many folks I see at work wear clothing that looks very sloppy and unkept, even when they testify at the legislature or make other important public appearances. I think they figure if they wear blingy or distracting jewelry it makes everything fine. Find skin tight and low-hanging clothing also inappropriate. You wonder what goes through these folks minds. One of my relatives is forever wearing inappropriate clothing everywhere–VERY low-cut and skintight; makes her look cheap and trashy. I find it embarassing to be seen with her.</p>
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<p>I agree with this, but as this thread shows, a lot of people don’t have good judgment. And I have worked in places where there were unwritten rules that half the staff wore jeans every day (not based on job function) or been told that any top at all without sleeves falls under the definition of “too revealing”. If that is actually what people think, then it should be spelled out in the dress code. I’m talking about nice sleeveless blouses, not tight tank tops, and I do not work in a business formal environment. If there are going to be vague rules like that, they should be written into the dress code, because it’s not going to occur to anybody that they can’t wear a nice sleeveless blouse in the summer.</p>
<p>eirann - a dress code is not a uniform. It’s really hard to get some people to get it. But most people have good judgment and it’s ridiculous to have to give measurements. I’ve tried telling my employees, dress pants and a nice top. I often say, dress like you see your coworkers dressing. The smart one dress like the manager.</p>
<p>It really depends on what management thinks.</p>
<p>In a place I worked a few years ago, lots of people wore low-cut or see-through tops, and nobody said a word. But a woman was sent home to change when she came to work in a very conservatively styled denim dress, and another was asked to take off a denim vest that was part of an attractive ensemble. They had huge issues with denim, but apparently none with skin.</p>
<p>Marian, you’ve pretty much exactly articulated my point. Management should make it clear exactly what they consider appropriate.</p>
<p>I have to confess that I just love seeing what people choose to wear. Our office buiding is pretty much all bankers and attorneys and their staff members. On occasion, I’ll see a woman in a sequined dress. ??? Did she not go home last night?</p>
<p>“Too revealing” depends a lot of the size of a woman’s bust. I have the bustline of a ballerina, so if I wanted, I could go really low cut and no one would think it was too revealing. But a D cup in the same top? “Too revealing.” I guess that is why they can’t be more explicit in the instructions.</p>
<p>I guess some people KNOW they look good and WANT to be noticed ! It just seems an odd place to wear stillettos and cleavage at an ELEMENTARY school !</p>
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<p>Could be that the actual rules (written or unwritten) do not actually trust the employees to have good judgement, but are nonsensical in the way described below:</p>
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<p>When the rules (written or unwritten) do not appear to make sense, then the employees are unlikely to respect the rules or use any reasonable good judgement (as opposed to playing “find the loophole”).</p>
<p>I don’t wear stilettos but as a person who has been quite buxom in some places but small in others, I will say it can be very hard to find work appropriate clothing without spending an inordinate amount of money/time.</p>
<p>If something isn’t going to be baggy & look sloppy, it is likely going to be a tad too tight in prominent areas. Button up shirts gap & knits just emphasize the issue.
When I worked in an office, I wore a jacket most of the time which camouflaged pretty well, but that doesn’t always work for all jobs.
Ive since had a breast reduction, which made it a lot easier to find clothes, but someone like my daughter who is 28DDD+, it is hard to find clothes she can afford that look professional & fit.</p>
<p>Ive offered to buy her some interview outfits now that she is almost done with grad school, & if anyone knows of shops that stock a good selection of petite clothes she would appreciate it. She says Nordstroms just has clothes that are for shorter women,not tiny. (does anyone know about their personal shoppers? Do you have to commit to buying a minimum purchase from the store?)</p>
<p>I don’t know what compels some people to dress like they are ready for “ladies night” at the local club though. I think some people consider their after-hours life their primary life & a work wardrobe is an afterthought. Its kinda sad when women feel like they have to dress “sexy” 24/7. Which IMO results in the opposite response.</p>
<p>ek, my sister has the same problem.</p>
<p>I have the problem of very long legs and a shorter torso (I’m 6’0" and it’s all legs… sitting down, I’m shorter than most people). At my internship, I was required to wear very professional clothing (I was often on the Senate floor) and my shirt always had to be tucked in. It just looks very, very weird when I have my shirt tucked in because my body is so oddly proportioned. </p>
<p>It’s also difficult to find dress pants (and pants in general) that fit me properly on a student budget. Also at my height, it’s like people expect me to be super model thin or plus sized. I can never find anything long enough and the right size. And working 6 days a week and going to school full time doesn’t leave a lot of time to go shopping- especially when you have to seek out specialty clothes -.-</p>
<p>OTOH, one of my jobs emphasizes that we dress casual. It’s a domestic violence shelter and I work both the crisis line and the shelter. Our managers stress that we dress in typical day-to-day clothes because it makes the residents feel more comfortable. They found out years ago that when workers wore formal clothing, the residents felt like they were at a business rather than a shelter. It created more discomfort for the residents. It’s funny what kind of effect clothes can have- one way or the other.</p>
<p>emeraldkity4, your daughter should try Talbots for petite clothing. I can’t vouch for whether it will fit someone who’s a 28DDD+ – that’s never been my problem – but all their clothes come in petite sizes, and they are very easy to return things to.</p>