Am I just being a prude? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Am I just being a prude?

Scarlet

Veteran

Let me preface this by saying, folks, it was 99 degrees here today, no air conditioning, no fans; my office doesn't even have curtains to close! I wore a dress that I think is a questionable length (a few inches above the knee). I stopped worrying about this when I saw a female grad student who is probably only a few years younger than I am wearing what I consider to be hot pants. Basically just shy of showing cheek. To be honest I don't think it is as provocative on her as it would be on me because she is pretty straight-shaped, slim hips, athletic etc. I was briefly shocked and then started to wonder, maybe these are just the times? Everyone is complaining that they can't buy a dress this season because they are all too short, etc. What do other people think? Can this super-short trend take hold?

General

31 replies

Latest reply was from Scarlet

Queen Mum

Veteran

I'll just speak for myself and say that while I would love to have legs that could sport just about anything.... I dont' and I'd say 95% of the population doesn't. There comes a point length wise where when you sit it just isn't attractive. End of story.

BTW... for those still looking for summer dresses. I accidentally clicked on a coldwater creek link and saw some cute dresses... most of them were too long, but it's a whole lot easier to shorten a dress than add length. Might be worth checking out.

April

Veteran

For me, that trend would last until the first time I had to sit down anywhere other than in my own home. I find that much skin-to-public-surface contact to be deeply unpleasant.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Isn't super short always fashionable for the high school/college age crowd?
For me, it isn't so much about age appropriateness as it is about what you personally are comfortable with, and what looks good on you. I have cellulite on my thighs- I'm not comfortable exposing it to the general public. My preference is for a length that covers the cellulite, not for modesty's sake.

Rosie

Veteran

I have no problem with things a couple inches above the knee. The sit-down test is a must, though. I think it generally has to do with personal comfort, as mentioned above. I also think ti depends on the style and modesty of the dress in other areas. I just got a dress at Kohls over the weekend that is awesome but a bit short; however, it is totally covered elsewhere. I will probably wear it with cropped leggings or without them, depending.

If you feel comfortable, then there is nothing wrong with a shorter hemline!

Jonesy

Veteran

I don't like the look of super short shorts on anyone--not even little kids! Walking around this weekend, I saw plenty of very short shorts on women, and they were invariably "riding up" in a most uncomfortable-looking, even gross, sort of way, no matter how slender the wearer. I certainly don't think this look is office-appropriate, in response to your initial post, Scarlet.

Rosie

Veteran

Oh yes...hot pants. Not really a fan. I think they sort of have a bad connotation, whether it's fair or not. I don't mind sort of voluminous shorter shorts, though - I think those can be really cool if done right and on the right legs.

Anonymous

Just because a woman could wear coconuts and a fig leaf and still look good doesn't mean she should.

Do you work at Hooters? Otherwise, I don't think her outfit sounds appropriate.

Scarlet

Veteran

Hee hee, no I don't work at Hooters! I am really enjoying everyone's perspectives so far.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

My boss is quite generous, in situations of extreme hot or cold weather the office dress code is relaxed for comfort BUT he would have a hairy canary if someone turned up in hot pants. Could you speak to your boss about company policy during the heatwave?

biscuitsmom

Veteran

I agree....even if you are thin, it is NOT the best look- Ive seen lots that border on/are trashy. Queenie, I just got a postcard from CC that shows a sale that starts 7/16 (10 days only) up to 70% off....maybe you can pick up a few dresses and save the money needed for alteration with this sale!

Jonesy

Veteran

LOL--I've never heard that expression. I'm not sure which image is more off-putting: Someone in short shorts at the office, or a "hairy canary"!

Isabel

Veteran

Scarlet, I may be wrong person to answer, because right now, where I live that is singularly the thing that bothers me most !!!!!!!! It is HUGE out here. Pre-schoolers to women in their 60's seem to be wearing these things. Not just the shorts, but skirts, especially the multi-tiered ones. I CAN"T STAND IT !!! Seeing little girls and young teenagers dressed this way particularly bothers me because they look so sexualized and INAPPROPRIATE.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Short shorts are not appropriate for work no matter where you work (Hooters take note!). But then if you watch The Hills- look what Heidi get away with wearing at work.

Sihaya

Veteran

I am in the camp that wuold say these are inappropriate to wear to work no matter the weather. I would choose a short dress over hot pants any day if those were my two choices.

crwilson

Veteran

I like short shorts on some people in some situations, but not hot pants. There's no reason for cheeks to be hanging out, ever. As for toddlers and preschoolers...I could rant for days about this topic, but will spare everyone my soapbox monologues.

Steph

Veteran

I agree that hot pants are inappropriate in a professional workplace. However, I am actually more disturbed that you work in an office that doesn't have air conditioning or even a rotating fan in 99 degree weather! Why can't they put some curtains on the windows and buy a few fans at Target? Is there a valid reason for the lack of consideration shown to the employees working there in almost 100 degree heat? I know someone suggested talking with your boss about the dress code, but I would be far more likely to talk with my boss about making the office a little cooler. I can't imagine people are very productive in that kind of heat.

Debbie

Veteran

I'm in charge of our office and I have to say I would have sent her home. Hot pants are totally inappropriate in the office and that image is not one the company wishes to project to customers. If she had on Bermuda's totally OK.

I live in Tx and the air has been out at the office for 4 days now. We have fans everywhere and I'm being as lenient as possible about the dress code.The AC people have been her 3 times and its still not working right.

taylor

Veteran

Oh yes, I loved hot pants ...in 1972 when I was a in high school...good grief what on earth are~ women ~thinking running around with their cheeks hanging out in this day and age...anyone over high school age should not be wearing these period.

Tara

(website)

Veteran

I agree with the majority view. While it's great that some people have the lovely figure to pull it off, it's definitely not appropriate for the office and I don't want to see any person's bumcheeks, not matter how hot those bumcheeks happen to be! I don't need to know that much information about someone's body!

Debora

Veteran

Yep, have to agree with Taylor! They were all the rage in high school in the early 1970's, but have no place in the workplace. I can't believe my parents even let me out of the house back then!

crazyone

Veteran

I'm not sure a light, breezy airy cotton dress would be any less cool than hot pants...in fact, to be rather frank, hot pants might be rather...hot in the crotch/butt area...also, if it's really 99 outside, I (and other people) am sweating all over...and I'd rather have people with their bottoms/underthighs mostly covered if they're going to sit on buses etc. and sweat...and like April said, would you want the same area to be exposed to a seat on a public bus? Ick.

Maya

Veteran

Exactly what Steph said...

Kristine

Veteran

Scarlet, I see some crazy inappropriate things at work too. But I know what you mean. When I look at the Ann Taylor site and think the dresses are too short, I start to think I need to loosen up!

I guess the general guideline is a few inches above or below, and the trend happens to be at the upper end (or lower in the case of mid calf)! I've seen one of the better dressed women at work in a shirtdress a few inches above the knee, so maybe you have something there.

medusa

Veteran

Short shorts are OK in my book if one is (a) exercising (b) outside in (c) really really hot weather. Otherwise, I'd prefer that people not wear them.

Scarlet

Veteran

To answer why we are working under these crappy conditions, we work for the state, and the state is bankrupt. I complained about the curtains and was told, no problem, they are coming in November!? This statement tells you volumes. Under these conditions, obviously no one is following clothing safety guidelines either.

The dress I wore was several inches above the knee, but otherwise basically like a short-sleeve oxford shirt with a drop waist and pleated skirt, i.e. loose and otherwise modest. In comparison to hot pants, I was positively dowdy. I was probably cooler too. And more hygienic.

I was honestly wondering if I am just off in my expectations, but listening to you all I guess the answer is no. Even my blind (metaphorically speaking) husband noticed there was something "strange" about her outfit.

lynne

Veteran

Put me in the completely inappropriate camp. I mean the camp that feels hot pants in the workplace are imappropriate.

RoseandJoan

Veteran

Scarlet, are you able to take your own fan into work. Northern Europe is simply not used to these temperatures so it is hard to prepare.

Scarlet

Veteran

RoseandJoan, today I finally did bring a fan and suddenly my desk was a VERY popular place to be. Unfortunately I have to move around a lot, but at least I can sit down and recover once in awhile.

A couple of days ago I would have said I would never wear shorts to work, but today I did, and it felt goooood! They were a long haul from hot pants territory though If this weather keeps up there is no telling what we will all be wearing.

biscuitsmom

Veteran

Im glad they let you bring a fan in...where I used to work we were told 'no personal items' and 1 lady fainted from the heat....another has heart trouble and she was even told not to use one.

12