https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code Style Advice for Fashion Lovers en-US Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:10:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/search.php https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115601 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 22:46:14 +0000 rachylou 2115601@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thank you Jane! How interesting about the Queen’s dresser. But back to the shoes... would they pass a dress code where heels were required do you think? I’m thinking a Japanese woman might get sent home... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115522 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 17:06:07 +0000 Jane 2115522@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Hi Rachylou, so sorry I’m slow to respond. I don’t think they are heels officially. But they are quite formal shoes. And not necessarily flats.</p> <p>Useless information. The queen has a dresser, who has been with her for years and years and they are the same foot size. So the dresser breaks in the Queens shoes. How good is that. </p> <p>(Happy Birthday Ma’am) </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115504 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 16:33:30 +0000 Zaeobi 2115504@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b> @Jenni </b> I guess 'respect' is more subjective than it originally seems. Your tattooed example VS the Queen's mother shows that there can be respect in authenticity as well as returning expected norms as a 'favour'. Food for thought... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115377 Mon, 20 Apr 2020 23:33:15 +0000 Gretchen 2115377@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I definitely can get behind the blank slate idea! </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115203 Mon, 20 Apr 2020 03:45:52 +0000 Jenni NZ 2115203@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Gretchen isn’t “respect” for the person you are seeing only one idea out of many? Those who like to have a lot of tattoos or piercings probably have a different idea, I’m guessing ( since I’m not into those things) an idea of “this is who I am” and being true to themselves, not wanting to cover or hide that. The Queen Mother idea seems more like what my mother taught me back in the day about clothes to wear to church to show respect to God. And I rejected that idea back in the 70s as a teenager, as didn’t she also teach that God could see you any time? If God could see me any time, what difference did it make if I wore jeans to church?<br /> So I like Rachylou’s idea of a blank slate... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115199 Mon, 20 Apr 2020 03:21:28 +0000 rachylou 2115199@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>It occurs to me the question may be not so much should it be killed, but what should it be? Fresh slate. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115138 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 21:14:23 +0000 Gretchen 2115138@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Rachylous picture reminded of one I saw recently of the queen mum touring some bombed out buildings in full dress and heels. My first thought was that she looked out of place (thinking that today we typically see politicians in jackets-and-khakis when touring disasters). But in the caption it was noted that she had said that she thought the people she was visiting would have worn their best clothes if they’d come to visit her, so she owed them the same courtesy. </p> <p>That may be diplomatic dressing, but I tend to think the same way about office codes. I do like the idea that you are showing respect for the person you are visiting, which may be why some people have a “dress for your day” approach. </p> <p>But I also agree that many people either don’t have this understanding or it isn’t an agreed-to norm. So maybe the goal should be to remove rigidity in codes (as Zaeobi has mentioned) rather doing away entirely with the code? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115052 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 15:22:47 +0000 Zaeobi 2115052@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b> @Gaylene </b> That's also what I try to teach my students - they have spent much of their lives being told what to say &amp; do, so I think some of them welcome the opportunity to share what they truly think &amp; others have no idea how to voice it. We're working on it, though </p> <p><b> @rachylou &amp; @Bijou </b> I think a part of dressing appropriately is commanding respect without being too distracting. I think the Queen is proof that that can be done even in head-to-toe colour </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115046 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 12:52:32 +0000 Bijou 2115046@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What we define as 'professional' attire is very subjective. Is it unprofessional for a woman to not wear a bra to work if she finds wearing them uncomfortable? I would say currently, it is expected that women wear bras. Men find breasts and cleavage distracting and so in a professional setting the rule is that women cover up. 20 years ago women were expected to wear hosiery, whereas now it is not required to look professional.&nbsp;</p> <p>Dress codes have naturally evolved and have been very influenced by different industries and fashion small tattoos have a much greater acceptance now than previous generations.&nbsp;</p> <p>The impact of covid on how we work will see changes: more acceptance of working from home, more virtual meetings etc and dress codes will adapt accordingly.&nbsp;</p> <p>Rachy - I do love the Queen's 1950's inspired dress code. It has worked for her for many years and makes her instantly identifiable, so much more fun than a black hoodie or polo like the tech industry leaders. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115044 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 12:39:53 +0000 Anonymous 2115044@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Big no from me! I really don't think it's that difficult to wear work appropriate things that are comfortable.<br /> The rules in all the workplaces I've been haven't been that strict.<br /> Nothing too casual- sweats, t shirts, sneakers, flip flops, anything torn/stained, leggings as pants.<br /> Nothing too skimpy-mini skirts, visible underwear, strappy tank tops, strapless anything, shorts, crop tops.<br /> Jeans fine on Fridays- if the rest of the outfit is work appropriate.<br /> That still leaves plenty of room for personal expression, while still looking like you're at work to work. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code/page/2#post-2115038 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 11:10:53 +0000 rachylou 2115038@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Jane - I have a question! Do shoes like these count as heels? </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2115032 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 10:26:24 +0000 Jane 2115032@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Where I work is very formal; tights in the summer, heels being pretty much required. All of which is fine - I was sent the dress code when I signed the contract. I keep my heels for the office, and I love my working wardrobe which goes with my heels.&nbsp;</p> <p>But now I think the office dress code will change after this period.&nbsp;</p> <p>My 'dream job' has a dress down dress code and I would be able to have a capsule of jeans, trainers and blazers. Just saying for the record. But strangely, I haven't worn jeans for this WFH period.&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2115022 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 06:39:14 +0000 Gaylene 2115022@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a Boomer who taught Millennials, I actually thought most of them had a great deal of "common sense". What I really liked was their willingness to question what so many of us in the older group just took for granted. Being forced to defend the irrational is a good wake-up call.&nbsp;</p> <p> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2115017 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 06:10:32 +0000 Zaeobi 2115017@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><b> @slim cat </b> I get what you're saying about dressy shoes but one way around that is to wear trainers that are all one colour (including the sole) with the laces tucked in </p> <p>I agree the 'white sole' rule is fairly arbitrary, though I wonder whether they decided to zone in on something like that so the bouncers (or whoever is enforcing the dress code) don't have to have an eye for fashion (or even taste) when screening people for entry </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2115016 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 06:07:50 +0000 Zaeobi 2115016@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Thanks <b> @phoebe </b> - I actually took a lot out of my rant/ comment because it was getting fairly long lol, but my original point was that things often can't change unless we people know we're dissatisfied to begin with. I grew up as the daughter of immigrant parents, surrounded by a way of life completely at odds with my parents' guidelines on dress code etc. I remember I had to fight for my right to continue wearing PE trousers &amp; long sleeved shirts in the summer, because our school enforced the very traditionally British 'shirt sleeve order' annual memo from the headmaster, that went from mandating blazers to dictating when summer uniform had to be worn. I'm sure if I had never said anything, the path wouldn't have been paved for future amendments to be made (like school-issued hijabs). </p> <p>Oh <b> @Jenni NZ </b> I was just playing along with <b> smittie's </b> 'Ok Boomer' assertion Hopefully now more Millennials are entering higher positions in the workforce, there can be true dialogue about how forcing things like traditional gender values can affect cabin crew uniforms - I have a British Airways friend who is no longer required to wear makeup inflight but can if she wishes. An example of choice VS forced options. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2115014 Sun, 19 Apr 2020 05:26:51 +0000 Jenni NZ 2115014@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I agree that Zaeobi has an excellent take on it. And I don’t think millennials were being “blamed”. I am a late Boomer and I agree with the millennials if they want to somewhat relax the code. ( not sure the article was clear about that).<br /> One thing I noticed in Vietnam and Singapore last year, was how many of the female flight attendants seemed to all wear black hosiery and little black pumps. I dislike wearing hosiery myself as I find it tight around my middle, plus it looked really hot ( temperature wise) and the pumps didn’t look comfortable. I hope for their sake things may change. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114955 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 20:20:23 +0000 Anonymous 2114955@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Agreeing with Zaeobi about the possible failure rate of the "people should know" concept and while I had thought of this from a social exposure point of view I hadn't thought of the cultural differences she expressed in such a lovely way.</p> <p>Also liked the positivity of this;</p> <p>"I agree that banning individual items usually isn't as effective as general guidelines, but you can still give a range of examples that embody the spirit, right?"</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114951 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 20:05:34 +0000 slim cat 2114951@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>One piece of dress code I want to die - is "dressy" shoes concept.<br />There is no comfortable dressy shoes with mid or high heel for me ( and many other ladies ). <br />Flats are bad fit for me too.<br />Everyone is wearing sporty shoes now but it's not allowed in many places - like high end stores with strict dress code which is my last work place. You can't wear anything with white sole and laces even if it looks great, fun and balanced with black jacket and pants. You can wear some white sole shoes without the laces even if it's chunky, super casual and looks weird with skinny pants. The whole look is outdated for me but shoes are the biggest disappointment. Plus many styles of casual, comfortable, stylish shoes aren't in B&amp;M stores but on-line only.<br />I'm venting now because that has been my biggest problem with shoe shopping for years. Hit and miss, order and return, try and be left with pain and blisters and such..&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114916 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 16:41:39 +0000 Zaeobi 2114916@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a third culture Millennial, I'd like to offer a slightly different perspective: </p> <p>I see a few people here commenting that people should simply 'know' what is &amp; isn't appropriate to wear in certain situations. But exactly <i>how</i> do you gain this 'common sense' in the first place? In <b> @rachylou's </b> example, her father's notion to wear his 'Sunday best' had to come from somewhere - likely authority figures, like his pastor, parents or teachers. </p> <p>The thing is, with the world becoming more multicultural &amp; accepting of nontraditional backgrounds, we cannot assume these things anymore. For example, I repeatedly see American wedding advice that only the bride should wear white. But in the UK, it's not uncommon to see bridesmaids intentionally decked out in white! Most Americans I mention this to are already well aware of the origin of this tradition, so how could they end up with a completely opposite interpretation of the resulting dress code?</p> <p>Which brings me back to Millennials - it seems we cannot trust these previously reputable sources of common sense to be up-to-date. So where should we Millennials (being blamed for the death of the dress code) go for advice? The Internet has its caveats (not YLF, ofc ). </p> <p>I agree that banning individual items usually isn't as effective as general guidelines, but you can still give a range of examples that embody the spirit, right? Communication is critical - <b> @Gaylene's </b> experiences are not examples of <i> insubordination </i> but of people feeling like they're not being listened to. If they feel like they can't come to you with questions or suggestions about <i> any</i> of your rules, <i> that's </i> when you start to get dissenters. </p> <p><b> TL;DR </b> I see 'killing the dress code' as a response to dress codes that are unable (or unwilling) to change with the intersectionality of these times, rather than a jab at having rules at all. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114885 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 14:55:57 +0000 kkards 2114885@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>As a manager I both love and hate the idea of no dress code. Yay, &nbsp;I get to wear what I what when I want. &nbsp;But as a manager, I &nbsp;see all kinds of land minds. &nbsp;Is it appropriate to wear a tee or hat with a political slogan? What if I think it isn’t, but another manager thinks it is? Are shorts appropriate? Well, why wouldn’t they be, and then if it’s appropriate to wear shorts, is it appropriate to wear short shorts? &nbsp;if I say sure whatever as long as your getting the job done, but my peer in the next department deems that shorts are ok, as long as the come to the knee....yes, often dress codes are odious, but Good ones help provide guard rails for managers and provide some level setting with in organizations&nbsp; </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114880 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 14:00:02 +0000 abby 2114880@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>What Gaylene said! &nbsp;Where I grew up, we were taught that we were professionals. &nbsp;As such, we should dress like we respect our customers. &nbsp;They expect us to serve them competently. &nbsp;That included dressing the part. &nbsp;<div><br /></div><div>I now am a college professor. &nbsp;I dress well. Students have commented on that. &nbsp;I tell them that they are paying for the education. &nbsp;My opinion is that their professor should look like he takes their investment seriously. &nbsp;For many, that response combined with a consistent example is a big step in growing up and realizing the value of what I am serving them. &nbsp;</div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114856 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 10:36:18 +0000 Staysfit 2114856@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I am reading many valid points and do not think they conflict with one another. &nbsp;I do not see this as an either/or situation. I see a continuum. Some places may still require dress codes and some may not and some may be able to relax some of their their previous policies. &nbsp;There are both written and implied (unwritten) dress codes. There are people capable of discerning proper dress etiquette from the company culture and those who cannot. &nbsp;There are too many variables such as weather, culture, setting and type of work for us to be able to make a global statement about dress codes. &nbsp;Among other factors, safety, decorum, distraction and discrimination plays a role in dress codes and they differ from one place to the next. &nbsp;A school building is different than a bakery; Both of these are different than a medical office or a court.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114852 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 07:55:51 +0000 Cee 2114852@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>If you have to explain to someone why wearing a bandaid as a skirt or a shirt that looks like a bikini top is not appropriate for the office or workplace in general, then they should probably look elsewhere for a living. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114818 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 03:02:33 +0000 smittie 2114818@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I don’t know why every author wants to pin everything on millennials. I can see why “ok, boomer” is taking off :-)</p> <p>Anyway, I don’t feel one way or the other about dress codes.</p> <p>I do like my high tech environment, where people really don’t judge you at all based on what you’re wearing. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114806 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 02:20:45 +0000 rachylou 2114806@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Echo... That reminds me of this one girl who came thru the bakery. Her job was to catch bread when it came out of the shaper. She’s standing there talking on her phone to her boyfriend and all the bread is piling on top of each other into a big ball of dough. Then she pauses her yakking for a moment to say... the bread machine is broken... ahahaha!</p> <p>I’m just sayin’... some people really just shouldn’t be allowed out at all... </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114794 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 01:38:29 +0000 Echo 2114794@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I'll grant that my experience is from a while back when I worked in retail, but we definitely had to discipline employees based on dress code violations. When the answer for why they wore something virtually transparent without appropriate undergarments was, "Because my boyfriend was supposed to stop by," there's just no reasoning with that. Then again, employees in this case were high school aged or early college, and them suing us wasn't really an option. I would guess you are right that today any number of people would sue over cultural, religious, disability or other grounds. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114792 Sat, 18 Apr 2020 01:25:42 +0000 Gaylene 2114792@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Oddly, I have always had more success requesting "appropriate" attire (or behaviour) from a defiant student than from attempting to discipline them into adherence to a fixed set of arbitrary rules.</p> <p>As for dress codes protecting a company from litigation, unless a&nbsp;bona fide occupational qualification&nbsp;is involved, is such a thing even feasible these days? Demonstrating that a prohibited item isn't violating gender neutrality, religious accommodation, cultural awareness, attention to disability issues, consistent enforcement, and consideration of cost to the employee is a tall order.</p> <p>Nope, after dealing with too many crazy things worn by people who should have known better (Bikini bottoms for pants? Strategically ripped T-shirts? A tent (seriously!)?), I've found that listening, and then requesting, got me further than trying to discipline anyone over the age of 3.</p> <p>People like to wear what they like to wear. And even the tent wearer had a reason for his attire; he was deathly afraid of germs.</p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114766 Fri, 17 Apr 2020 23:14:16 +0000 Kathie 2114766@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p><div>To Gaylene's point, I guess GM (according to the article) has already moved in this direction, with simply "Dress appropriately." GM is certainly not Facebook, and I'm sure they had plenty of lawyers look at this. Probably decided it would save them on law suits over discrimination. The Atlantic article also reminded me of one from Vox, about the power suit losing it's power. It also speaks to some issues around class, and signaling status, through not wearing a suit. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a rel="nofollow" href="https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/9/30/20869237/suits-control-menswear-decline">https://www.vox.com/the-goods/.....ar-decline</a><br /></div> </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114752 Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:43:24 +0000 Jenni NZ 2114752@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>Again, some of this depends where you are in the world. In NZ and in what I have seen in Australia- forum members, articles, Australian fashion magazines and on my trips there- there are definitely climate related acceptable dress ideas like that sleeveless is totally fine for professional women. I also think our cultures are a bit more casual overall.<br /> I do not have a dress code in the practice and have never had to ask a staff member to dress more appropriately. They just seem to do it naturally.<br /> Rules like the ones J’Aileen posted at the court will unfortunately continue to be needed I would say. But to Rachylou’s point about her father’s one pair of shoes, such a rule does assume the person has something other than flip-flops to wear, which with poverty, might not always be the case. Which is why a charity like Dress for Success continues to be needed.<br /> I hope personally that it continues to relax gradually. And that the trend for flat or more comfortable shoes for women stays. </p> https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/topic/kill-the-office-dress-code#post-2114748 Fri, 17 Apr 2020 21:24:26 +0000 Echo 2114748@https://youlookfab.com/welookfab/ <p>I also think dress codes are often there to protect the employer, not the employee. In other words, in a litigious society, it is difficult to justify writing someone up for violating an unwritten dress code. It protects a company if it is right there in black and white. Yes, students will look for ways to bend a dress code, but adults generally don't. But it protects the company and gives them recourse if an employee consistently shows up to work breaking dress code. To attempt to discipline someone based on what's "appropriate" is next to impossible.</p> <p>I would love what Gaylene said to be true. With what I would consider reasonable adults, it wouldn't be an issue. But I've seen some crazy things from people who were old enough to know better. And I can say from experience that a dress code protects the company. </p>