Are wrap dresses too "bombshell" for the office?

Beth

In scanning Corporette recently, I saw that many ladies there felt wrap dresses were too much for the office. Obviously, that may depend on your figure, but now I'm rethinking my work dresses.

For example, I wore the two below dresses as workwear all last winter.

What does YLF say? Do you wear wrap dresses to work? Do you think they should be reserved for non-work events?

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13 years ago

Dressing

34 replies

Latest reply was from

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

I don't agree with them. Maybe if they are low cut and too clingy...but yours are perfect for work!

13 years ago

Anonymous

I agree with Sveta, maybe they are worn too low or too short, but you look great

13 years ago

Vix

Veteran

Corporette skews so conservative -- which makes them a great resource for those remaining bastions of buttoned-up behavior and dress like Big Law and finance, but a little much for most of the rest of us.

So I suppose it's "know your office" blah blah.

I wear faux-wraps to work and was complimented on one by two higher-level HR folks (we were walking to an event), so I figure I'm in the clear at that location, anyway! I do wear slips to get more coverage up top and somewhat less cling.

I love yours on you and see you mention wearing both in the winter. The second is A-line, so hardly clingy IMO -- do you wear it on its own, or add something to cover your arms?

Just curious. I own various levels of arm coverage and will generally put a cardigan or blazer over all but the 3/4 sleeve one, but don't think there's anything crazy about showing more arm in most offices.

13 years ago

shiny

Veteran

I think yours are perfectly work appropriate. If you wore the second one without a cami, maybe not. But with cami, yes.

13 years ago

catgirl

Veteran

These are fabulous and totally appropriate on you, Beth. Damn, I envy your wrap-wearing ability!

13 years ago

Beth

Veteran

Sveta and A, thank you.

Vix, you're so right about Corporette and their demographic. I just think of a wrap dress as so classic it was a surprise to hear a workplace you couldn't wear one (unless it was a suit-only setting). As for my second dress, I usually wear it in the warmer months but do wear it on occasion with a wrap cardi over it.

Shiny, I definitely need to wear a cami with all of my wrap dresses. It's one reason I've never bought a DVF (besides the high prices) as her dresses just don't play well with any amount of bust and require serious cami coverage.

Una, thanks for the kind words. I find wraps to be easier to wear with my short waist than the sheath dresses I wore unsuccessfully for years. I'm surprised you can't wear them...

13 years ago

Mama Susie

Active Member

I think you look amazing and very professional. It's definitely a classic look and I think it only doesn't work if you work in a very conservative office where everyone wears suits.

13 years ago

lyn*

(website)

Veteran

I think yours look work-appropriate, Beth ... I could imagine that if wrap dresses are "easy" to get wrong if they are too tights or have a too-deep of a v, so maybe it's easier for the Corporette to help their readers err on the side of caution?

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

I wear my wrap dresses to the office and think both of yours look great.

And remember, the Corporettes also think you shouldn't wear peep toe shoes to the office. Nuff said.

13 years ago

Echo

Veteran

I think your dresses are quite appropriate and you look very nice in them. However, as other have mentioned, wrap dresses are easy to get "wrong" and they can easily be too clingy and reveal too much cleavage for work. It makes for an easy sound bite to say that wrap dresses are inappropriate for work, but like most other fashion "rules", this one can easily be broken with the right dresses.

13 years ago

Deborah

Veteran

I wear wrap dresses to work and just make sure the neckline is not revealing. I think this is sa classic and elegant style very work appropriate. Your two dresses are stunning and I see no issue with either of them. #1 is a stunner, may I ask where it's from:)

13 years ago

rae

(website)

Veteran

Well, many ladies wear them where I work! I think maybe people say that because a lot of wrap dresses are cut really low? Yours look perfect, IMO.

13 years ago

Veteran

Some wrap dresses on some bodies would be too much. Yours are just fine.

13 years ago

Anonymous

On me, yes. Most jersey and wrap dresses look va da boomm, but they tone down with a blazer. I also make sure I wear flattering undergarments to control the "jiggle giggle", it is very unflattering, IMO, to see all of my "abundance" in motion . Not the ones you are posting, however.

13 years ago

Midwest Girl

Active Member

Both are perfect for work and you look great in them. I especially love the Boden dress!

13 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

You look wonderful AND professional in these as styled. I say, wear on!!

13 years ago

Amy

(website)

Veteran

I wear a wrap dress to the office and I work in a fairly conservative environment. Your dresses look appropriate to me!

13 years ago

Transcona Shannon

Veteran

Love these dresses on you and they are totally appropriate for the office. I think if they were super clingy, low cut or too short that might be an issue, but these are not.

13 years ago

Jamie

Veteran

I wear my wrap dresses to work year round. I can't imagine not wearing them. And I wear them with peep toe shoes and no jacket. Call me a rebel!

Your dresses look lovely on you. Wear them proudly.

13 years ago

Anonymous

I dress rather conservatively, but I have never been able to understand what the problem is with peep toe shoes. The only thing I can come up with is that these corporations err on the side of being overly conservative so employees don't bend the rules too much.

I love wrap dresses and have never thought of them as being "bombshell." The only way that could happen would be if the neckline were too low and/or the dress length too short. I used to wear wrap dresses to the office quite often. I don't do that now because I work in a very casual office and just about any type of dress would be OTT.

Wear your dresses and fret not! You look quite professional in them.

Hope this helps!

13 years ago

rute

Veteran

No way, but I'm Portuguese and I've noticed that we are more open when it comes to office wear!

13 years ago

christy

Veteran

I think "it depends" is the general answer to the question. I read Corporette and they are definitely *very* conservative - but appropriately so for most of the women in the fields that require much more conservative dressing: law and finance mostly. I'm fortunate that being in Seattle, even while being in a conservative industry, I can still get away with what might be considered too casual in the Corporette world.

To be specific to you - there is nothing too bombshell about the dresses you have posted here. You look terrific, appropriately covered and I would not think twice about seeing this in my office (and, like I said, I'm in a pretty conservative industry). And count me in on the group that's envious of your ability to wear a wrap dress. They look *terrible* on me and I can't quite figure out why! I love them though on others!

13 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I am sensitive to bombshell-looks and err on the modest side - you know that Beth. But you in both of these frocks is MORE than office appropriate. Wow!!! Killer x2. Professional, gorgeous, polished and stylish.

I shall be very upset if you don't wear these to work and Tango agrees with me.

13 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Well, I think if you wore them like they were about to fall off, maybe. But like you are? No way! You look great!

13 years ago

morethanbeige

Veteran

I think both outfits are fabulous and totally work-appropriate.

13 years ago

Krista

Veteran

I am a high-school administrator and I wear wrap dresses all the time. This is mostly because they are flattering to my short waist and large bust and they are usually constructed in stretch knits that work with my curves.

All of that being said, I do make sure I always wear a cami under my wrap dresses because the "V" in the bust can be too low for my "clientele" (ha! if the kids only knew I referred to them in that way). I also make sure the knit fabrics do not cling - I've walked away from more than one wrap dress because I felt it was too sexy for my work environment. I don't have to worry about sexy footwear - I have to wear a decent pump-type shoe so I can run on a moment's notice.

A wrap dress can be flattering and work appropriate all at the same time. It is all in the way you put it together. Your photos demonstrate this perfectly!

13 years ago

Jonesy

Veteran

For me, anything too tight, too short, or too revealing isn't appropriate for the office, but your dresses are none of these things--you look perfectly polished and professional.

13 years ago

Makrame

Veteran

Your dresses look great and very work-appropriate!

I was thinking of Corporette and "no peep toe shoes" recently when I found myself in traffic court and saw a female lawyer (representing clients in court) wearing flip flops ...

13 years ago

MsMary

Veteran

OMG you weren't in Pasadena, California, were you?

13 years ago

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