Banning Casual Clothes from Work - YouLookFab Forum

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Dressing

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Banning Casual Clothes from Work

Anonymous

I commented in the past that I had really embraced the concept of casualization, but I feared I took it too far at work. Sure, I knew I was trending, but a lot of coworkers saw me as wearing jeans/ponte pants and a tee shirt. Yes. Several have commented.

So I am transitioning. The first phase of my transition is to stop wearing tee shirts at work. No more tee shirts. I am substituting button down shirts for the tee shirts. But I am not tucking the button down shirts in. They look funny tucked in. I am wondering if the untucked button down shirt isn't just another version of a tee shirt? Sigh. When did dressing for work become hard? It used to be second nature.

Dressing

25 replies

Latest reply was from

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

Silk tee shirts are nice for summer and look good tucked or not.

Silk Vinefloral Top

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Equipment Riley Silk Tee

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Cococat

Veteran

I think that tees can look more 'dressed up' with tailored pants and certain accessories. I like the idea of silk or linen tees too.

Anonymous

I tried this with linen tee shirts. I thought I looked fabulous, but my friends still saw "tee shirt." I will continue to experiment because tee shirts are such a comfortable option in my life. I could stop listening to my friends as well (but that is hard for me).

RobinF

Veteran

I was thinking like CocoC, maybe you could swap out the jeans instead of the tee. Still feel casual but not look as much.

lyn67

Veteran

I hate button downs, but that's only me:-).
I wear certain tees all the time (esp.linen uni colored, but hi-low cut, mix-media or interesting double layered (for ex. with a fine graphic mesh) and I wear them esp. topped with blazers, longer cardis or other jackets for my office and never received comments. BUT I don't wear blue jeans at all!! (I have only white jeans or black waxed jeans for work).
Another great option are knitted tops of all sorts.

Liz

Veteran

As lyn said, there are all sorts of knitted tops that don't look like t-shirts, but are just as comfortable as t-shirts. See the finds below for a couple of examples.

Vince Camuto Side Pleat Asymmetrical Top

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Vince Camuto Cap Sleeve Faux Wrap Top

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Anonymous

I think an untucked button down is still far dressier than any t-shirt.
There is also the option of sweater-tshirts, but I'm guessing they're too hot for your climate...

I'm finding a similar issue at work : That it doesn't matter how current and trendy I am, if I am not dressed up enough at work, there is a feeling of being underdressed that I can't shake.

catseye

Veteran

Linen tees reads very casual to me. But silk or silky woven tee is just a short sleeve blouse. They can be very comfortable.

I think dark wash jeans can be dressy enough if not paired with t-shirts, particularly if you wear a blazer.

Ponte pants are not created equal. Most of them are very casual to my eyes, particularly paired with tees and cardigans.

I think the key is to not go casual both top and bottom.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Have you tried semi tucking a button down shirt and adding a belt?

As others have said, you can consider alternative styles of knitted tops and blouses. There is LOTS of scope between a tee and shirt.

carter

Veteran

None of the sleeveless tops we talked about in another post worked for you?

Diana

Veteran

Pop a blazer over the tee. (Even a knit one looks dressy.)

JAileen

Veteran

I needed longer tops for our dance class, and bought some drapey scoop neck 3/4 sleeve tops. For some reason they seem dressier. I really like the sleeve length.

Anonymous

Hi Carter -- I did buy some of the tops you suggested. Thank you for that, by the way.

I guess what I was saying is that I still resort to the old comfortable standby (lazy). I need to revise my thinking process.

Runcarla

Veteran

Interesting...I couldn't do jeans, except on (casual) Friday, and then they are either a 'dressy' dark wash or white (and not frayed!)

On the other hand, I can get away with t-shirts and the juxtaposition of a flannel shirt, a jean or chambray shirt, and a jean jacket - with a dressy skirt and work appropriate shoes

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Sterling, I'm curious. Are you dressed more casual than the norm there, or just more casual than people are used to you dressing? I think people comment when someone's norm changes, no matter whether it works for the environment.

El Cee

Veteran

I hear you regarding "When did dressing for work become hard? It used to be second nature." For me, personally, it was far easier to decide what to wear to work when there were clearer, more formal dress codes and less overlap between my business and casual wardrobes. When I worked in hospitals and very formal corporate offices I had my "uniform" of sorts. I am a good rule follower… so it was easy-peasy. I think you have a good strategy of replacing tees with something a little more structured (button down shirts and other woven tops) or dressier knits (some of the items Carter suggested). I personally think it looks perfectly fine and professional to leave a crisp button down shirt untucked -- especially if it is a more tailored style. (And I recall you have some really nice ones.) That is how I prefer to wear mine as, on me, tucking looks sloppy and unflattering… and leads to a lot of wrinkling and discomfort.

Anonymous

Good question, Barbara Diane. I am actually dressed more casually for me. A couple of years ago, my work uniform consisted of dress slacks and a button down blouse. When casualization hit, I started revamping the way I dressed at work as well. I first added tee shirts with my dress slacks. I found I quite liked it. Then I added saturated blue denim to the mix (with the tee shirts).

I should say that no one in management has commented. It is merely my coworkers that noticed and commented. That made me feel self conscious. I don't want to go all the way back to my "work uniform," but I do want to find some middle ground.

unfrumped

Veteran

It is hard with the lines are blurry and even business casual is hard to define.

i do think an untucked button-front shirt and jeans togther are pretty casual.

I have some blouses that I wear untucked but that I feel look dressier than the standard buttton-down. These might have no button or half-placket and sometimes still have a curved shirttail hem which I really like, but because of not having a full placket, I think it looks more intentional to not-tuck. Might just be in my imagination, though!

Dolan Left Coast Jules Tank

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Mosaic V-Neck Blouse

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Collared Swing Shell

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Rib Trim Fluid Tee

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Mini Leaf Fluid Tee

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Beth Ann

Veteran

Making the shift to mostly woven tops made all the difference for me! I think you might find that jackets with stretch (in moto or blazer stylings) might work well over your current tees --particularly the nicer linen ones. I'm a fan of unlined jackets -- especially in ponte.

Aida

Veteran

Interesting that many of you would nix jeans but keep the tees; I find tees feel far more casual and not-worky than jeans (of course jeans feel casual as well) and I'd much rather nix tees and keep jeans. Switching from knit tees to woven blouses makes a huge different. Sterling, a button down shirt even if untucked is certainly less casual than a tee. I think it's a good first step

anne

Veteran

This is all interesting to me, since I never (am not allowed) to wear jeans to work, apart from on Fridays. I would not wear a linen tee, but I agree that a silk one is ok - more like a blouse.

I would wear the types of tops that liz posted though, and the first three of unfrumpeds.

Mind you, it is clear to me that my working environment is far more formal than many in YLF.

aly

Interesting. I would also consider the use of accessories. I have been moving away from shirts with collars and find I need a belt to feel presentable - a few years ago, I did not own a single belt. Coordinating (not necessarily matching, just thinking about how they work together) shoes, glasses, belt, hair clips/styles etc all seem to help create a "polished" or "deliberate" appearance.

Lucy

Veteran

So many great ideas here!
As I said in another post, my current job is pretty dressy. In my previous jobs I tried to only wear one more casual piece, i.e. jeans and a dressier top or jacket; or a soft knit tee with a dressier skirt. This meant i could mix and match a lot from my weekend wardrobe, but I never felt too dressed down. Also as Ally said above, lovely accessories, especially shoes, can take it up a notch (though not too high of course!)

lyn67

Veteran

Aida has put the finger on. I think both JEANS AND a TEE is the one considered TOO CASUAL for some work environments(esp.offices). But you can keep one of these 2 elements and change the other for a more dressy options, that's all!

Anonymous

Agreed. I will continue to wear the jeans, but I will pair them with a beautiful silk blouse that I will semi-tuck. I will also continue to wear the tee shirts, but I will pair them with my dress slacks. Both ensembles will feature good shoes and statement jewelry. Yay. A solution. Thank you all.