Like Scarlet, I would like to be a fly on the wall in your workplace. Sounds like you will have a lot of sartorial freedom soon, so your decision to play it safe is a wise one.

Angie, I do not think that I would be comfortable wearing it as is, hence my decision.I totally agree with you re: length, I much prefer the length of the other dress, and my favorite length would be even an inch or two longer. I just happened to really like the colors of the WHBM dress, enough to overlook that is in a length I do not like as much.

Firecracker, thanks!

Scarlet and Elpgal, if you are curious about something specific, feel free to ask. The job is indeed administrative - my whole department is administrative. Most people have PhDs, and there is roughly an equal number of men and women. The science is pretty interdisciplinary. I am wearing blazers roughly half of the time as toppers, but haven't see other women wear them much, except for one woman in a very senior position.
Here are three outfits I spotted in the last couple of days:
1. Hot pink fit&flare dress with fairly full skirt hat ends right above the knee, worn with buttoned up black cardigan, belted at the waist with thin belt, and black 2,5" pumps
2. Abstract floral print dress, sleeveless, fitted on top and gentle A-line on the bottom, scuba material, colors are mainly turquoise and orange shades, no topper, 3'5" tan wedge sandals
3. Floral sheath dress, black base with medium size bright flowers, small cap sleeves, mid-knee length, 3" wedge sandals

I am so happy it is not sexist! It sounded to me like it possibly was, when you were saying you did NOT want to show off your beautiful figure. I do think you look absolutely stunning in the first dress, and really great in the second dress too while more demure. I hope you keep the first one to enjoy out of work and also perhaps with a long cardigan and tall boots, which as you say will dial down the "bombshell" factor. I am not certain that I have ever looked like a bombshell in my entire life. Pretty, yes, cute, yes. Now I enjoy watching my daughters in their 20s when they dress up, as they are about 8 cm ( 3 inches?) taller than me, thanks to their very tall father- who I must have managed to attract by being pretty and cute!

I'm hoping you will keep it too as while it seemed maybe a bit distracting for work, there should be plenty of occasions for a young and beautiful woman to wear such a flattering dress. I especially liked it with the shoes which I thought added a little sweetness to a very lovely look.

Chiming in to say that I also hope you keep it. It is stunning on you and between being a great date night dress and the more "office-appropriate" style you describe with the boots and long cardigan, it could be a very versatile (and flattering) piece in your wardrobe, maybe even a signature dress for you.

You look wonderful in both these dresses.
Late to the thread because I just don't know what to say other than "you know best".

It seems like you've thought about it and if other people are wearing above the knee dresses then you should be able to too.

Coming back to say that I ended up keeping the dress since I wore it last night. Some friends and I decided in the last moment to watch the gala evening of the local ballroom competition, and one typically dresses up for such events. I was pondering what to wear when the dress jumped at me :). I wore it with the same ankle strap wedges from the photos and sparkly black moto, as the AC was really strong.
So,, it definitely stays as an occasion dress, and it will go to work only if I find the right super long black cardigan.The good part was that it relaxes a little with wear and becomes less formfitting.

I am glad you kept the dress, it looks gorgeous on you.

Hooray! So lovely and it sounds a fun evening.

It is a lovely dress, I am so pleased that you have kept it. It sounds like you had a fun evening. I had a similar dress and wore it for work; I really enjoyed it, and wore with a longer length fine knit waterfall cardigan, and it was great.

Cool, and sounds like a great evening!

I loved the WHBM dress on you so much...that I bought it for myself! I love it on me, too

Plus: slim fit--but comfortable for walking and sitting thanks to the stretch in the fabric; bare arms but high neck (and maybe 1/2 inch longer on me), so I feel that the coverage is pretty good (not for work for me, but it's not a skimpy dress either). I adore it with your blush moto; I have some short sweaters (almost shrugs) that look OK, too.

Thank you for showcasing this look. I rarely go to WHBM, so I wouldn't have seen it without you.

I'm super late to the thread but I love the dress on you and am glad you kept it.

I think the Kamalikulture will be work-wearable for sure. I even wore my similar (same pattern but sleeveless) dress to a work evening event once. It is body con, but I was working in the fitness business, so didn't mind that so much, and its sober colours and decent length made it feel more work-appropriate to me than some of my other "going out" dresses. I got lots of compliments from my colleagues.

Gorgeous dress Tanya and you looked amazing in it.