Office Modesty Tips
It's getting hot out; obviously you don't want to be wearing lots of layers. Trouble is that summer clothes often oppose a closet constant -- the office dress code. Here are some of my tips, culled from 17 years of private school dress code subversion, for making sure your boss doesn't send you home.
Sleeveless shirts seem like a great thing for summer, but they have a hidden problem many wearers never see. When you're buying a sleeveless (or cap sleeve) shirt for work, raise your arms. Move as if you're reaching for a top shelf or across a desk. Look at your arm hole while doing this. Can you see your bra? If so, don't buy the shirt. There are plenty of sleeveless tops that won't show off your bra.
Some summer necklines are a wee bit low for work. You can, of course, layer a cami underneath, but who wants an extra layer? Instead, I like to drape a light silk scarf around my neck and tuck it into my top.
And now, an awkward word about pants. You may think thongs are the bee's knees. Great, but I don't need to know about your underwear. Thongs and summer-weight pants are often co-conspirators in booty display. If this is a combination you frequently wear, move about your house for a few hours making sure to do plenty of sitting, standing, bending and walking. Now check yourself in the mirror. Have things migrated to a showy level? If your pants are giving you a wedgie, change your undies.
Shoes aren't really a modesty issue, but some work dress codes don't allow sandals or other open toed shoes. I work in one such place, and have come to rely on perforated shoes to help me cope with the heat.
Are there any bits of dress code you find yourself bumping into?
Sleeveless shirts seem like a great thing for summer, but they have a hidden problem many wearers never see. When you're buying a sleeveless (or cap sleeve) shirt for work, raise your arms. Move as if you're reaching for a top shelf or across a desk. Look at your arm hole while doing this. Can you see your bra? If so, don't buy the shirt. There are plenty of sleeveless tops that won't show off your bra.
Some summer necklines are a wee bit low for work. You can, of course, layer a cami underneath, but who wants an extra layer? Instead, I like to drape a light silk scarf around my neck and tuck it into my top.
And now, an awkward word about pants. You may think thongs are the bee's knees. Great, but I don't need to know about your underwear. Thongs and summer-weight pants are often co-conspirators in booty display. If this is a combination you frequently wear, move about your house for a few hours making sure to do plenty of sitting, standing, bending and walking. Now check yourself in the mirror. Have things migrated to a showy level? If your pants are giving you a wedgie, change your undies.
Shoes aren't really a modesty issue, but some work dress codes don't allow sandals or other open toed shoes. I work in one such place, and have come to rely on perforated shoes to help me cope with the heat.
Are there any bits of dress code you find yourself bumping into?
Comments
~ Ad