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Skirt length on the job


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Why are companies so strict about skirt length? Have you ever heard of a case where guys just couldn't work in peace or control themselves because of someone's skirt? A woman can show a foot of cleavage and it's okay, but show a knee and you're the company bad girl! And then, what's the big deal when you work in an environment that is 85% or more female?

 

When I started my job, I found out on my first day that skirt length was not supposed to be more than two inches above the knee. The dress I was wearing was about that, two inches above the knee, no more. Still, I got asked to go home and change. It was beyond embarrassing for me. Over the weekend I went out and had to buy a bunch of long skirts. Well, today I went into work and the girl who is training me was wearing a skirt that I know was at least four or five inches above her knee. She had dark tights on with it, but still, it was short. No one asked HER to go home and change.

 

I have never worn a skirt or dress of indecent length on a job, but three jobs I've been on in my career so far, I've been haggled about skirt length at one time or another. These aren't dresses I pick up from the junior department in a store, they are professional, nice dresses. I'm 5'6" and have long legs, maybe that's the reason I'm being picked on, I don't know. I really believe tall, thin women, and especially if you're blonde, get looked down on, people think you're trying to be sexy just because you look good. I don't feel like I look all that good, but the matronly frumps I've often worked around seem to have a problem with it. Someone said something.

 

There is still a lot of legal discrimination that goes on. Just had to vent, it really irked my gall today.

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Dress requirements have a lot to do with ownership and management of companies. Some tend to be very conservative. Companies that have been zapped with multimillion dollar sexual harassment lawsuits are sensitive as well and feel more conservative dress will reduce such instances.

 

Myself, it would be OK if no clothing at all was required. But, then again, I suppose there are some business you can get into where nudity is the required attire.

 

Just be happy you've got a job now. There are millions who are out of work at this time.

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HokeyReligions

I have had to send three people home because of what they were wearing. 1. a skirt with a slit in the side that went up to the hip, 2. white pants that could obviously be seen through, 3. short skirt. It's just as uncomfortable/embarassing for the person telling you about it, believe me.

 

In both cases there were complaints or comments from clients. The "sexy" image is not what the businesses wanted to convey to their clients. In one case a male co-worker said something about it being indecent and he was uncomfortable with it - not because he couldn't concentrate - but because it was offensive to him.

 

I've seen some very sexy business suits, but you gotta be aware of the type of business that allows this. If the clients are all young and sexy themselves, this might be a selling point. If it's a very conservative business (banking comes to mind) that it is probably more appropriate to wear skirts that come to the midpoint of the knee or just above the knee. It's all in knowing the business and the clientele.

 

If it's any consolation, I worked one place where a man was sent home because on casual friday he wore a shirt without a collar and that wasn't allowed!

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I think women should be made to wear pants and shirts!

Some of the women here(at my work) dress sexy and it drives me crazy! Of course I like it but I do find it distracting.

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YOU WRITE: "Some of the women here(at my work) dress sexy and it drives me crazy! Of course I like it but I do find it distracting."

 

Nobody's holding a gun to your head to look at these ladies. Learn to exercise some self control. At work, do your work and use your mind for that and no for thinking sexy thoughts about scantilly clad co-workers.

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I think there's a difference between a tasteful above-the-knee dress or skirt length, and the stuff Ally McBeal wore in the courtroom!

 

oh well, as long as no one starts dancing with imaginary babies while music plays in their head, you should consider yourself lucky ...

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Originally posted by Tony

YOU WRITE: "Some of the women here(at my work) dress sexy and it drives me crazy! Of course I like it but I do find it distracting."

 

Nobody's holding a gun to your head to look at these ladies. Learn to exercise some self control. At work, do your work and use your mind for that and no for thinking sexy thoughts about scantilly clad co-workers.

 

I know Tony,

But why do married women dress like that? They must want to be looked at. You are right though, I need to focus on my work and forget about the beautiful women I see out in the smoking area everyday.

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"But why do married women dress like that? They must want to be looked at."

 

What's wrong with married women wanting to be attractive??

 

People also sometimes say - she is in a committed r/s, why is she all dressed up? - what the hell's that, who said committment means you shouldn't look and be attractive?

 

-yes

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HokeyReligions

Uh, ahem, the longer I'm married, the nicer it is to discover that I can still be attractive to the opposite sex. If I can dress sexy and turn heads it tickles my husband too -- he said he can still feel like gloating over what he has! (me)

 

What a great boost to the self-esteem -- to be desired by others.

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I guess the point I'm making is there's a difference in looking stylish and pretty, and looking like you're trying to get attention. I have never done the latter in an office setting, but people's eyes just shoot to my legs all the time. Even when a skirt is the right length, people still look at me like it's not. I don't feel like I should be picked out over another woman just because her legs look shorter than mine in the same length skirt.

 

I'm not complaining about my job, I'm very thankful to have it. And I do abide by all their rules and particulars. I just feel angry about the dress code thing since I know I've been unfairly judged by a couple of different companies, without having broken any rules. I will get a look from someone if my skirt is right at my knees, but another woman can wear old, crummy pants that show all kinds of stuff, and she's fine. Tell me what a client would think of that?

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I'll dress however I wanna dress...married or not. Just bc a woman dresses sexy does NOT mean she's trying to get attention. Maybe that's how she feels confident and comfortable.

 

That's like saying...."This girl was raped bc of the dress she was wearing." That's absurd, and guys like you need to keep their hormones in check.

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Apparently I'm not the only one who thinks this way, hence alot of corporations have dress codes regarding womens apparel.

So Ally If you want to dress like a slut at work be my guest.

All it proves to me is that you seek attention because your not getting it from your s/o. We are still talking about work here right? I feel a woman can dress as she pleases anywhere else.

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i think companies implement dress codes to coincide with their image. if its a private company-they can do that all day long.

 

i'm not sure i want to buy burial plots, homeowners insurance or buy a car from someone who has a skirt crawling up her ass. above the knee is trendy....two inches from the gluttous is disturbing and unfortunately i would never take a business woman wearing something she would wear to a bar "seriously."

 

in these days of unemployment-my old lady suggestion is to just comply with the code. revealing has a time and place and it might not be 9-5.

 

JMHO

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If you think the skirt thing is bad, we can't even wear open toe shoes at my job because the spaces between your toes are considered sexy like cleavage.... go figure!

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I never, ever got the big deal about 'toe cleavage'. It's feet, for pete's sakes! Blah.

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  • 1 month later...

Like you, I'm tall and thin (5'10"). And, not be brag TOO much, but I have fabulous legs. So, I have to be careful, because two inches above MY knees would be more showy than two inches above someone else's knees.

 

Probably, you just crossed somebody's radar at the wrong time, and, it being your first day, they thought they'd get you off to the right start. Being sent home, however, would be VERY humiliating.

 

I can understand the dress code, though. The fact is, there are women with no common sense when it comes to dressing appropriately. I work at a restaurant and you can only wear a skirt for religious reasons (some churches forbid pants on women). Anyone else, you gotta wear pants. Now, a woman who wears skirts for relgious reasons will also wear modest skirts past her knees, so there's very little risk. For others, it would be an invitation to disaster. We've got one woman who HATES wearing pants and often complains that she wishes she could wears skirts. I've seen her in her normal clothes and I wouldn't trust her to pick a modest skirt. Frankly, she dresses like a cheap slut. She probably thinks that anything below the crotch is modest.

 

When I was in the Navy, there were rules about how we could dress in civies off duty. If we were away from the base, completely on liberty, we could wear whatever we wanted. But, if we lived on base, we had to dress modestly to even walk off the base. Shirts had to have sleeves. They had to be tucked in. Pants with belt loops had to have belts. Men could not have earrings. There was a length rule about skirts and shorts (I forget what that was.) You had to wear shoes with socks, and that meant no strappy little sandals unless you wore pantyhose. No flip-flops allowed.

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jessicakicksbut

Be grateful all those who can actually wear a skirt on the job. I work at a chemical company, so I can only wear jeans or dress pants, with steel toed shoes, a lab coat, safety glasses, and in certain area's a hard hat! Does anyone feel bad for me :-(

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the idea of two inches above knee for length of skirt is ridcliious. in my office women have very few restrictions , and they all dress very nice.

naturally a taller woman who look better in shorter skirt, her legs would draw attraction. however, dont see how affect anybody at work. seems like your employer is entirely to strict.

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  • 5 weeks later...

My wife and I both work in professional environments. With dress codes.

She WILL be sent home in a heartbeat for what she wears. Of course the too short skirt. Or even a cotton blouse under the jacket. And they are very specific on what shoes. She is pregnant and "They" picked out what they deemed acceptable for her and mail ordered it. At least they paid. We went to an Orthopedic Specialist this morning, pregnancy weight gain at 7 months and CRUEL, AWFUL, HARD, NO SUPPORT WOMENS SHOES. So when the nurse asked if she needed a light duty only note, she said no I sit at a desk, I spoke up and specifically asked for a note BANNING the use of office shoes at least till after delivery.

 

I am expected to dress accordinly as a professional representative of my company. And do so with pride and sharply ironed creases, I hate wrinkles. It speaks poorly of you and shows you have little regard for the fine details and attention to yourself and how you are perceived by others. If you dont see that than what else dont you get?! It's like being clean shaven with a nice haircut. Shine your shoes and brush your teeth. C'mon, most of this was taught in Kindergarten.

 

People want to know thay are dealing with someone that cares about all the details, it's all important. If he or she is about to hand over the reigns to you, or money, they'd like to think it will be thouroughly tended to. And you just dont get that impression from a guy with mussed hair, bad breath, and wrinkled clothes. If he can't handle basic hygene and presentability, than I'll not give him my money or business. Will my business dealings be mussed and wrinkled with the same lack of attention as well?

 

Same for the office hottie, we have several. Short skirts and no panty hose. pssst, hey, I can see your monkey. Although we're not as strict. My favorite, her tits are so big and shirt so tight, the buttons are barely hanging in there. And you get the little titty windows. I mean thats really great and all, but its real hard to take you seriously and wont get my business. As I know you are generally preoccupied with your own self absorption and competetion with the other girls to tend to my business properly. They say it's about confidance, yea, that you are hottie supreme, to all the guys and all the girls. I know how it is, I see you glare at each other. It's hilarious. I like catching the receptionist twisted around looking at her own ass in the full mirrors we have, and she turnes around and asks me if my wife is coming to the company picnic?

I'm thinking, why? So we can have the tight buns competetion there too, with my wife. Battle of the buns....whos the hottest hottie of em all?!?!?!?! And yes, women are very sexual creatures, and men are dogs. Thats why it's real important to hide the monkey, so we dont get any crazy (instinctual) ideas.

And young girls that think they can prance around in slut gear and be taken seriously, professionally, or as any thing other than a sexual object, has a lesson in reality coming.

It's not about how things Could or Should be, it's about how things ARE. Wake up, see it, and act accordingly...

 

I still can't believe girls act so shocked when sent home for looking like a tramp. it's amazing. But then again, I can't believe some things some guys wear too, trying to be sexy and colorful, ahem, button up the shirt mister, we really dont wanna see that.....BTW, where'd you get that anyway???? Wow

 

All this from a guy who at one time had dread locks, shaved sides, a mohawk, spiked, dyed every color. Huge boots, spiked jackets and rings, and all the most outlandish clothes you could imagine. And our girls wore the shortets skirts, most were dancers anyway. <my lil secret>

I know about perception.......LOL, Ive been on both sides

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