Workplaces often have unwritten rules about employees' appearance, especially for women.

32 Comments

1. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 1:48AM UTC

   Most places have a dress code. For some, it is a uniform. Healthcare workers are required to wear scrubs (and/or lab coats). For many, the industry dictates this code. For example, the legal profession requires formal business attire, especially if court appearances are part of the job. For other companies, if the job is client-facing, the type of client generally dictates the dress code. Categories include everything from formal business attire (suit/tie for men, jacket and matching skirt or pants for women), business (shirt/tie for men, dress or button-down blouse and trousers for women), business casual (button-down or polo style shirt and trousers for men, same plus option of a dress for women), and casual (jeans/t-shirts ok for both men and women). Many have safety regulations that require certain types of shoes (close-toed or slip-resistant, for example). Some also limit the amount of "skin" shown (generally more restrictive in women, because of the difference in women's and men's fashions.) The dress code was the same for men and women at the last place I worked. It was casual, but no skin could show between the shoulders and knees except the lower arm, just above the elbow. We also had to wear close-toed shoes to protect our feet because we often had to lift heavy items and clean parts of the area. I have never worked anywhere that had a "hair" code, although places that serve food often do per health department requirements.

2. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 12:48PM UTC

   I have a lot of opinions on dress code, I come from a time when you did wear a suit to work as a professional, now I’ve worked in business casual offices, and I am really disappointed in what is permitted and it’s usually women more than men that abuse dress code. women coming to work in something that I would use under a shirt as a camisole wear it as a top. flip-flops which were not permitted because they’re dangerous are worn and nothing is enforced. I think you should dress a certain way, jeans are even appropriate, but I don’t think you should be showing any flesh in an office environment. Is it old-school no!!!!

   it’s just professional. It has nothing to do with age, error, etc. etc. it’s respect for others around you and who understand a professional dress, regardless of whether it’s a appropriate blouse/ top and actually some sweatsuits are more appropriate than some of the things I’ve seen. pet peeve with me in the world we live in enforces nothing so therefore anybody can do whatever they what a world.

3. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 12:52PM UTC

   It depends on the industry, if you are going to a professional role such as a CPA or an Attorney, I would expect them to look professional. No face piercings or no tattoos on the face and neck. Hair is clean and a reasonable color, not a green or blue. This is my opinion, so please don't come after me on this. Coming to work looking disheveled in any business is never a good look to me. But, it happens and you just move on or make peace with it. I always strive to look my best, but somedays it just doesn't happen.

4. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 1:17PM UTC

   It depends on multiple factors. The industry you work in, the position, in office or remote, etc. I believe no matter what factors come in, one should be presentable. that doesn't mean full face makeup and hair etc. Also not walking out in pj's.

5. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdMay 10,2024 at 1:22PM UTC

   Hello!

   I'm 56 and in my 30+ year career, I've seen a lot of dress codes and styles. I do think a certain dress code is appropriate. However, I also find business dress to be overkill - unless you're a person who meets with others. Or sees people on a daily basis.

   There's a plethora of articles stating that dressing up in business can promote motivation. Maybe for some people. There are studies that show the opposite to be true - dressing business casual allows people to not worry about appearance but rather focus on their work.

   As for hair, piercings, or tattoos... I don't believe any company should regulate these. The issue isn't for the people who have an eyebrow piercing, or a tattoo on their throat, or blue hair. The issue is with those who think these things are unprofessional. I don't like the look of piercings other than the ears. I have no issues with tattoos, but I don't like them on the face or neck, and I have absolutely no care whatsoever what color your hair is. I had blue hair for a year and absolutely loved it. These are my personal preferences - I would never force anyone to conform to the same.

   My current job is business casual - nice tops and jeans. Sneakers aren't generally allowed, nor are flip-flops. And clothing has to be free of tears and modest in fit and length. When I first started here 21 years ago, it was strictly business dress. I assure everyone - there are people whose "business" attire is much less professional than some wearing business casual!

   Unfortunately, my company didn't. Which is really sad.

6. Amanda HaasMay 10,2024 at 4:45PM UTC

   Dress/Appearance codes have been a large obstacle most of my career.I love dressing up.
   But I would get in trouble for it. I live in a city that is
   much more conservative and casual than I, and nearly every job somebody would pull me aside to talk about my within dress code attire or my facial hair from PCOS. Of course the facial hair part was more hurtful, because I was getting waxed every few or using facial hair creams. It was always disheartening.

   Basic guidelines work, especially for safety. And perhaps Dress Codes should be evaluated every few years to make sure it is appropriate. There are uniform requirements need to looked at well. Some garments are harder to find for women versus men. My favorite was finding khaki pants before they came back in style.
   As for hair and makeup, many companies’ guidelines need to be reevaluated. If you’re working around kids, allowing more creative styles will be more relatable to the kids. Makeup should look timely, but allowing a little color never hurt.

   On a larger scale the traditional beauty standards can hurt many fields, especially those working around children. There is an entire workforce of creative and expressive people with incredible skills who are overlooked just based on the current appearance standards. Of course it is getting more creative, but some areas just hold onto only what they know. This can be damaging especially for not recognizing different beauty/attire differences in culture. People should be proud of who they are and their culture. And not allowing that is only a disservice not to ourselves but also future generations.

7. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 6:15PM UTC

   I'm glad I work retail. As long as I show up in black pants/jeans, a navy or royal blue shirt, and close-toed shoes, I'm in dress code. Don't have to wear makeup, heels, or hose and don't even have to tuck my shirt in.

8. AnonymousMay 10,2024 at 11:09PM UTC

   Look presentable. You can pull your hair back and dress nice. I wear minimal makeup. I used to take two hours getting ready for the office (straighting hair, lots of makeup) and after six years I didn't get a promotion. Do what you want, but it's not required. Never helped me.

9. AnonymousMay 11,2024 at 12:45PM UTC

   Professional and not distracting.

10. Lorraine HerreraMay 11,2024 at 1:04PM UTC

    You can look professional and still show your personality. We are not in that time where women needed a pant suit and avoid too many colors, etc. We all have different personalities and different needs, that shouldn’t be an excuse to be treated different.

11. TinaMay 11,2024 at 2:32PM UTC

    In my view, workplace dress codes, particularly for women, are a delicate balance between professionalism and personal expression. While it's important to maintain a professional appearance to uphold a company’s image and foster unity, overly rigid standards can be restrictive and costly, often disproportionately impacting women. These expectations can seem outdated, rooted in traditional gender roles. However, there's a growing shift towards more flexible and inclusive dress codes that respect individual preferences and cultural differences, promoting a professional environment where everyone can feel comfortable and authentic. Ideally, workplaces should aim for a balance that allows for personal expression while maintaining a standard of professionalism that reflects the organization's culture and values.

12. AnonymousMay 11,2024 at 2:41PM UTC

    It depends.
    It's more important in outward facing roles. Dressing down too much is disrespectful and dressing up too much can be perceived as haughty.

13. AnonymousMay 11,2024 at 6:41PM UTC

    Definitely come as you are! Frankly, expecting people to dress up every day is ableist. Neurodivergent and mentally ill folks have a harder time with it. Expecting women to wear heels can do a number on one's feet (and flats often don't have the necessary support either). Plus dressing up costs more and generally people are less productive. Let people express themselves how they want as long as it's not offensive and ultimately you'll have a happier workplace

14. AnonymousMay 12,2024 at 2:04AM UTC

    There is usually some latitude even in an environment with expectations for women. We can wear pumps or nice flats. I've never seen a workplace where every woman wears high heels (except TV news, but they only wear them on camera). Women have more latitude than men in conservative environments, too. We can wear almost any color, but men would be expected to dress in dark neutral colored suits and pants.

15. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 11:34PM UTC

    It's not ableist. Good grief.

16. AnonymousMay 11,2024 at 7:11PM UTC

    I don't face any clients and predominantly WFH as corporate accounting.

    Showed up at office one day in NICE looking jeans, dress boots and dress shirt, decent leather belt (professional, not flashy) Got called out. I was facing my team and new supervisor. Additionally: it was an OPTIONAL office day. I could have stayed home -- wish I had.

    It wasn't my Saturday Levi's and Henley. I was a bit taken back- had I stayed home, I'd be in shorts and a t-shirt doing the same work.

    It depends on what you do. Every career has the look- scrubs, lawyer dress, mechanic, whatever. I say dress for success but also your quality of work matters too

17. AnonymousMay 12,2024 at 5:26PM UTC

    Any suggestion written or unwritten specific to women about how to dress should be dissolved. No one in this day and age should be told how to be appropriate for work. This comment I am making IMHO should not be gender specific- it goes for all gender identifications. When coaching folks I tell them to look at the photos of leadership at a company and also the less tenured staff in their linkedin photos. That should be your guide for how most folks look, if you have any concerns. No one should be dress code police, not HR, not management. Hair should be worn as you choose, and I am being specific to POC hairstyles in particular where the "whiter" leadership may not have a clue as to what that means. Come as you are ladies and go to work to work not to be a fashion maven.

18. Orlagh CostelloMay 13,2024 at 12:26PM UTC

    There shouldn't be gendered rules for appearance

19. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 12:44PM UTC

    Simply put…I tell my adult children who will be entering the workforce soon to dress for the job they want, not the job they have.

    I have a boy and a girl. I am in a management position, and I always have the impression that sloppy and relaxed appearances are indicative of their work. Flip flops, jeans, and hoodies are not very impressive in a business office.

20. Dawn ColoradoMay 13,2024 at 1:24PM UTC

    One law firm where I worked, briefly bc it was horrible, was managed by an East coast main office - my office was 2/3 of the way across the country. They had a 5-6 page document of dress code for "casual Friday"...down to the soles of the shoes, laces, cuffs of pants, style buttons on blouses and shirts, etc. No one bothered to do casual Friday bc it was such a hassle and the upper muckety mucks got upset that no one was "participating" or enthused about casual day. Someone that had already given their notice finally mentioned it and the managing partner peeps still couldn't grasp.

    Another law firm, just as crazy, but stayed for nearly a decade...if you dressed up they assumed you had a job interview and got nervous. Dressing up there was called "interviewing" after a while. You didn't wear the suit thing unless you had a big hitter outside meeting going on, and even then, you brought a change of clothes for when it was over.

    Another law firm down the hall required all employees to wear designer, high-end labels and styles at all times and the women were hired to look like models. Eventually they had to provided an allowance for the women bc it fell more heavily on them cost-wise since the guys just bought a few suits and cycled through them each week. Took the threat of a lawsuit about the model appearance though to get the allowance pushed through.

    The tightly wound law firm couldn't keep employees bc it loved having such a tight grip on every aspect of a person's appearance, down to the second on lunch, where they went, why they left the office on break, etc. and the modeling law firm had women quit left and right once they got sick of having to spend hours getting ready and thousands of dollars on clothing, hair and makeup just to come in and be a paralegal or legal secretary. It was like Suits without the salary.

21. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 1:35PM UTC

    It can be a dilemma. I worked at a government agency with one young women who was very well endowed and tended to wear low cut tops that were distracting. I know it shouldn’t be on her, but that is the reality. We had a mother/daughter type relationship, and they should have asked me to speak with her, but the CEO’s assistant decided to do it. The young woman came to me in tears afterwards crying “what’s wrong with my shoes?” Something in the conversation obviously went array. The agency refused to issue a dress code. In the end, I invited a style team to come in and speak separately to men and women about professional dress. They used models dressed in appropriate business wear. Everyone had a good time, and people got the point. It was sort of an extreme solution but it worked.

22. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 1:52PM UTC

    Great question. My previous employment I asked if the dress code was either business professional or leaned business casual. The answer I recieved was, "yes". It was quite hard, and while I had the wardrobe to accommodate either (I am a clothes horse) it was hard finding the niche.

23. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 2:08PM UTC

    I believe in dress codes that pertain to the industry you work for. I work for a school. I think it’s very inappropriate for anybody working with young children to be wearing sheer clothing, tank tops and mini skirts (unless you have leggings underneath). They can’t wear flip flops or open toed shoes. That is for safety and also is dictated by the insurance company . Some jobs OSHA has their standards. For instance if you run machinery you need to be careful of the jewelry you wear and where it is on your body.

    Another, reason for dress codes is that most companies have multi generational employees all with different beliefs and styles.

    A lot of the clothing I see on the unacceptable list for an office type company is usually mini skirts(nobody wants to see you butt when you bend over), cropped tops , sheer clothing, tank tops and jeans with holes or the jeans that hang down that shows your underwear and look like the person is going to trip and fall or something, sweat pants and tops. Some of these clothing can be distracting to other employees a company needs to take everyone into consideration not just one person.

24. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 2:13PM UTC

    I am letting the grey be. At 60 and overweight, this has not been a strategic career move for sure!

    It would be nice to feel accepted for being myself, but standing next to blonde less than 50 year old slim women ...

    Men, males have issues too. Seems like the mid Gen X is the most appearance conscious. They are fighting age like an all out war.

25. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 2:20PM UTC

    Come as we are.
    It's time to dismantle the old patriarchial constructs of what is considered "professional." Especially for women. There certainly shouldn't be different standards for men and women. Not to mention nonbianary employees.

26. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 2:51PM UTC

    I believe that, despite the unfairness of it, women are held to a higher standard of appearance than men. I work in a professional services firm, where I feel the weight of looking young, well dressed, and made up whether I’m going to a client meeting or getting on a video conference call. We are all more casual these days than past - more sweater sets & pants (or skirts) than suits and heels. Yet most of the women I know do wear make up daily, dye their hair, and more to stay looking “professional” when few men take such time. There’s definitely a double standard at play

27. Tami L CannizzaroMay 13,2024 at 3:35PM UTC

    Early in my career (in fashion) I had an executive tell me, "It never hurts to be the best-dressed person in the room".
    Most of the women wore their hair slicked back into tight pony tails or low buns; I always kept mine short and stylish, sometimes to the point of radical. Yet my outfits were on trend. That's how I've always done it, no matter what the dress code. If it's jeans, then I'm going to have the best "jeans look" in the office. Same for business casual or whatever they throw at me. It's almost like my trade mark. I'm following the "code" yet taking it up a notch. For someone like me who enjoys clothes and fashion, it's been a great way to express myself, sticking to whatever "dress code" there was and not losing myself at the same time.

28. MrsDiane TorresMay 13,2024 at 3:39PM UTC

    There has to be a balance. Because some people show up to work looking like they literally rolled out of bed and didn’t bother brushing their hair or teeth.

29. AnonymousMay 13,2024 at 6:03PM UTC

    Why does it matter? Why is someone else's oral hygiene your business?

    Also as someone with curly hair, I literally CAN'T brush my hair. It'll make it more frizzy and I'll get more comments on it. ? Stop talking about people's hair, it literally has nothing to do with their performance.

30. AnonymousMay 14,2024 at 4:18PM UTC

    And as long as there's no double standards as to gender. You can't have casual Fridays and then send around an e-mail that in so many words tells women to "cover up" .

31. MislynMay 16,2024 at 7:24PM UTC

    If you are seen by the public you should look nice and put in effort every day to look good. If you are only saw by your coworkers who really cares what you look like.

32. AnonymousMay 17,2024 at 12:38PM UTC

    I don't believe in hair a certain way is a proper dress code. Maybe back and out of your face but to say things about hair color, style, having or not having braids, etc is not acceptable or legal in some states. There is no way that everyone can make their hair look the same or meet some standard.

    What I do believe is the person should look neat and clean. I don't agree with dress or skirts that are so short, you that a sneeze will show everything. Even if it is causal day, I still don't agree with ripped jeans or tank tops/strapless. I think you can still express who you are and still proved a cohesive and neat appearance. I am of an age now(62), where heels are not part of my wardrobe. I will wear sandals and canvas slip-ons now to be comfortable. I have even to have a bit more of an open mind about tattoos. They still bother me a bit in an office setting, but it is also 2024, so that is more of my problem to overcome.

    The only comment I would make is you need to look around you and know if the style or appearance will hinder you in promotion - then you decide. Is that really fair - well no one said life would be fair.