Fishnet stockings: Appropriate for office?
Margaret in Cambridge, MA, writes, "I work as the public relations manager for a pharmaceutical firm. We have a casual dress policy on all five days and from what I know there are some guidelines on what is acceptable. Unfortunately there is nothing in the guidelines related to fishnet stockings, which have become rather popular in some parts of the US. I would like to wear them to work but am afraid that I might just tick off the HR folks and they will give me a hard time. What do you think?"
We think that the American workplace is dull when it comes to style and it is only getting worse. While it was perfectly fine to make the transition from uniforms and formal dresses to casual style, we do not support how we have forced women to dress almost like men. If you see how women dress at consulting/law firms, banks,
and other Fortune 500 companies, you wouldn't notice the difference between men and women. We think women should be allowed to be women even at work, or in other words, they do not have to pretend that they are men. We think that women are equally competent and capable even when they are just being who they are. (Related article: Women's body image)
Having said that, we support that certain minimum standards should be followed at work. While we believe that a person's ability to do her or his job well is hardly affected by what she or he wears (though some people genuinely believe that their productivity goes up when they are comfortable), one's clothes in the workplace should not cause a public nuisance.
Applying this criteria, we do not think that fishnet stockings can cause a public nuisance at work, and therefore, you should have no problem wearing them at work. And anyone who claims otherwise is simply trying to find an excuse not to work. Unfortunately, our society tends to associate fishnet stockings (tights, pantyhose, etc.) with certain kinds of women but that does not mean that when a successful professional like you wears them, she is that type of woman. Here are a few additional trips to keep in mind while wearing fishnet stockings:
We think that the American workplace is dull when it comes to style and it is only getting worse. While it was perfectly fine to make the transition from uniforms and formal dresses to casual style, we do not support how we have forced women to dress almost like men. If you see how women dress at consulting/law firms, banks,
and other Fortune 500 companies, you wouldn't notice the difference between men and women. We think women should be allowed to be women even at work, or in other words, they do not have to pretend that they are men. We think that women are equally competent and capable even when they are just being who they are. (Related article: Women's body image)Having said that, we support that certain minimum standards should be followed at work. While we believe that a person's ability to do her or his job well is hardly affected by what she or he wears (though some people genuinely believe that their productivity goes up when they are comfortable), one's clothes in the workplace should not cause a public nuisance.
Applying this criteria, we do not think that fishnet stockings can cause a public nuisance at work, and therefore, you should have no problem wearing them at work. And anyone who claims otherwise is simply trying to find an excuse not to work. Unfortunately, our society tends to associate fishnet stockings (tights, pantyhose, etc.) with certain kinds of women but that does not mean that when a successful professional like you wears them, she is that type of woman. Here are a few additional trips to keep in mind while wearing fishnet stockings:
- Dress conservatively otherwise.
- Do not draw undue attention to yourself in any other way.
- Act normal, as you would on any other day at work.
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posted by eCreativa Media | 9:12 PM
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