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Kara
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how short is too short for the office?
I don't really think this neatly fits into fashion OR careers, so I'm posting it here.
I work in a VERY professional environment (suits or nice business casual at all times). The other day I got into an elevator with a girl wearing a skirt that was just below mid-thigh. Along with this ensemble, she was also wearing knee-high boots and not pantyhose. (I won't get into the fact that it was freezing outside...)
Acceptable or not?
In an office environment, I don't see how that length skirt is appropriate. I think it should be at or just above the knee. You're not going out with friends - you're at work! As for the boots, I've worn knee-high boots before, but with a skirt that covered at least the top of them...
Am I just too modest / conservative? I'd NEVER wear that to work...
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Posted 11/21/07 8:30 AM  |
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Carolyn
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Member since 5/07 5351 total posts
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Twin mommy
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
LOL. Today I am wearing knee-high boots and a pencil skirt...but the skirt comes to about the middle of the knee, so only like 5 inches of knee/calf is showing. I am not wearing stockings only because it is so warm out today. I am an attorney and I wear business casual, unless I have court or something when I wear a suit.
That said - I would NEVER NEVER wear a skirt shorter than just above the knee, especially not with knee-high boots (which I feel would make it even more inappropriate for some reason). It's not so bad in my office but I do see women in my building that I am like  . DH works in finance in the City and he says that some of the women he works with dress like tramps!
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:41 AM |
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JP826
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Absolutely not.
If your going to wear a skirt THAT short (Which is short by corporate standards) she should have at least wore stockings. Not only that, I'm not even 100% sure if knee high boots were acceptable - I could be wrong though. Skirts should ALWAYS hit right at the knee or below.
I am no way in any shape & form a prude in terms of dressing, but I am short and skirts that hit below my knee look stupid on me therefore I keep it safe & wear pants. 
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:41 AM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by Carolyn
LOL. Today I am wearing knee-high boots and a pencil skirt...but the skirt comes to about the middle of the knee, so only like 5 inches of knee/calf is showing. I am not wearing stockings only because it is so warm out today. I am an attorney and I wear business casual, unless I have court or something when I wear a suit.
That said - I would NEVER NEVER wear a skirt shorter than just above the knee, especially not with knee-high boots (which I feel would make it even more inappropriate for some reason). It's not so bad in my office but I do see women in my building that I am like . DH works in finance in the City and he says that some of the women he works with dress like tramps!
I'm an attorney, too. I work for a very big firm in the city, so we're probably even more formal than most... or so you'd think. I've seen some female attorneys dress like tramps, too!
I'd wear knee-high boots with a skirt that came to the knee. I don't think that's wrong at all... But mid-thigh with knee high boots -- the combination alone made me do a double-take. Like, "Is she REALLY wearing that?!"
I think she's a new attorney here, too. Don't get me wrong, it would be an adorable outfit in most other situations... I just did not think it was work appropriate. I just wanted to make sure I wasn't crazy!
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:50 AM |
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Karen
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Karen
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
when I first started in corporate (mid-90's) one of the HR women would come around, and if your skirt was more than 2 inches above your knee when you were standing, there was a problem.
for some reason, it's a rule that has stuck with me over the years!
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:50 AM |
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Ginger123
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dana
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
I think its how people present the whole package i am sure this person made you double take and for that there must be a valid reason for somone to question her attire. some people are just in a diff zone
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:51 AM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by Karen
when I first started in corporate (mid-90's) one of the HR women would come around, and if your skirt was more than 2 inches above your knee when you were standing, there was a problem.
for some reason, it's a rule that has stuck with me over the years!
I thought perhaps it was because I'm a product of Catholic school. If your uniform skirt was too short, they'd cut the hem so it came to your knee! 
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:52 AM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by Ginger123
I think its how people present the whole package i am sure this person made you double take and for that there must be a valid reason for somone to question her attire. some people are just in a diff zone
I have to agree that sometimes it the entire package. There are some women who get away with certain outfits that would look awful on me -- or if they were wearing that shirt with a different skirt, it would be inappropriate, etc. I agree with that. I have a big chest, so there are certain types of tops I have to avoid at work that would look perfectly acceptable on another person with less cleavage, etc. I could see the boots as appropriate with another skirt or something, etc.
You're right, though - it's a total package thing usually. Some things that might be against the "rules" may look fine on certain people in certain combinations -- and then you'd never even notice the (arguably) "inappropriate" attire.
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:54 AM |
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yankinmanc
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
I think that anyone under abour 2 feet is too short for the office. I don't mind a 3 footer, but under 2 feet tall is really to small to work with. You then have to get special chairs, get a health and safety audit....its a bit of a palaver all around really...
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| Posted 11/21/07 8:54 AM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by racheeeee
I think that anyone under abour 2 feet is too short for the office. I don't mind a 3 footer, but under 2 feet tall is really to small to work with. You then have to get special chairs, get a health and safety audit....its a bit of a palaver all around really...
I thought I'd have gotten a response like this earlier than 8 posts.
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:00 AM |
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lucyloo
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Sounds too short for me. But I have no problem with the lack of pantyhose- I never wear them!
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:05 AM |
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Carolyn
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Member since 5/07 5351 total posts
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Twin mommy
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by Kara
Posted by Ginger123
I think its how people present the whole package i am sure this person made you double take and for that there must be a valid reason for somone to question her attire. some people are just in a diff zone
I have to agree that sometimes it the entire package. There are some women who get away with certain outfits that would look awful on me -- or if they were wearing that shirt with a different skirt, it would be inappropriate, etc. I agree with that. I have a big chest, so there are certain types of tops I have to avoid at work that would look perfectly acceptable on another person with less cleavage, etc. I could see the boots as appropriate with another skirt or something, etc.
You're right, though - it's a total package thing usually. Some things that might be against the "rules" may look fine on certain people in certain combinations -- and then you'd never even notice the (arguably) "inappropriate" attire.
I agree about the total package as well. I'm wearing a turtleneck with my skirt and boots - anything less covered up and I'd feel like the whole outfit was a little too much, KWIM? Although my office (I'm on LI) sounds a little more casual than yours I just wouldn't feel comfortable wearing anything revealing. Outside of work is another story though.
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:17 AM |
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Christine
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
That sounds pretty short. There's someone in my office that wears super short skirts/dresses - there are 2 get ups where the skirt is above or just at fingertip length. 
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:19 AM |
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Kara
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Member since 3/07 13217 total posts
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They call me "Tater Salad"
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by Carolyn
Posted by Kara
Posted by Ginger123
I think its how people present the whole package i am sure this person made you double take and for that there must be a valid reason for somone to question her attire. some people are just in a diff zone
I have to agree that sometimes it the entire package. There are some women who get away with certain outfits that would look awful on me -- or if they were wearing that shirt with a different skirt, it would be inappropriate, etc. I agree with that. I have a big chest, so there are certain types of tops I have to avoid at work that would look perfectly acceptable on another person with less cleavage, etc. I could see the boots as appropriate with another skirt or something, etc.
You're right, though - it's a total package thing usually. Some things that might be against the "rules" may look fine on certain people in certain combinations -- and then you'd never even notice the (arguably) "inappropriate" attire.
I agree about the total package as well. I'm wearing a turtleneck with my skirt and boots - anything less covered up and I'd feel like the whole outfit was a little too much, KWIM? Although my office (I'm on LI) sounds a little more casual than yours I just wouldn't feel comfortable wearing anything revealing. Outside of work is another story though.
Oh totally agree - Work and play are two totally different realms! 
As for my office, sometimes I feel it's more formal - and sometimes I don't. We're big (over 500 attorneys in the NY office alone), so there are several different practice areas and each seems to have its own "culture." Some people get away with khakis and polo shirts some days in some groups... That doesn't happen too often in my area (and never on my body!)
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:19 AM |
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Sassyz75
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Dina
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
I would say NEVER above the knee
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:37 AM |
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Lisa
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
too short and no stockings is so unprofessional!!
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| Posted 11/21/07 9:50 AM |
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MarisaK
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Marisa
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Not acceptable -
Business professional is business professinal - it's not that difficult to dress age appropriate / fashionably AND still look professional w/o my skirt being up my a s s -
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| Posted 11/21/07 12:20 PM |
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kellsbells7
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by racheeeee
I think that anyone under abour 2 feet is too short for the office. I don't mind a 3 footer, but under 2 feet tall is really to small to work with. You then have to get special chairs, get a health and safety audit....its a bit of a palaver all around really...
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| Posted 11/21/07 1:12 PM |
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justbeachy
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Eww. Awful. Below knee for me. If its even an inch above my knee I'd feel uncomfortable.
Id say that stockings/pantyhose are kind of old-school these days. So I don't think that's a big deal...
Message edited 11/21/2007 2:12:06 PM.
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| Posted 11/21/07 2:11 PM |
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CunningOne
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Way to short, IMO. I can relate to the Catholic school girl thing too. I used to roll my skirt at the waist in HS so it would be shorter and I was always in trouble for that! 
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| Posted 11/21/07 2:21 PM |
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SweetestOfPeas
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
IMO, anything above the knee is not appropriate for a corporate environment. ESPECIALLY not a conservative law firm!!
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| Posted 11/21/07 4:16 PM |
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CaseyGirl
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
I take the safe route and wear pants 99% of the time
But I think if it hits the knee or slightly above it's ok...but then again I have always worked in places that are slightly on the casual side.
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| Posted 11/21/07 10:23 PM |
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smdl
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
My understanding of a "professional" skirt is the knee or just above. Mid-thigh is not appropriate.
I have no issue with no pantyhose. I hate them.
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| Posted 11/22/07 9:15 AM |
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Blu-ize
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
Posted by CaseyGirl
I take the safe route and wear pants 99% of the time
But I think if it hits the knee or slightly above it's ok...but then again I have always worked in places that are slightly on the casual side.
yep, me too. Also, I love this sweater dress that would be great for work but I think it will hit about 2 inches above the knee and that won't fly even with tights and boots.
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| Posted 11/22/07 10:30 AM |
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conigs25
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Re: how short is too short for the office?
IMO- if it made you think twice about it, its prob not a good idea. Im sure she looked very unprofessional
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| Posted 11/22/07 10:35 AM |
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