Dress Code - Bare Legs OK or Not?

[OakLeaf]

These were lawyers. Who represent plaintiffs in employment law matters.

For some odd reason, lawyers seem to think that the law does not apply to them.

CA

I had a job interview with a federal judge once, in which he repeatedly asked me whether it was "Miss or Mrs." After about three rounds of "Ms." I finally answered his question. (I was young.) As soon as the interview as over I mentally kicked myself. I still wonder whether my willingness to stand up to him for what I knew was right, was part of the interview. (For that reason or whatever, he didn't offer me a job.)


But to the OP: I think it depends on your clientele. There are definitely people who think bare legs are "gross" in a professional setting. Even if you disagree with that, you don't want to alienate your patients. In an office where there was less contact with the public, if I were the boss, I wouldn't make pantyhose part of the dress code (even though I personally wouldn't dream of dressing "nicely" without hose). In a medical office, I might. Honestly, what would you think of men's bare legs in your office?


Aside to Tuckerville: Minnesota in the summertime is hotter than most of Florida (regularly in the high 90s to low 100s) and at least as humid as Ohio. I believe the same is true of much of south central Canada. Just because it's cold in the winter doesn't mean they don't know what summer is like.

[Deborajen]

Honestly, what would you think of men's bare legs in your office?

This sits in the back of my mind as far as dress code. Is it really fair for women to go hoseless with a dress saying panty hose is hot, yet require men to wear slacks and not shorts? If I hire a man, I might have to face this. What's the difference, really? We like our legs but not men's?

I'm really not trying to force my preferences on my employees. Like I said, we're leaning towards NOT making panty hose a requirement, but I want to be fair - and there are a lot of opinions and preferences, some of them pretty strong -

[Crankin]

I am not opposed to socks... in fact I have many many pairs of cycling socks because they are cheap fixes for my addiction to cycling apparel.
My standards are only for me. Your former professor seems slightly, uh, strange. I don't think bare legs are "gross," I just don't think stockings are, either. So, when it's a bit too warm for tights and too cold for bare legs, I wear them.
I have never worked anywhere with a dress code, but I don't think they are so bad in certain situations. I remember when girls had to wear dresses and skirts to school; a bunch of us started wearing jeans to class (in 1968), until the school gave in to us. So, I am not totally unaware of the effects of dress codes. I guess I won't speak any more about the way I dress (except for my wool purchases), because I seem to be in the distinct minority here, which is the total opposite of my real life.
I wish I were still "young," when dressing professionally meant the difference between others thinking whether I was 16 or 30!

[ZenSojourner]

Men in shorts . . .

Men in kilts . . .

Be still my beating heart! LOL!

SO MOTE IT BE!

[OakLeaf]

Men in shorts . . .

Men in kilts . . .

Be still my beating heart! LOL!

SO MOTE IT BE!

Sorry, I just get flashes of that guy in "Reno 911."

[ZenSojourner]

Sorry, I just get flashes of that guy in "Reno 911."

Oh thank you very much!

You just HAD to go and spoil it for me, didn't you?

LIAM NEESON! COME BACK! SHE DIDN'T MEAN IT!

[BikeDutchess]

Thread hijack, I know, but on the subject of dress codes: U of Oregon to Frisbee team: No pants, no season

Anyway, back to the work place - when I still worked in the office (I telecommute full-time now), one reason I rarely wore skirts is that I hated wearing hose. Perhaps now it is more acceptable to not wear hose, but I also hate wearing (work-appropriate) shoes with bare feet.

I really enjoyed reading the various viewpoints in this thread. I recently read an article about how millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers get along in the workplace, and the issue of dress code (and even panty hose specifically) was discussed as well in the context of generational differences. Reading this thread, to me it seems as much a practical issue as a generational one.

[deeaimond]

I never liked hose, and here no one wears hose anymore. (not even in the courts as far as I've seen.) pantyhose under pants?????

as for with some shoes, here we can get mini-socks that are for pumps or ballet flats. They're very thin but thicker than panty hose and just cover the part of the foot that is in the shoe. I think its a japanese/korean invention.
I wear those...