My boss gave me a dress code and told me to ‘cover up’, now there’s a man in the office
A woman with a DRESS code has detailed how her boss told her not to wear a certain dress to work because a MAN was joining the team.
Lindsey Nicole says she was told to “cover up now that we have a man in the office”… despite the dress having been a weekly part of her work attire since February.
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The 25-year-old woman reported the incident on X (formerly Twitter) after being shocked by her manager’s request.
“So my boss told me to ‘cover up’ now that we have a man in the office,” she wrote.
“Since I started in February, I’ve been wearing this dress once a week.
“It’s never been a problem.
read more about dress code
“My office code is business informal.
“What’s wrong with this?”
The long floral dress has a base color in burnt tones.
And despite having a plunging neckline, it falls below the knee and has cap sleeves.
Lindsey added that her office previously consisted of mostly women before the new male appointment came in.
The now-deleted post on X sparked a heated debate, garnering over two million views and thousands of comments.
Social media users were divided over how work-appropriate the dress is.
A number of women described the dress-coding incident as “misogyny” and questioned why “the responsibility lies with women and not men to have some self-control.”
“I know they’re not mad about two inches of bust,” one supporter wrote.
“If this dress is such a distraction to that male employee, then perhaps he should be the one being policed for his behavior.”
Five essential pieces of workwear
By Clemmie Fieldsend
Clemmie Fieldsend, editor at Fabulous Fashion, shared the five essential workwear items that everyone should have in their home.
1. WHITE SHIRT
A good white shirt is so versatile. Great on its own or layered under knits, transforming plain sweaters by adding cuffs and collar details, and worn open over plain tops.
2. WIDE PANTS
They have become a wardrobe essential in recent years, as they are comfortable and flattering, and will take your workwear to the next level. Look for styles with pleats or darts.
3. PRACTICAL TOTE
If you need to carry all your essentials with you at work or on the go, pack them in a sleek and stylish bag in a neutral color like black, brown, or beige so you can use it with all your outfits.
4. CUSTOM MADE BLAZER
Even when worn with ripped jeans, a tailored blazer will make you look instantly polished and smart for work. Black will be most practical and look for structured silhouettes.
5. SIMPLE LOAFER
Whether you prefer chunky or thin, a flat and comfortable shoe is essential for everyday wear and can look just as elegant as a shoe with a heel.
But some fashion critics who wore the dress from the comfort of their armchairs claimed that the dress was not suitable for work because “it showed too much cleavage.”
“The dress is not business casual, because business casual has more structured clothing,” someone claimed.
“Also, your cleavage is too visible.
“Plus, you look extremely casual: very cute for brunch, but not cute for work.”
Nuanced arguments were also put forward.
One debater wrote that their “knee-jerk reaction is that they don’t think the dress is business casual,” but added that they were “concerned” that she had been told not to wear it again because of the presence of a man.
Another added: “It’s just a shame because for women with large breasts it means they have to cover their breasts up to their neck.
“And for girls who are smaller on top… well, they can wear whatever they want.”
